The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-21
NEW YORK HERALD WEDNESDAY, AUGUST H. 1861

THE CLAMoRs AGAINST THE CADNEr.-we re-
Gently published an article from the Albany
Eoen'ng Journal, marked with Indignation and
sarcasm against certain members of the Cabinet.
A few days later 1t was published in an organ
OF the administration in this city, accompanied
with lengthy comments commentators, &c.
What is the cause of this virtuous attack on the
part of these Journalist Why should the Albany
Evening Journal and the World, whose religion
| is the almighty dollar and their church the
inner circle of the Lobby, just at this moment
use so harsh language against two members of
the Cabinet who, by virtue of the war, have
large amount of patronage at their disposal,
and let Messrs. Seward and Caleb B. Smith,
who have no patronage, 60 free2
| Upon reflection we have come to the conclu-
sion that there is more in this clamor than is
seen on the surface. A more careful considera-
ton causes us to look with distrust upon those
bitter denunciations, originating with the
Tribune and Times, followed up by
the Union Defence Committee and con-
hnued by the Evening Journal and World
| The circumstances connected with this cutlery
look very much as though there was On African
Of large dimensions hidden away somewhere
under all this. AS to Secretary Cameron, he is
the wealthiest man in the Cabinet-probably
worth one million and q half more than all the
rest: he certainly does not want to make money
out of the war. He may have some Of the
old friends OF Buchanan in Pennsylvania, who
deceived, cheated and disgraced that ex-Presi-
dent, now hanging around his department, and
playing the same game that they did with
Buchanan. As for Welles, we doubt If he has
wit enough to tell whether he is doing things
| right or wrong.
We would like to see the whole matter tho
roughly investigated. Whenever it is, it will
be found that the military and naval authorities
are responsible for the recent failures but
when General Scott, in his statement to the
President, declared himself coward, he placed
the responsibility on the wrong shoulder
! Gen. Scott il no coward there is not particle
Of that element in his composition. He has,
however, been guilty of plumbers, and We are
glad to see him superseded by Gen. McClel-
Ian. As to the navy it will turn out that the Ma
val Commissioners are the responsible parties
| in that arm of the service, or else we mistake
the evidence that is to be seen everywhere.
| The best mode for complete reconstruction
of the Cabinet would be for Secretary Seward
! to take the same course that Van Buren, did in
| the first Cabinet of Jackson-take up his hat
| and leave, and invite the other Secretaries to
| follow.
GENERAL JOHN E. WooI.NWe notice that the
! arrival Of General Wool at Fortress Monroe has
| increased the confidence Of the troops in that
vicinity and awakened new zeal among them
| The General is one of the best officers of the
army, and, althoughA>mewhata advanced in years
| is as full of vigor and activity as many at one
half his age, and his being kept in retirement
| at Troy by the government, when his services
were 80 much needed, has been one of the
blunders Of the administration. Had he been
placed in charge of the army at Washington, in
the place of Mcdowell, he would have placed
those forces under a discipline that would have
brought about far different result than that
| which met our army at Bull run. Or even had
| he been placed at Fortress Monroe at the time
| that Butler was sent there, with the same force
under his command, there would have been no
! Big Bethel blunder to record; on the contrary,
he would have long since occupied Norfolk,
Yorktown, and even been knocking at Richmond
as soon as the Washington army reached Bull run.
It is known that he had prepared plan to
save Norfolk from the destruction that befell it
and the benefit that the rebels have received
! by coming in possession of the three thousand
| cannon stationed there, and would have car
ried it out in time to have saved the men-of-war
at the Gosport Navy Yard, if he had not been
hampered by the jobbers at New York and else
| where. But he is there at Fortress Monroe at
last, but not until after all the damage that
could be done has been accomplished, and we
| fear that the government do not intend to give
him sufficient force to accomplish anything,
but compel him to act on the defensive. He
| should have reinforcements at once, and if
large force is placed under his control we will
guarantee the most favorable results. Fortress
Monroe is unquestionably the basis for opera
tons upon Richmond. The rebels have been
looking for the advance of our army from Wash
ington, and there are their main army and best
generals. A sufficient force should be forth
with raised, not only to strengthen the army ut
| Washington, but to give Gen. Wool all that he
wants at Fortress Monroe, and but short time
will elapse before some of the rebel army now
in the vicinity Of Washington will be compelled
to return to James river to prevent Richmond
| from falling into the hands of General Wool.
If the administration wish to redeem them
| selves let this be done without delay.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SLAVERY CUES
| TION.--In another column will be found report
of an important speech of Hon. Caleb B. Smith,
Secretary Of the Interior, delivered in Provi-
dence, Rhode Island. 1t derives its chief value
from the fact that it is the utterance of Cabi-
net Minister, and probably expresses the senti-
ments of the majority of the Cabinet. Certain.
| ly we have seen nothing as yet to indicate the
contrary. In this speech Mr.. Smith declares
that the war is a war for the restoration of the
| Union and the vindication of the constitution.