The New York herald., 1862-10-27

The Comfng Elections and ReConstruc-
tfon or the Cabinet.
The workings of popular government are
different in different countries. In England, If
the course Of the Queens advisers seems to be
heartily disapproved by the majority of the
people, they resign their portfolios and their
seats in Parliament and either appeal to the
country in . new election or give place to q
ministry selected from tho opposition party
In France, If the opinions Of the government
and the people become antagonistic. popular
revolution follows-barricades are erected
the arguments of artillery, musketry and the
sword are used on both sides, and the govern
ment is either forced to adopt the peoples
views or is supplanted by new dynasty. Thi'
method Of reforming their rulers has been en-
twenty times since the first great revolution of
1889, and constitutes, therefore, recognized
part Of the French system of government. In
England, then, when the government and the
people differ they appeal to tho polls. In
France they appeal to the sword.
In This country the President Is elected for
four years. AT the expiration of that period
either he or the party which has supported him
goes before the people and asks for q renewed
lease Of Office. If the majority Of the people ere
satisfied with and endorse the policy Of the ad-
ministration, they vote for the candidates Of the
administration party. If the people are not
satisfied new party Is placed in power
But, however much the people and the
| administration may he ct variance during
| the Presidents term Of Office, the people
cannot force him to change his policy or resign
his position until the next Presidential election
occurs. Even if the administration party were,
in the meantime, to be defeated at the polls
| and q majority of both houses of Congress were
elected pledged to repeal the old and oppose
the new administration measures and to stop
the supplies Of the government. the President
| could veto all the acts Of Congress, and, under
any but the most extraordinary circumstances
| could carry on the government in spite OF Con
| grcss Practically, therefore, as such pro-
ceeding on the part of Congress would require
miraculous combination Of maiorties, events
and condolences of time and opportunity. there
is no provision in our system for obliging the
| President to adopt or reject any policy at the
| will of the people The idea Of serious and
| dangerous disagreement between the chief
executive and the country was never contem
plated by the trainers of our government, and
| such crisis is indeed most unlikely, either at
| this or any subsequent period Of our history.
| But when the President finds that majority
| Of the people are dissatisfied with his admins
| tration, be has the remedy in his own hands
The members Of his Cabinet hold Office by his
appointment and can he dismissed at his pleasure
Such dism;ssals are of course voluntary with
the President; but they are seldom refused when
majority of the country imperatively dcmsnds
them, and are even sometimes granted at the
request of q majority Of the administration
party. The last general change Of the Cabinet
occurred under President jackson, who, finding
! one portion Of his advisers intriguing with
| Calhoun and Van Burcn with another portion
| fomenting political agitation, sent the whole
set out Of Office and replaced them by better
| men. During war like this, however these
| Cabinet changes become the Presidents duty
as well as his privilege. When tho admnstra-
ton has clearly lost the confidence Of the
country, our Cabinet should he reconstructed
and new policy inaugurated just as, under
similar circumstances, the ministry would re-
sign in England, and the Emperor be deposed
in France President Lincoln has a Cabinet
which is quite as divided as that dismissed by
Geaeral jackson; and the present Cabinet dis
sunsions and contentious iniuye, not merely the
technical administration party. but the whole
country which is unanimous in support of the
President Members OF the present Cabinet
differ with each other, with the President and
with the People as to the policy to be pursued
il prosecuting this war These members are
intriguing for and against our generals inter
lcring with the conduct of the war and thwart-
ing the best devised plans Of our military lead
crs. They neglect their own departments 10
intrude upon the departments Of others. They
have crippled the efficiency Of our army and
navy. deranged and mismanaged our finances,
and G, eatly prolonged, cInbittered and increased
the cost IN life and treasure Of this unhappy
war. DO majority Of the people demand their
expulsion from Office, and the selection OF more
co,npeten, and patriotic men as the Presidents
advisers
This question was an issue in the Central
States in October, and is An ISSUE in the Novcnl
Der elections which are now being canvassed.
r. the approaching elections in New York, New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, IL
limos, Missouri ard Minnesota result in as
marked conservative triumphs as those recently
gained in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, this
conservative victory will be intended, and will
probably be accepted by the President. as
hint TO reconstruct the Cabinet Let the people
remember this when they go to the ballot box
es IT. as we hope and expect, those elections
shall reveal decided conservative majority in
most Of the loyal States, there is no reason why
President Lincoln should not select his new Ca
biEet, as he has his generals, from the
hnnast and able men who benng 10 the CON