The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-07
NE WS BY THE MAILS.
Our Washington Correspondence.

General Pterces Cabinet-IHe Cornerstone Laid
Down-Astoamding Information for the old
Fogaes-Gemeral Gushing Secretary of State, &c.
Arriving in this place (and such placeD last
night, from the northward was surprised to find
the political sceneshfters, the chiefs Of the little
managing clques, the letterwriters and the special
correspondents of the newspaper press entirely in
the dark respecting the determinations, nclinatons
and intentions of Gen. Pierce in regard to his cab
net Among all these various newsmongers at Wash
ngton the great fountainhead of their cabinet nfor
nation appears to be their own ingenuity in working
up the most fmsy rumor into authentic information
direct from Concord. Now, sir my object in this
communication is to put these anxious and ingenious
people on the right track and without assuming to
speak "by authority l will let the fourth Of
March, or some earlier day, answer whether shall
have spoken from reliable information, or the idle
outside speculations of the hour, when ! say that
General Caleb Gushing is fixed upon as General
Pierce's Secretary of State.
First then, it is well known as fact that Mr.
Senator Hunter, of Virginia, was offered the State
Department, and that he has conclusively declined
to accept it. General Pierce, no doubt,
thought it due to Virginia, from her po
stion as the great mediator between the
North and the South, and in consideration
OF her confidence in General Pierce as expressed in
the high compliment she paid him, in leading off with
his name in the Baltimore Convention But it has
been said here, and considerable howl has been
raised about it among the Hessans that Mr.. Hunter
declined, because he understood that General Dix
was to sit in the cabinet councils with him, with
perhaps one ortwo more free soiers or soft shells of
the North and Northwest. It was also said that Mr.
Hunter refused because of the envy and animosty
which his acceptance would give to the Mason and
Barbour factions of Virginia But these conjectures
do not meet the Mr.. Hunter is not rich He has
just been reelected to the Senate for six years. and
having no expensive dinners or entertainments to
give, with little prudence he can save something of
his pay and mileage. On the other hand, the State
Department, at six thousand dollars year does not
pay expenses. 1t cannot be made to pay, with the
dinners and suppers to the diplomatic corps, and
others which the Secretary of State is bound to give
Nh. Hunter cannot afford to pay the extra costs. 1t
was an act Of kindly consideration the part of the
friends of Mr.. Webster to make him easy upon this
point before entering the State Department under
President Fillmore. In word, the Depart
ment of State, though the post of the
highest honor, is the place of the greatest dead
loss in hard cash, to the occupant, and the man
the deficit above his six thousand year, from his
own private resources. Poverty then and the ina
dequacy of the Premiers pay, were the decisive
causes Of Mr. Hunters declinaton.
But he having declined the honor, the peculiar
obligations Of Gen. Pierce to Virginia are cancelled
He is free to seek his Premier elsewhere. And,
venture to repeat, that lie has singled out his
man. The enemies of General Marcy and Gen.
niy o. 10
ing the shameful chickering's and savage jealou-
sizes between the New York soft shells'' and
hard Shells" it is quite possible that in the way
of compromise, New York may be left ont of the
cabinet entirely. Otherwise, she might have had
the Treasury from the beginning Nor is it neces-
sary that the Pensylvanian Cass and Cameron fac
ton should feel any apprehensons of Mr.. Buchanans
appointment. The President elect is not going thus
to advertise it to the world that he adopts Mr. Bu-
chanans offer of hundred millions for Cuba. Your
views, published in the HERALD heretofore on this
point are correct. Who then, to be the Secretary
of State?
Thisquestion can now be answered by repeating that
Caleb Cushing, of Massachusetts, is the man. or your
correspondent is very much mistaken. But il the
meeting, the other day, by appointment, between
Gen. Pierce and Gen. Gushing, in Boston, signifies
sachusetts And if the attentions which have been
shown to Gen. Gushing by the Boston democrats,
for week or ten days past, AID the amable suavity
with which he receives them, mean anything, they
the State Department is settled affair." so regard
it; and content with the superior scholarship talents
observation experience and progressive principles
OF Gen. Cushing, the cold foges'-and who they are
ard what they are, they must decide for themselves
but the "old fogies may digest this appoint
ment as best they can. 1t is the corner stone
OF an independent Pierce Cabinet, fully up to the
spirit of the age. Gushing viii prove himself as pos
sessed of one Of the very ablest and most practical
ministerial minds of the country. And furthermore
upon Cuba and the Monroe doctrine. he is, if any
thing, little in advance even of the Committee on
Foreign Relations Of the United States Senate, and
they are pretty well up to the mark.
Here, then, we have the basis of the cabinet-the
foundation stone-laid down. for you may, think,
regard Gen. Gushing as "a fixed Unconstitutional fact;
and from this point you readily determine
whether "old fogyism'' or "Young America is to
predominate in the new administration. Gen. Cush
ing, you know was from the outset the candidate
Of Young America for Premier, and his nomina
ton is their triumph.
Tothis extent, undertake to say, you were cor
rect in your editorial the other morning, announcing
that the cabinet had been resolved upon but perhaps
only to this extent. As far this deponent is in
formed, there is fair prospect for Col. Samuel Me-
dairy, OF Ohio, and Campbell, of Pennsylvania, and
Floyd, Of virginia. while for Soule, of Louisiana
there will probably be held in reserve the post of At
torney General, or foreign mission. At all events
it is not likely that Gen. Pierce will oyersaugh the
State rights party of the South, after having offered
State Department to Hunter, of Virginia.
turn over the whole subject to your judgment and
that of your readers, with the simple declaration
again repeated, that regard Caleb Cushing as
"fxed fact" and challenge the "old foges" to point
out q better man for the PnE,IIER
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 1853.
Il Weeks Work in Congyess--iSilrr Coinage Bill
Gala Day in the House-Discussion on Point
Of Order-Busy Day Census Report Printing
Ararded to the Public. Printcr-.Sianding Com
mittees in a Dilemma.
On Monday, after passing the bill abolishing i'm
prisonment for debt on mesne process and giving
bail, the House adjourned, in consequence of the
death Of the Hon. Alexander II. Buel, delegate
from the State of New York.
On Tuesday, the bill from the Senate, authorizing
the issue of deprecated silver coinage, was re-
ported with amendments from the Committee of