The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-18

up. When bar of iron is violently struck i
breaks in the weakest part. But the Cabinet
has no weakest part. 1t is all weak alike, and
and manages everything, and who is his own
adviser and his own Cabinet. We have the
facts on record, and shall publish them when
we deem it expedient, to prove that throughout
this whole war President Lincoln has conducted
the affairs or this nation for himself what
Cabinet. If he had not done SO God only knows
where we should have been now. 1t is a bless
ing to the country and the world that Heaven
gave us in Mr.. Lincoln the man for the crisis,
and that the Presidential chair was filed by no
old fogy politician Of the style Of those in the
Cabinet.
Newspapers and niggers are the stumbling
blocks of all small politicians in this country.
The members of the Cabinet are all very well
in their own departments; but the moment they
attempt to manage either of these difficult sub
jects they find their heels tripped up and them
selves in the mire. There is Secretary Seward,
for instance. His management of our foreign
affairs has been, thus far, beyond all praise.
We confess that we never supposed Seward had
such talents or knew so well how to use the
talents he had. Certainly he never showed any
such genius in political life. And why? Because
there he was trying to manage the irrepressible
niger. And whenever, during his diplomatic
career, he has left his own department to dabble
with other matters, he has Numbered most fear
fully His interference with the 'peace organ
newspapers was blunder His system of po-
litical arrests was blunder. His letter about
Bull Run Russell was blunder. His issuing
of passports was blunder. His management
of the press censorship was blunder. Seward,
however, had sense enough to see this and to get
rid of these troublesome matters as speedily
as possible. Consequently he has made an
admirable Secretary Of State, and has dis
played genius for the management of foreign
affairs which, if we were the first to doubt, we
were also the first to discover and acknowledge.
The press censorship Seward handed over to
Cameron, who sunk beneath its weight of re-
sponsbility; and now Secretary Stanton like
Hercules relieving Atlas; is trying to support
the same burden, with little better success.
Or take, again, the case of Secretary Chase.
As Secretary of the Treasury Mr.. Chase has
proven himself statesmanlike financier Of the
very highest order. If all the ability and
all the labors Of half dozen of his imme-
date predecessors in Office were combined
they could not rival the extraordinary ability
and the splendid financial achievements of Mr.
Chase. And yet what is this Secretary worth
when he leaves the almighty dollar to manage
the almighty niger? just nothing at
ALL His schemes for making educated
saints Of the contrabands at Hilton
Head have resulted in nothing but expense,
failure and the personal chastisement of Chases
man Friday, the Reverend Pierce. Mr.. Chase,
has turned the niger question over
to Secretary Stanton and retreated to his own
He will do well to remain there
and become famous Secretary Welles has had
nothing to do with either niggers or news
papers, but has amused himself by managing
his Office business just as he would have done
fifty years ago; while the President has direct
cd, and our gallant sailors have accomplished,
those glorious exploits which shall never be
forgotten while Americans have q country.
There may be other members Of the Cabinet
besides those mentioned, and doubtless we
could find their names in some almanac or
other; but they amount to nothing, and need
not be considered.
Now, if the Cabinet is to break up. who is to
90 out? Not these unnamed nobodies, who
never heard Of General Hunter or his procla-
nation until they read about 1t in the
HERALD. Not Secretary Welles; for he
has nothing to do with slaves, and only wants
to be allowed to doze in peace. Not Secretary
Chase; for he has given up the niger business,
and loves his financial labors too well to leave
them voluntarily upon another mans quarrel.
Not Secretary Seward; for he, too, finds enough
to do in his own department, and is content to
rest his fame upon his diplomatic achievements
Who, then remains? Only Secretary Stanton,
10 whom both Seward and Chase have thrown
their dirty lincn--the newspapers and the mig
gcrs-and who has since been kept at the wash
tub, splashing and scolding in style more
ridiculous than imposing. We do not think
Stanton will go. He has backed down very
often, and must do SO again. If he left the
Cabinet he would lose good salary, become
nobody and be everywhere laughctt at. lie
will not be foolish enough to exchange his pre-
sent position for such prospect. Much az he
may admire Hunters proclamation, he will not
risk his Office by opposing the Presd ent's wishes
in regard TO It. Stanton busters tho much to
be a determined man and q man oil settled prin-
ciples, and is altogether too shire wd to give up
a seat in Lincoln's Cabinet for tb e bird in the
bush Of an abolition nominatio for the Presi-
dency. On the whole, therefor G, We conclude
that, although General Hunters order will be
withdrawn, there will be NO change in the
Cabinet. We congratulate tAe country, how
ever, upon having SO excellent President
that, IL all the Cabinet sh' ,uld resign at once,
no one need be at oil alar med for the safety
H., natl