The North Carolina Standard

MR. POLK'S CABINET.

It is not yet known who will form the Cabinet of the President elect. Rumor assigns to Mr. Walker, of Mississippi, the office of Secretary of State; to Col. Butler, of Kentucky, the post of Secretary of War; to Mr. Cambreling, of New York, the Treasury Department; and to Gen. Saunders, of this State, the office of Postmaster General. Of course these are only rumors, and of a character with divers others in constant circulation. Though North Carolina claims as her own son the President elect, and rejoices in common with the Union in his elevation to the first station in the world, yet she loves him and the great cause better than she does the preferments of the Federal Government, and will be the last to put forward, in any shape, any claims which may embarrass him, or endanger, in the slightest sense, the healthy and steady action of his administration. She desires, so far as we know any thing of her feelings, to see President Polk the President of the people and of the country. The Nashville Union of the 6th instant, the peculiar organ of Col. Polk, has the following:

"We doubt whether Mr. Polk will have any duty to perform which will be more embarrassing than the selection of his cabinet. Much of the harmony and success of his administration will depend upon the wisdom with which he shall discharge this duty. He must be surrounded by statesmen of eminent abilities—the democratic ranks furnish an abundance of such men. The cabinet should be composed of gentlemen in whom the President can repose the inmost secrets of his bosom, and they should be capable of harmonizing on terms of implicit confidence with each other. They should entertain political opinions in strict accordance with the fundamental doctrines of the democratic party. Their first and last purpose should be to devote all their energies to the maintenance of these great leading measures on which the popular will was expressed in the election of the President."

We agree with the Union. In addition to the above, we humbly conceive that the President elect will know no difference among the leading members of the democratic party—that the country will be thought of first, and always, and Calhoun men and Van Buren men never. What does the country want of Benton men, or Van Buren men, or Calhoun men, or Polk men? Let us have good democrats. That is what we want. Let the Resolutions of the late Democratic National Convention be the test of their democracy, and let their abilities be of the highest order, and of a practical rather than brilliant character.

But after all, we shall look more to Congress than to the President and his Cabinet. The leading measures of Col. Polk's administration will be a Tariff for Revenue, with discriminations for protection—the annexation of Texas—the occupation of Oregon, and the Independent Treasury system; and these must be carried forward by the joint action of Congress and the Executive. We must have Texas. We must have it, at all hazards. In this great work the President elect will not falter. Will not Congress back him? At any rate, the people will. We must also have Oregon. Our title to it is as good as any title can be. Every consideration presses its occupation, and we hope the President will link these two measures together and do what he may to carry them out. The genius of the people and their wants also demand a reduction of the Tariff, and we hope this will be effected at the earliest practicable period.

The people, also, of both parties, demand simplicity at the White House and in Congress, as well as economy in the public expenditures. This Republic is able to put on the pomp and equipage of Europe, and to outshine even England in gorgeousness and splendor; but the people are not willing to see any thing like that, and far distant be the day when they shall. They demand neither meanness nor splendor of appearance, but that severe simplicity which characterized Washington and Franklin; and they will despise, in their heart of hearts, those who may ape the fashions and frivolities of crushed and outworn Europe. Twenty millions, it is thought, will carry on the Government. But whatever sum may be necessary, it ought to be well guarded, and the officers who may have charge of it, should be held to use it with as much caution and frugality as they would their own funds. This is practicable and that officer who shall violate this wholesome principle, ought to be ejected. More anon.