The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-11
The Administration. Rumored NIodi "a q
lions OF the Cabinet.

lions OF the Cabinet.
For some weeks past we have had various
rumors of certain contemplated changes in the
Cabinet, founded chiefly upon tho expected
transfer Of Gen. Jefferson Davis from the War
Department to the United States Senate. This
election of Gen. Davis, it is believed, will be
made by the Mississippi Legislature as the
finishing blow to Governor Foote and the Union
party of that State; and from various wise con-
siderations it is believed that, as things now
stand at Washington, Gen. Davis will abandon
the Cabinet and accept the call to the Senate.
The opening thus anticipated, it is thought, may
lead to several other changes in the ministry
which will place it under different direction
and different programme from that of Secre-
tary Marcy, in reference to the succession,
Some such notifications as thus suggested
may take place. The existing Cabinet has sunk
so low in the public estimation-it hangs such
dead weight upon the administration-tha
however much opposed to run the hazards of
reconstruction, Gen. Pierce may be COM
PEELED, upon the first favorable occasion,
to risk change, not only in one, but
in two or three cases of urgent necessity. The
public dscontent-the tide of popular odium
which is surging in from all parts of the Union.
against the present Cabinet coalition of spols-
men, may drive the President from his amour
propre into the practical experiment OF
change In a word, the demands of stern ne
cessity may override the policy of an indolent
adhesion to things as they are, and enforce upon
Gen, Pierce the last alternative for his safety
in Congress and the restoration of the confidence
of the people in the drift of his administration.
Hence, there is some probability in the event
of the early transfer of Gen. Davis to the Senate
from the War Office. Of an early modification Of
the Cabinet in one or several other departments.
Among others mentioned as likely to succeed
Gen. Davis in his present Office is ex-senator
Clemens of Alabama just now on visit, of
business or pleasure, in Washington. But not
withstanding the recent letter of Mr.. Clemens
to the Philadelphia committee, giving in his
adhesion to the administration as il is, we re-
gard his appointment to the Cabinet ~ extreme.
ly doubtful. if not entirely out of the question
Mr. Clemens may have the personal conf
dence Of Gen. Pierce; but he is like Gen
Foote, defeated candidate for the Senate in
his own State. The secession wing of the party,
controlling the State, is against him. More
over, the policy of the President of balancing
his Cabinet between Southern secessionists aud
Northern free sellers, must be abandoned be-
fore Mr. Clemens can be called into the family
The same reasons which were bar to the
appointment of Dickinson from the North
and Of Cobb from the South, will still apply to
Clemens, in the absence OF a recantation of
those Union principles which carried him over
to the side of Clay, Webster and Cass, upon
the compromise measures. Nor is the admins
tration in position to take up defeated can
didate in his own State, rs q stroke of policy. |
IT is not strong enough to risk the consequences
on such an experiment. From these, and other |
we consider the appointment Of |
Mr. Clemens to the Cabinet loose conjecture. |
aud extremely doubtful Of fulGlment
But the case Of Mr. Clemens ioes not inter-
fere Eith the probabilities Of the cabinet mod-
* ehcns which we are discussing. II Is well
Known that the two conflicting powers Of the
Cabinet ue Marcy and Cushing and that while
lie torneS virtually stands alone 10 bis aspira-