The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-23
President johnson and His Cabinet-The
Past and the Present Order of Things.

IRON the HeTGtd.
The reconstruction of the Cabinet has for
some time ceased to be subject of rumors and
conjectures among the political circles at Wash
ington. There seems to be a general under
standing that the question of reorganization
has been indefinitely postponed, subject only
to tie chapter of accidents and circumstances
to which all human affairs are liable from day
to day. The President naturally shrinks from
the idea OF superseding the ministers inherited
from his lamented predecessor, and they are
EVIDENTLY satisfied with this amiable feeling of
Mr.. johnson. But here the question is sug-
gested, should they not be influenced by a cor
responding sentiment OF delicacy, and grace
fully give him the opportunity of reorganizng
his administrative household without the hazard
OF complaints of injustice from any quarter?
That the leading members of the present Ca
binet have come out OF the trying ordeal of our
late deadly and perilous struggle Tor the life
OF the nation with flying colors is univer.
sally admltted that MI. Seward has managed
our difficult and critical foreign relations
singular skill and ability no intelligent
man will deny; that Mr. Stanton has
conducted with unsurpassed energy, foresight,
and fidelity, day aud night, the stupendous
machinery of the War Office required for the
| equipment transportation, and supply of a
! million OF soldiers in the field, enveloping an
a1ea OF eight hundred thousand square miles
OF hostile territory, is proved by the glorious
! events of the war; and that the final summing
! up ofthe Secretary OF the Navy has given general
| satisfaction we are glad to testify. What can
! President johnson do against the claims of such
| public officers as these? Sharing the common
! gratitude OF the country for their faithful SER
vices, Their trials and dangers through the fear
| tul struggle OF the war, he recognizes their
| right to liberal margin of indulgence Yet
| it is manifest that the war Cabinet OF President
| Lincoln, animated and controlled by one all.
absorbing idea, does not work so harmoniously
as the peace Cabinet of his successor. Peace
has brought about new epoch-a new order
| OF thlngs-demandlng new departure, new
| policy, and a new ministry in the new work
| of reconstruction, and especially demanding,
IN support of the Executive, a Cabinet that
| is a unit
President Johnson had exhibited conscien-
tious respect Tor the memory of abraham Lin
coin in everything that he has DONE and in
everything he has declined to do, as the inheri-
tor OF MI. Lmcoln's responsibilities, pledges,
and policy The country is thus indebted for
the ratification of his emancipation procama-
rons in the great constitutional amendment
abollshng and lnterdicting slavery throughout
the Union and forever So too, as upon all
collateral issues" the generous Lincoln had
promised the rebellious States a large exercise
OF magnanlmity, his policy has been pursued
by johnson. But still the clashings OF recon
suuction theories and parties and factions, in
Congress and out OF Congress, have resulted IN
disc ordant opinions in the Cabinet--opiniOns
which have become settled while the President
has been developing his own well-considereG
measures OF Southern restoration. Hence W.
md him rather embarrassed than strengthened
| by Cabinet accepted as legacy with tht
policy indicated by his predecessor.
= President johnson is however, disincllned Il
resort to the extremity OF displaeing this Cablne