The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-13
Mr.. Buchanen's Cabinet-the Secretary of
state.


The Cabinet of Mr.. Buchanan still remains a
mystery, and continues to be vigorously discussed
10y the newspapers and politicians throughout the
country, and especially the question who is to be
Secretary of State.
1t is acknowledged on every hand that the Pre-
mier is the only point of difficulty, and his posi-
ton the only one which will be invested with
an Independent responsibility Of any serious inn
portance to the new administration. All the
other Cabinet Offices may be readily filled, as
they are simply Offices of well defined routine Of
duties, from the Secretary of the Treasury TO the
Attorney General But the cool sagacity and COM
preheDsive mind demanded from, and the broad
margin Of discretion which must necessarily be
given to, the Secretary of state, in his personal
conversations and official correspondence With the
representatives of foreign Powers, upon all the
delicate living issues connected with our foreign
relations, are considerations which make the Sc
lection of the Premier step Of the highest i'm
portaDce. Perhaps, too, the question of the sue
cession may be taken into the estimate of the DO
ltical bearings of this Office; bat at all events, it
is the initial point upon which Mr.. Buchanan still
CELEBRATES, and upon which the anxieties OF
ptItsiaea.iai aspirants and the public curiosity
arc Just now concentrated.
Immediately after the November election the
hopeful cliquos and co'eries Of the democracy nc
lively began their plots ond intrigues for the
Cabinet. Among the first in the field were the
old fogy' movements for Cass and Marcy, re-
alr-a ,,f Ctota
of Western politicians and Western letter wri-
tiers in behalf Of Gen. Cas- threatened in the
outset 10 carry him in by storm. A little cool
reflection, however, on the part Of Mr. Buchanan,
with a survey Of the political horizon, soon con-
vipced him that Gen. Cas- was entirely out Of
the question, and his case was weighed adjudged
and settled accordingly some time ago. Gen.
Cass is the father Of "squatter sovereignty "a
doctrine in which Mr.. Buchanan is no. a be.
lever. He believes in the power Of Congress
over the Territories Again The first idea Of a
foreign policy with Gen. Cas- is war with Eng
lard. while Mr.. Buchanan seriously thinks thai
peace with John Bull may be made 10 answer our
purposes even better than war Upon Gen. Cas-
there exists wide spread Disagreement in the
democratic party, which Mr.. Buchanan does not
care 10 take upon bis back. Finally, Gen. Cas-
is too old for The active duties OF the State De
partment. and hence he is not the man for the
place
The Marcy movement, started 10y few de-
crepid ofIiceholders and the old women's foreign
organs in Wall street. has never amounted 70
anything the tergiversations and double dealings
Of the Pierce administration having rendaed
| Mr.. Marcy, we suspect, an obsolete idea with
| Mr.. Buchanan Thus Cas- and Marcy, each upon
the most satisfactory objections, we undertake u
| say, have been decisively set aside.
AT present We find the cliques and factions Of
the party divided principally upon the merits
prospects, services and fitness Of Mr.. Cobb, o
| Georgia, and Mr.. Robert J. Walker, Of the Paci
&c Railroad, for the post Of Premier We locate
Mr. Walker upon the Pacific Railroad because
ince his retirement from the Treasury Depart
ment he appears 10 have been drifting specu
lator and stockjobber, with no Fixed hsbitatior
| except il be the Paso del Norte aud Gadsier
route for the Pacific Railroad. During the las
six or eight months be has engrsited himself upor
little New Yotk clique Of speculating politi
Clans, who lock upon the new administration a
job, and whose entire policy is 10 make none.
out Of IL as financial experiment. If this wer
the only objection, we should pronounce il fata
TO the aspirations Of Mr.. Walker; but there !
another and of a more serious and compreben
sive character, concerning which we incline t
believe the President elect will have taken car
to be duly enlightened
The New York clique in the service Of Mr.