The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-06

the means requisite to its efficient ful6lment are
ready to our hands2
How stands the case2
In less than two months from this date Gen.
eral PIERCE will have at his disposal vast
number of appointments Of varying values. He
has announced beforehand that sectional ante
cedents will be discarded for or against indi-4
vduals, and that the distribution of the patron
age entrusted to him will be conducted without
reference to the cliques or factions into which
the Democracy has been divided. His election
was the result of combination of factions hav-
ing few interests in common, and his declared
intention Is to treat them as equals. Barn
burner and Hunker, Freesoiler and Secession
list, Union Democrat and Abolitionist: all have
rallied In one fold under PIERCE, and all are
to fare equally in the enjoyment of benefits
falling from his hands. 50 a
The enormous disproportion between the
number of applicants for favors and the number
of favors at command, is in this connexion an
obvious and certain source of trouble
Ninety nine of every hundred of the crowd
whose eyes are now fixed on Concord are i'll
evitably doomed to disappointment; and after
disappointment will come disaffecton Of
this source of difficulty we do not propose to
speak. We rather confne ourselves to-day to
single point growing out of the same circum-
stance, but involving wider, more enduring.
and therefore more important consequences.
We refer to the construction of The Cabinet
the initial point, which affords clue to the
absurdties, the narvels, and the obstacles of
the whole affair.
The published programmes of Cabinets with
which the quidnuncs of the press have been
RECALLED for weeks past, all proceed on the
avowed determination of General PIERCE to
give to every clique representation in his coun
Gil. They have his Interpretation of nationali-
ty as their basis, and accord with his views,
and with each other, in reference to the nature
OF the materials to be employed, however wide
ly they differ in reference to persons Union
men, Secessionists, and Fneesoilers are award
ed a sprinkling in every instance; the undis-
puted idea being that Cabinet, to be national,
must typify every thing.
We will not stop to speculate on the proba-
bic ability of General PIERCE to construct such
Cabinet We might show that the State
Rights section, acting in conjunction with the
Barnburning element, is waging proscriptive
warfare against the prominent Union men.
We might show, again, that leading Union
men watch with jealous eye the movements of
their competitors, and hint disaffection in adj
vance. And yet again we might show that
warnings are sounded on all hands against the
unavoidable result of bringing together three
conflicting elements, any two of which may by
adroit management secure to themselves and
followers absolute control of the spoils. We
pass over these significant signs for the mo-
ment, and for the sake of argument assume
that General PIERCE will be able to induce
men of character and ability connected with
the various sections of the party to cooperate
with him in the Executive labors of the Govern
ment. Will the difficulty then be surmounted?
Certainly not. 1t will be removed one degree,
but will still exist in undiminished power, and
in an aspect even more critical than before.
With Cabinet possessed of none but nomi
nal unity, how is the Government to be carried
on? 1t may survive the internecine struggle
for the spoils, and by some unforeseen Provi-
dence may be enabled to work easily while
sunshine and smooth water endure; but under no
conceivable circumstances can it hold together
in the presence of contingencies beyond the
range of mere routine ga Cabinet can only
be unit when it represents one and the same
principle;" and Cabinet embracing at least
three sets of principles is wholly untitled to
grapple with difficulties, foreign or domestic
Homogeneity of sentiment is then indispen-
sable.
Take the subject of Western improvements,
the construction of railroad to the Pacific, or
the threatened division of California, as illus
trations of an order of domestic questions not
at all unlikely to arise during the next four
years. Or take our intercourse with Spain
concerning Cuba, our interest in the affairs of
Central America, the probable future of Mexi-
co and the Sandwich Islands, and lastly, the
doctrine of Intervention, as illustrations of
topics which may be expected in whole or in
part to occur in our foreign relations In any
of these cases the harmonious action of con-
aicting principles is impossible. The strict
constructionist of the South will contend
against the latitudnarian of the West-the
FreesOiler Of the North and the State
Rights champion Of the South will wage
bitter war against the upholder of the Com
promise-the conservative adherent to the doc
trine Of WASHINGTON will be pitted against the
aggressive disciple of KossUTH; and in this
way the unity Of action which is needed to en-
sure vigor in any thing will be utterly imprac-
tcable. The difficulty will be great precisely
in proportion to the fidelity with which the
members of the Cabinet adhere to their dis
tinctVe principles as now protested; and what
ever be thought Of the Democracy generally,
we are not prepared to believe that General
PIERCE will select men who consent to make
a prior stipulation for the surrender of their
principles whenever they CONFLICT with expe-
diency. That, indeed, would only alter the
character Of the dilemma. 1t might lead TO the
formation of temporising cabinet; but cabi-
net which would fall before the execration of
the American people would be sorry substi-