The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-16

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 1850
This has been day Of gloom and despondency at the
seat Of government and the elements themselves con
tribued to the general soemnty. violent snow storm
commenced early this morning. and has ragged all day
with uninterrupted violence.
the White House the consultations were of the most
impressive character The venerable President seems
grave almost TO sadness and the withdrawal Of his long
rcd and Cherished friend Gen Cass from his bosom
councils makes his sorrow poignant and more din
cult 10 His touching for day
Il fasting humiliation and prayer, breathes sentme.,s
which spring from the bottom OF his heart and while
pan 10 hang the Presidential Mansion the va
rious Departments seem also manied in gloom. In the
Office Department the absence Of Postmaster Gene
King, who is obliged to relnqush Official duties tenn
porarily account Of the serious illness Of beloved
daughter the absence from sickness Of the First and
Second Assistants and The sad and uncertain condition u
national Affairs, cause ccspondent Dc every
wherc visible In thcSate Department the aspect IS alike
funercal, for II SEEMS as If one OF the fathers
Of the repubic departed when Gen Css surrendered h
portfolio. In The mhist 81 the prevailing gloom,
port fortunately unioundet currently Giro lated
that o. the Cobnot officers iaI suddenly died from
tile ELECTS u agitation paoaucd BY discussing ths
questions q the Cay and the breaking up 4
lie Cabinet. Altogether IL has been the goomiest day
the national capho las b,hed for vcrv msuy years and
while licked upcp tho unfinished the Capitol
IL unUshcd wings Of the magnificent eliac., the
ruins II the Coliseum al Rome we're brought yiydly a
hls MINDS eye.
In many quarters Il + suggested hat the President
uIcr bis oce for the remainder his term into the
han Of The yoGn and energetic Vice President aud the
suggestion is not Al all unfa, orably entertained But
President Buchanan VII doubt stand 10 the helm a
the shp q state and possible guide her safely -oush
the terms and disasters which threatens her every
eide.
The late great Union demonstration in Philadelphia hss
been the subject q scarcely single any quar-.
Washington. IL fact, everything that sayors IL
raciacaon fails Ike lead upon the cold heart Of tho
nations capital in this hour Of peril
Judge Black the present Attorney General has received
the appointment Of secretary Of state vice Gcncra Case
resigned n : reported tia, Edwin stanton Of PennsyI.
wanna, eminent lawyer, In ihs city win take the
post Of Attorney General
The appointment Of secretary Thompson a. Cotnmis-
North Carolina may render his resignation ne
ceesary The report that he has resigned l. premature
Tho and mctvce assigned for General Cas- re-
sgnaton after mature deberation probably not yet
perfectly understood. II may be that he l. preparing
statement for tie public which ought to AMI viii om-
brace his views al large The state Of the country
General SCOTS Intervention IL pregnant with meaning
rnd the duties 70 be assigned him win end in g,oi or
evil I, II believed he IL IN harmony with the President
and that hs has oorncied AMI mastery inactivity
IN regard 70 reinforcing the FED raj Scoops at the south
II should turn out that he d b sent south n
viii bc only IN the character OF pacinc1cr and In thai
capfcty be Win b. received with respect, One thing s
cert IN his efforts al Efforts viii be vain until TIE
North masS. and in sober earnest, assumes
thai attitude which alcne srrest the THAI
starsr the country Ia the face
DISPATCHES we're received this morning al the Navy
Department from The Pacific sausdrcn Lieut. John r.
Hamilton OF south Carolina has tendcrcd his resgns;oa
70 tho Navy department, and bas been permitted by
the ag otcer tho Pacific squadron IN which he was
serving TO return the United states lie intends TO
cspcuse the cause 81 his native state
Thc resignation G..srs Cas-. uay BE- the eseas4oa "a
unwarrantcd congratulations smong the friends q co~
cion lie advised u u understood. the application c.
federal force both Army and rev the troubles "a
Charleston usboud b. remembered that secession thou~~
threatened, has not Jet been contaminated BY sca,h
Carolina. IT Gerer! Csss approved Il that he
did az the pcaeestie doctrines cf the Message what
currcncc be changed he question 70 relieve
him his present position of glazing inconsStctey. II
the ordinance OF secession bad been adopted ard ths
federal properly aud interests were ,hey tbsu so1d
have been rprotccted the General might have constv
cutly urged the application OF the federal powers 70
their projection Neither does appear thas IN s'eh "a
cyent ,ho President vi not use the army and the UNy
The question then viii not be The same - NE ovson
now aud ,hcn the rre~icn, might not dsnsr WE uene'
al Csss.
u0ra,o, wuaon,s letter 70 Hon Caleb CHhng ~ OF.
/. mainly devoted 10 the exhurins q tho declarations