Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-29
From tie National Journal.
THE NEW CABINET.


excited fewer objections, than any other which
the President has made for the new Cabinet.
Ii IS a selection, indeed, to which IL would be
difficult To find an obJecuon that ought TO have
weight except with the mere partizan.-Mr.
Barbour has been IN active political lie for TWEEN
ty-sevcn years. Ii was during the evcutful pc
riod of 1888 that his fellow citizens of Orange
county elected him 30 represent them in the Var
gina Assembly. Party spirit was at that fine
IN IFS highest state OF excitement, and Mr.. Bar
bour very soon rendered himself conspicuous by
the introduction iuto the House of Delegates of
certain resolutions commenting upon the memo
rable act of Congress called the Alien Law.
Ills speeches on these resolutions, winch are to
be found in the Library OF Congress, while they
exhibit a depth oil thought aud a sounduess OF
principle that would have done honor To a much
older and more experienced politician are at
the same time finished specimens vi oratorical
eloqucnCe. The active part which Mr.. Bar
buur took OH tins OCCASION, ms acknowledged
talents, and his devotion to the cause OF the peo
lie, raised him to be regarded as the leader of
the Republican party in the Assembly; and III
1908 he was elected Speaker of the House OF
Delegates, in which highly honourable pest he
continued until the winter which preceded the
declaration ofwar against Great Britain, when
he received from his fellow citizens the still
state. As Governor, the high res onsbilitr de
volved upon him OF preparing 20 defend the state
against the enemy, who, very soon after his cleo
ton. began 10 show themselves III the waters o.!
the Commonwealth. 70 mCncN had been APP
proTriated, either By the state or General Go
verninent, In dctra, tie expenses of epatation,
and tive Governor was thus thrown upon his own
re>nu' ces: but such was his credit, and such the
confidence posed In him b, the people of the
state, that he iourd no difficulty in borrowing,
upon III, individual raspon,ihIity, several hun
dred thousands oi dollars.--in 10 Il he was cho
sen by tiie Legislature Senator of the United
States. III TINS august boly he had an itamedi
ate oppurtunit, OF distinguishing himself on an
inpo, tant question of rational polio ;--uamely
the ihar.cr 10 tie new GantS oi the United
states. The par which MI. Barbour took ON
tins question, shows M the strongest light the
manly Independence of bis political course.
The State OF Virginia mad instructed his prelje
ces or, Mr. Brent. 20 oppose the renewal OF The
Charter to the old Bank, and had IN various
wa, expressed ncr appreciation OF any Con
g'e- onai sanc'ion TO 81 powerful monied iu-
sttuton. Som " the wisest men III the nation,
however thought 'uat the crisis dem nded tn
option oithe .nr s ire. Numerous local banks
hau sprrng up dunug the war, in es.ry state,
and = country " a. flooded with a spurious na-
pc currency, which III eateued dest uction 10
the tnanci, operations of the Government.
No Other Serene sc med to promise so sure anu
speed rC-toratiug Of a sound circulating me-
dIum. ;!e ncress.,y II erecting some mOnled
Institution over winch the Government might
exercise control was strongi, urged by the fis-
cal minister, and strongly advocated by the
r. ends OF the Administrations. among " hom were
90 be found some OF the abirst men aud most in
corruptible patriots then in ongre,s. Govern
OF Jar bouT was hInon4 those VINO thought the
measure essential ~ the os >, o e atIons
oil tie GOvcrain mt, aHI though at tie ua2did
o! has popularity at hon re took bod and de
termIned stand lis favour. HI, speech Oh
the subject one OF the most iuu,iuous exposi
tIJns, no! only of the powers Of Congress but
tie nature nj the financial concerns u the cOun-
tiy. 10 be- found on record. /, Is at once mon
ument OF his sturdy independence as a nau, and
fins profound talents a statesman. II is UNI
recessary at this late day TO speak IF the efor, s.
ot the measure: none OF tie evils predicted ii n
by 1t, opponents nave happened, and there are
but few politicians III the country now who are
not willing to acknowledge lis extensive utility
1t is well known, that Governor Barbour was
the early and consistent advocate of Mr.. Craw
iprd's pratentinns 10 the Presidency in prefer
ence to those OF any of MS competitors. But he
has on no occasion suffered his personal regard,
or his e lngs As a political par!iZa., TO nte,f Re-
with what he conceived 10 be his duty as lcgis
iat0r. His high sense oil honour would Kever
permit him to countenance mere pGrty oppo-
stion to any national measure which his iudp
ment approved. A strong evidence of this no.
nDurablc trait in his character is to be found in
lis onduct on the question of ratifyng the Slave
Trade ConV enliOn. BY some strange obliquity
of reasoning Oh the part of Mr.. Crawiorj's
friends in the Senate, they seemed TO make
tiat question the test of his strength, a1d array
ed themselves against the ratification IT'S u ygify
IN this occasion Governor Barbour, acting
from the convictions Of his Judgment. and as an
honesl independent Senator ofthe United States
voted with the friends of the Administration
though that vote w,s compliment to tie rival
Ufthe man whom he preer'e for the Presidency.
Mr. Barbour Continued to be a member of
the Senate from | II until his recent appoint
inent 10 the Department of War. His course
in that body is known to the public. 1t has
pecn that Of firm and consistent patriot, an
able statesman, and man Of honour; and that
the Senate themselves held him in high respect
is eVinced b, th4ir having elected him to the
chair OF the VIce-President during the absence
of that offc r.
Such is the Secretary Of War. In entering
that Department ii is true he enters upon du-
ties that are uey to him; but who is there that
could have been appointed to whom they would
not have been new, He has talents ofno orina-
ry character; he possesses firmpess and ndepen
dence; moral honesty and political integrity,
and has moreover sufficient pride of station TO
excite him to the requisite industry. These
qualifications are certainly sufficient at least TO
Justify MIR. Adams in the selection 1t remains
to be seen whether the future conduct of Mr..
Barbour will equal the promise of his whole
political life hithertu.-it has been said that the
appointment of MIR. Barbour will not be popu-
lar in his own state; but we can hardly believe