The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-22
The n esent POsltiOn Of the administrations
what Ii It,

udt CuueC 10 uuo ohC WAiCn 10 NV ouo
tanned by its own inherent qualities. Truth
will work its own way to light it has Ian
guage, and will make known its rights and vim
dictate its purposes Men charged with great
public trusts can not be too faithful or too
honest. He who is set to guard the temple OF
freedom does not wisely introduce into his ser
vice the Cloths and Vandals Of anarchy, under
whatever DISCUSSES or professions. The cor
rupton Of the minister now furnishes the
church. Expedents are as unworthy Of great
cause as of a great man. He who adopts
them, either to sustain himself or the
principles entrusted to his keeping. mis-
judges and mistrusts their truthfulness, or
wholly misapprehends their importance and
his own true dignity. 1t is full time to con-
slider whether any Office maintains character
widely different from that of the incumbent
The officer and the Office are the same, and
there is no use in denying it. This is accord
ing to all established theories, and lies at the
foundation of all success and reputation. With
out it there would be no responsibility
faith--no execution. A man that carries po-
Icy into one door Of public office will soon
carry principles out Of the other.
All this we deem to be strictly applicable to
Gen. Pierce. We fear he has thought too much
of the adventurous aids of political manage
ment, and too little of the great cause entrust-
ed to his keeping-a cause sustained by the
hearty goodwill Of the American people, and
requiring only the force of its own truth
full elements to commend it to popular
favor and support He came into power on the
basis of an unyielding national patriotism,
reused into action by the fearful assaults made
upon the constitution and the Union by the
harlots of abolitionism and their kindred forces
of free soil and higher law vagaries. 1t was
the Judgment of the country upon questions
above party, above policy, above intrigue, and
above compromise, by which General Pierce
was elected. Never did man assume such
trust with so many tokens of popular approval
Never were the political skies brighter. Never
an atmosphere more charged with the elements
of life and health. Those who had preceded
him were met on the Threshold of administra-
ton with vexed questions Of local policy and
unsettled national issues. Their course had
been attended with an unapproachable mirage
of success-for ever pursued, for ever receding.
Not so with General Pierce. He reached the
Presidential Office the acknowledged and I'M
questioned exponent of the principles laid down
in what is called the Baltimore platform. The
public voice of the Union thus solemnly pro-
nonnced; and SO complete and clear was the
enunciation. so terrible and pointed the judg-
ment that e. emies skunk away in disguise or
joined the throng of the exultant victors. It
was the triumph of patriotism secured on issues
which involved the integrity Of the constitu-
ton and the perpetuity of the Union. Thus
stood President and people on the day OF
Inauguration. Mutual confidence, based on
common principles and purposes, prevailed
This. we submit, is no exaggerated picture OF
the late canvass and it's result.
The organization OF the Cabinet was certainly
unfortunate. 1t was not in harmony with the
of public sentiment. 1t threatened violation
of well-defned principles, and total paralysis
of the useful powers of the government. 1t
rendered impossible that unity Of action with
out which the best efforts are unavailing and
fruitless. 1t introduced into the administration
was compromise in which everything was
conceded and nothing gained ; compromise
voluntary and uncalled for, generating popular
distrust and aversion, and carrying into the
councils of the President the noxious vapors OF
local strife and contention. Under such circuR,-
stances it was vain to allege the unity of the
Cabinet on the great issues Of the canvass it
selated work-a bit of white stone here and a
bit of black stone there--either suited the
popular taste or answered the public expecta-
ton. 1t was mistake, and something more-it
was political blunder What followed was a
necessary consequence: opinions previously
maintained the political associations AMI in
terests Of the various Cabinet compound, were
carried into the councils of the government
Gov. Marcy, allied to Van Buren, and abolition
ism. bore with him that fatal brood OF disturb
ers, and planted them as sentineis on the watch
towers Of the constitution. Col. Davis was
the party. These were the true leading spirits
Thus. by natural law OF metaphysics, the two
extremes joined hands. What followed is mat
ter Of history. 1t is before us.
A party based upon principles upon which a
President was elected by al almost unanimous
vote, and whose opinions and past character
gave the amplest guarantee that be would
faithfully discharge his duties, and fulfil his
trust stand before the country, not in the pride
and glory Of approval bat suspended from
popular favor doubted, distrusted, questioned.
Public Offices have been filed by those who
derded and ''spat upon the platform of the
President-priests have been installed in the
church, and required to expound faith they
have never ceased to ridicule and despifc
Whilst this work has been freely operating,
men Of true faith, illustrated by works, have
been cast aside and beralded as unworthy Of
popular confidence. The justification of all