The New York herald., 1862-04-22

the Southwest will give the signal for the final
blow to the rebellion in the East
The Recent Cabinet Differences.
The knowledge that there is q secret is al
ways provocative of interest and inquiry.
About our Cabinet meetings, therefore, there
is that delicate, piquant spice Of mystery which
excites curiosity and stimulates gossip. Fro
fessedly, the sessions of the Cabinet are as Be-
cret as the grave; but, practically, they are,
like Mrs. Radcliffe's novels, only mysterious
enough to be interesting Of all that is said
done and resolved upon, when the President
gathers his advisers about him in solemn con-
clave, no one outside the Cabinet is ever in
formed but still, at least enough of detail and
result always leaks out to whet the appetite
of the public and elicit an anxious request for
more, as the thin parish soup aggravated,
but did not satisfy. Oliver Twists hunger
The meeting of President Lincoln's Cabinet,
held last week, has been the subject Of just this
curiosity, anxiety and gossip. The meeting
was held on Tuesday, and by the next morning
it was generally known that the session had
been stormy, and that wide differences of
opinion were developed. Day after day since
has given Madame Rumor new material for
her busy tattle, and we have been informed
that, in consequence of these differences,
one of the Secretaries would resign; then,
that he had told friend he would
not resign; then, that he would have resigned,
but the President declared he could not afford
to lose every Cabinet officer with whom he
differed and, finally, that one of the Secre-
tares was officially obnoxious, though person
ally agreeable, and would certainly leave the
Cabinet. Just at this time the readiest Gre
dence is given to any reports, however absurd
and improbable. The public shrewd!y suspects
that somebody is humbugging it somehow
and, being uncertain by whom and in what man
ner this mystifcaton is conducted, it believes
nothing and everything by turns. The govern
ment censorship of the press has so confused,
disturbed and irritated the minds of the people
as to make them skeptical and suspicious, slow
to believe what is revealed and feverishly apt
to surmise, conjecture and suspect what is
concealed. Consequently, the gossip about
the Cabinet session has grown more exagge-
rated daily. The newspapers have been filled
with hints, guesses and inuendoes. The peo-
pie, at street corners or ON Change, repeated
the latest rumor or discussed the last special,
confidential intelligence received from Wash
ington. The money and stock markets have
been affected, and general and most unhappy
feeling Of uncertainty in regard to our ap-
preaching battles has been tho result of this
public mistrust and curiosity.
For ourselves, we can see nothing to cause
doubt or alarm in the intelligence already
known to the public, through the HERALD in
regard to the Cabinet differences. The President
has given us so many proofs of his patriotic good
sense and firm conservatism that the public
ought not to doubt the result of any Cabinet
meeting over which he may preside. The Cabi-
net officers are but the advisers, not the supe-
riors, of the President and we believe he would
dismiss them all rather than be persuaded
against his own convictions of right. This re-
fection ought of itself to quiet the alarmist
and give confidence to the most despondent.
Fortunately, however, we are not left to refec-
ton and inference in this case. The meeting
Of the Cabinet was important, the discussion
stormy; but the result was the triumph Of the
President and his popular policy over the pre-
judices and passions of his advisers. Secretary
Stanton declined to grant Gen. McClellan's re-
quest that certain troops should be sent to him,
and also objected to the Presidents order that
another division should join McClellan's
corps. although this order was issued in COM
pliance with McClellans own desire This was
the subject under discussion, and it very natu-
rally led to a general controversy about
Mcclellan and his plans. The President de-
Tended Mcclellan, and was sustained by Secre-
taries Seward and Blair-this singular coalition
resulting rather from Stewards GOODNESS to-
wards Stanton and Chase than from his admi-
ration of Mcclellan. The discussion was earnest
and warm, Secretary Stanton being especially
impetuous and declamatory against the Presi-
dents policy. At last the President declared
that he had set his foot down firmly, that Gene
raj Mcclellan should not be interfered with,
and should have anything he needed from the
War Department, and that it was useless to
attempt to modify his opinion Of General
Mcclellan and his plans. The result of this
noble speech was the rumors of Stantons resig-
nation, and the immediate rapid advance of
the forces under Mcdowell who had been
waiting in Washington to have his destination
decided.
But good news never comes singly; and, in
addition to this important decision in regard TO
the War Department. the Department Of the
Navy was also overhauled. and it is decided
that Welles shall retire from the Cabinet The
only question now is, what to do with him or
where to send him, as Cameron was sent to
Russia, in order to relieve his retirement Of any
disgraceful odium. Surely some distant minis
try or consulship may be found for him in
some tropical country, where he will have
little to DO but sleep. General Banks, Cover
nor Spragus, and Judge Davis, of Indiana, are
spoken of as his successors; but Banks is more