The New York herald., 1863-01-14

ePoSioA UuStuccS upOu tHc ltoluCutt Who
understands no more of war than he does Of
the Sanscrit?
The Republican Caucus on Cabinet
Changes.
None OF our contemporaries have as yet
touched upon the subject of the resolutions
passed by the republican caucus Of the Senate
in regard to the changes which ought to be
made in the Cabinet. The explanation of this
reticence is very simple. The radical organs
are amazed and confounded at the spectacle OF
ultra senators,i of the blackest republican
school, marching in solid array to join the con
servative ranks and once more keeping step to
the glorious music of the Union. The radica
political organs Of the opposition school, which
prefer party to patriotism, are no less sur
prised and astonished at this unexpected, bu
neither unwelcome nor inappropriate, reinforce
ment of the conservative army. 1t will be by
no means wonderful, therefore, if, when the
organs of these extremists recover sufficiently
to be able to express an opinion upon the sub
ject, we shall find them agreeing to misrepre-
sent the resolutions as an endorsement not Of
the conservative, but of the radical policy. The
organs Of Greeley and Garrison will adopt this
course, in order if possible, to force the republ
can Senator'S into a recantation of their new and
sensible opinions. The organs of Vallandigham
a Co. will strike the same note, partly because
of party jealousies, and partly, perhaps, upon
the Trojan principle
Timeo Danaos OF ferentes dona.
We are content, however, to accept these
resolutions in the sense which they express and
were evidently intended to convey, and we re-
gard the demand of the republican Senator's
for change in the Cabinet and in the whole
policy Of the war as one Of the most important
and significant episodes of the rebellion. These
Senator'S, it must be remembered, represent
more than two-thirds OF the loyal States and
are supported in this demand by vast
majority of the loyal people. In England
when the House Of Commons votes loss of
confidence in the Cabinet, the resignation of all
the Queens advisers Immediately follows We
have no such provision in the constitution OF
this country, and change in the Cabinet
depends entirely upon the will Of the President
himself Certainly, however, when the Cabinet
members are SO pointedly informed that they
have forfeited the confidence not only of Con-
gress, but also Of the people, they should adopt
the English custom and resign forthwith; or
if they have not the grace to perform SO OBJ
vious duty. the President should dismiss them
without unnecessary delay. The fact that these
resolutions were passed, not by the opposition,
but by caucus of the chosen representatives
OF the political party which elevated the Presi-
dent to power, before all political parties were
merged in the party Of the Union, increases the
just severity OF the rebuke to the administra-
ton. We do not now stop to inquire how
greatly the republican Senators have been re-
sponsble for the evils which they now seek to
remedy. We do not propose to chill the ardor
Of these new proselytes to conservatism by 70.
garding them as pdrticipcs criminis, and their
resolutions as States evidence against their
former associates. 1t is enough for us, and
should be enough for the President, that these
Senator'S now agree with the general sentiment
Of the country in demanding change in the
Cabinet and o return to the constitutional con-
duct Of the war.
The first resolution passed by the republican
caucus says:-"The only course Of sustaining
this government and restoring and preserving
the national existence and perpetuating the ma
tional integrity is by vigorous and successful
prosecution of the war;" This Is the simple,
solemn truth, clearly stated and was the origi-
nal platform of Mr.. Lincoln. But how
far has the administration diyerged from
this "only COURSE under the direction
of insane fanatics like Greeley! How absurd
do the schemes for restoring the Union by
emancipatng the negroes and colonizing the
contrabands now appear How imbscile and
unworthy are those Cabinet members who have
persisted in turning the ship of State from her
only true course to wreck her upon the break
ers of a bedevilled philanthropy. The second
and third resolutions state that, in order to ..se
cure to the country unity of purpose and action
in all material and essential respects, more es-
pecially in the present crisis of public affairs,
the Cabinet should be exclusively composed of
statesmen who are the cordial, resolute, ,in-
wavering supporters Of tho principles and pur-
poses first above stated"-viz: that our only
course is . vigorous prosecution of the war;
This is most logical and most true, and the ar
gument completely condemns the present Cabi-
nent. With the exception Of Secretary Seward
what Cabinet member can be called a states.
man. Is it Secretary Chase, with his disar-
ranged finances, his abolition intrigues, his de-
preciated currency, his evident incompstency
and his proposed plan Of filling the Treasury
by running the nation? Is 1t Secretary Welles,
who, with navy OF three or four hundred YES
sells at his command, permits the Alabama to
rule the seas Is it Secretary Stanton, who,
according to the report Of the Fredericksburg
committee, forces incompetent generals into
chief commands, and then leaves them to
destroy themselves and their armies, with
out even giving them the little aid Of
which he and his Genersl-in-C Chief are
capable, and who, having refused volun-