Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-12-31
ar, cushIng and AttOTney-csnsral
MilIiAmR.

II now appeara that Mr.. Caleb Cuahlng Who %
ca power behind the throne" has taken the lber-
ty TO openly criticise the last act OF the Attorney
General as a mischievOus blundeT. Mr.. Cushlng
makes no secret OF this matter. He openly avoWs
in Washington circles that IN the publication OF
his decision in regard TO the VIrginlus the AtoT-
uey-CieuenI stepped beyOni bis duty, and assum-
ed to determine the character of the vessel before
the case had reached the courts at all where alone
her real character must be tried If case Is to be
made ont,
ur. Fish also comes in for large share OF cen
sure. 1t is said that many of the ablest lawyers
In washington deuounce his management OF the
affair as the greatest piece Of "bungling" that has
been witnessed in the State Department
The publication OF his decision by tue Attorney
General struck every one with surprise. 1t seem
ed 10 place the Government in the meat awkward
position, and transfer 10 spain nearly oil that
CASTELAR, claimed, while it cast dampe: over the
whole people OF our own country and made every
sensitive American at home and abroad feel
Ashamed Of the statesmanSbip OF our great Re-
public, which had baen theiT greatest pride from
the foundation OF our institutions, based as they
were upon the rights of men.
This laundering on the part Of Mr.. Fish and
the Attorney eneral is Characteristic of the whole
Administration. Here two OF the most important
Cabinet officers, in the very moment Of the most
critical period Of u discussion between two great
governments, when If the balance is prepondera-
ted too far either way war may follow, make the
serious and damaging blunders, the consequence
Of which may yet lead to a divergence from the
Nhoku ali
lshsd, from the very fact that neither nation, as
M Cushing said in the early agItatian Of the
question, wanted war.
Cnder the old Democratic Adminisl ratioRs, the
Secretaries of all the Departments were nen OF
greatest minds-they were highly learned in IT.
ternatlonal law and very models Of statesman.
ship. They determined from their own knowl.
edge OF law and only sought the advice of others
TO establish their own opinions. They were moi
such men as issued second hand" and faulty and
unreliable decisions. Hence the rapid rise ot
American statesmanship, and AmeFicau decisions
all over the world. They thundered further iheir
doctrines and ideas in such well considered argu.
unents that all Europe were forced TO embrace
then, especially was this the case an maritime
rights.
In other Departments the AdminlstrAtion is moi
much better The Treasury Secretary is open tc
the most serious censure while the Navy has al
most been allowed to rot In the hands of Robson
notwithstanding $40 900 900 OF dollars were at bill
disposal last year, enough with prudent economy
to have built and equipped a respectable modern
feet. The Postmaster Generals management Il
no better-even worse. After urging Tor seVerS
years the abolition Of the franking privilege on
the score Of economy We find upon trial undel
ME. CresWei, Ia said 10 cause great Inconvenience
and add TO the cost Of the government, while tha
luninaTV hopes 10 confuse things BY urging thu
addition Of other new expensive systems, such Al
aPOstal telegraph and postal banks, TO the DE
paFlmeDt. In the hands of judielous aud gOOs
men perhaps these institutions might be adVan
tageOus. But with the present bungling AMI
WIetchsd nismAnAgemeut the lsss there is 10 b
managed the better