The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-27

OF the spirit Of retrcnchment which, such crisis as
how impending, might have been looked for The pay Of
members of Congress should have been reduced In such
strife 10 we are now involved u representatives
should have been willing to have served for their bare
salaries Of public officers especially diplomatic should be
reduced.
Think will be found error the consequences Of
which will be far reaching, that action was taken
upon this subject
With this brief notice pass from this to another and
more important consideration.
III Cara successfully maintain the contest Nth Southern
secession Uihout ccetn the federal government There
Wsu scarcely be dissenting throughout The whoe
how osbers Of tie Cabinet have been self deceived
not TO haze Observed tie strong Influence IF puddle opinion
trial of military strength. Public confidence has ben
sceaened to still greater erten Jy the Jef IF conn lcy
ty the War pars"nt in he namteraess frauds wh haze
bcea committed army contracts. do say that this
belief Is well founded II is sufficient that the conviction
Is thoroughly xed in the public mind. This of itself s
sufficient to require by the Secretary Of that
Department. He may exonerate himself from blame If
he chooses by an investigation, and the committee ap
pointed by Congress to inquire into abuses has sufficient
power for that purpose. But know not what justification
there can be for retaining Office when all popular support
is wanting.
As to the Navy Department. The charge is not mach
completely by the Secretary his utter ine@ciecy is
fragrant that the blockade which government
nour,ced 10 the world has been an utter failure. Time
enough has elapsed to hare made up for any deficiency Of
vessels there might haze been at first The continued n1i-
cncy If the action Of the department ia that respect is such
as 70 expose us TO The contempt Of all commercial nations
The course has usually been in England, when minis
try has exposed itself to any charge Of neglect ncom
potency serious to impair public support that it is
compelled to resign vote by the House Of Commons Of
want Of confidence is decisive.
So resolution Of inquiry into alleged misconduct has
often had tho same effect The Aberdeen Ministry was
thus compelled to resign in 1865, upon charge of mis-
managemen of the Crimcan
We have such summary mode Of compelling the resfg
ndon Of Cdtnd officers. Yet tere ii would hare been
great public advantage If the House Of Rspree' 'tares,
before the late adjournment Of Congress- had declared the
necessity Of change. II would ut least have embodied
the opinion now universally prevalent.
IL might hare been expected that capitalists uOull,
When called TO determine upon taking the lean asked Jy the
government hare prescribed the condition that the CdJtna
should he reconstructed TO restore public confidence
II seems to have been left entirely To the popular
voice. may be that there will be decisive express
sion till new disasters shall have occurred These how
ever inevitable. II that we are to learn wis
dom only by hard experience / hope yet TO see an
energy and patriotism developed which latent.
There can be no enthusiasm of the people while the be-
lief exists that the affairs Of the country conducted
with mercenary motives
Republican as am in opinion, would prefer to see
tanning Of the ability which the present crisis calls for
North would be much aided by calling the Cabinet
prominent men, irrespective Of their former political
views. world like to General Dix and Mr. Holt
in Cabinet Offices while but express what the general
feeling Of the North saying that General Banks ought
to be at the head of the War Department for which he
is by former experience and his well known executive
ability tar better fitted than he is for tho command of
division OF the army, A. II. ID.
AUGUST 81, 1861