The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-29
Mr.. Buchanan at Washingson The Incoming
Administration.

Administration.
Mr.. Buchanan is at Washington, in pursuance
| of his plan OF "a preliminary visit of week or
| two, to take few personal observations and
| soundings among the cliques and politicians of
The party, in advance of the definite composition
| of his Cabinet and the exact determination Of
the landmarks Of his inaugural address. 1t would
appear too, that in regard TO the objects Of this
expedition, he has been met upon the Threshold
by the heartiest cooperation of all classes sec
tions and factions of the democracy; for, accord
ing to our Information, at the close of his first
day in town he declared that ''the purposes of
his visit had already been half accomplished"
From this expression it is evident that Mr.
Buchanan is not at all embarrassed in reference
to bis course upon any great principle OF ques-
ton OF public policy, foreign or domestic; that
he suffers no serious perplexity concerning the
fitness or expediency Of this or that man for this
or that place in his Cabinet; but that in some
respects, this visit is like the trial trip of an
ocean steamer fully equipped and ready for sea,
subject only to such trihing notifications aud ad-
justments of the machinery as her experimental
| run down the bay may indicate to the skiliul ca
gineer. We have heretofore notified our readers
that after fortnight, or few days, more or less,
in Washington, in this instance, Mr. Buchanan,
with the mass of information which he will
have gathered from all sorts of men,
from all sections Of the Union, upon all
the great issues of the day. and upon all
the numerous aspirants for Cabinet honors,
will fall back upon Wheatland to decide upon
his Cabinet and to write his inaugural; and that,
with the accomplishment of these important du-
ties, he will return to Washington in season for a
few days of rest and recreation before the event
full fourth of March.
In regard both to Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet and
his inaugural, we adhere to the general record
which we have on more than one occasion SUB
mitted to our readers since his election. We
have no fear that, with the dreadful example of
poor Pierce before him, he will attempt in the
outset the same fatal policy Of constructing his
administration and his Cabinet, and of recon-
structing his party, upon the idea of harmonic
ing the most ultra sectional factions through the
cohesive power of the public plumber" In his
speech to the students of the Lancaster College,
Mr.. Buchanan declared, on the other hand, that
It should be his policy not to buy up or conciliate
with the spoils this or that disorderly clique or
faction, but to destroy" North and Soaah, ''all
sectional parties This is large promise-it
covers the whole ground-it embraces all the
Jaw and the prophets for it necessarily includes,
in the language of the President elect. IAN adj
ministraton upon the national and conservative
bac Of thn toff fipyv
With this safe and satisfactory policy
as his guiding star in all things it
matters little what are the particular
names of the individuals of the new Ca
binet, and very little as to what sec
ton or State they may represent, so that they
are practically qualified for satisfactory admi
nstration of the official duties to which they may
be assigned respectively, 30 that they are good
Union men, and unit upon the I" national aud
conservative" chart of the President. and so that
they have no particular axes TO grind or plots TO
contrive for the succession, no old party grudges
to aveDge, and no hungry clique to reward W
the spoils. To this bill of exceptions General
Cas- would bc obnoxious, for he has an old and
widespread party grudge to settle, and hungry
and numerous clique awaiting their reward. Mr..
Douglas and Mr.. Bright, and such, would be
still more inconvenient, for tsey aspire to the
succession are jealous Of each other, and word
doubtless use their Office, and perhaps abuse &c,
like poor Pierce, TO accomplish the next dem
cratic nomination. With some attention TO SUI
distractions, the work Of appointing a satisfa
tory Cabinet will I've comparatively easy, upon
the sbibboletb Of national and conservati,
government and with the ruling principle that
the President shall be always the master of his
situation
The inaugural of the new President however.
will be anXiously looked for by the American
people and the world at large, as the true index
TO the administration which is to follow. The
inaugural OF Franklin Pierce was but the stumi
speech Of an inflated politician speaking for
Buncombe, and tickling the ears of a credulou.
community with his glittering but unmeaning
generalities. lie had only vague idea Of
achieving this thing, that thing or the other;
but he could afford to play the boaster, With
party at his back which, in his behalf aad in
his name. had given the great wing party its Wa
terloo defeat Notwithstanding their leader aud
champion was the greatest military cheftain of
the day Mr.. Buchanan, however, cannot afford
10 indulge in any such luxuries as the clap-trap
and stuff for Buncombe of poor Pierces inaugu-
raj. The election of Mr. Pierce's successor has
been everything but holiday operation He is
elected, though 10 minority of the popular vote
Of over three hundred thousand is really
less than the minority to which the democracy
have been reduced by the prodgal son of New
Hampshire In this position Mr.. Buchanan can
not afford to play the trfer or vain-g glorious POI
litician in his inaugural He will have to meet
the stern responsibilities of the hour with the
earnestness and gravity becoming the crisis-he
must spes the faith that is in him, and bis in
depreciation of the late election, fairly and can