Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-13
Ntc1tat0ttU E1N ito.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH IA, 1879.


ne "eo Cab''aef--s at last formed, aud with the
eN'cp'oh OF Mr. McAean consists was at first
announced, OF Mr. Van Buren,, Secretary of State;
.nehem' OF treasury; Brench, of Navy; Eaton, of
WAR; and Barry, Postmaster General
We understand that Mr.. McLean's retirement,
from the political arena, is entirely voluntary, ara
not the effect as many suppose of gentle cioience
lis motives we have very little doubt, are those
which We have surmised viz dissatisfaction with tb
composition Of the Cabinet distrust of their ab;l;,y
and views belief that the country can have no conf
dence in them, and disposition to avoid the respo
sibiy OF their counsel and measures. Whatever his
motives, we regret most truly, his relnquishmerto
| the helm of the General Post Office nffer ap Tho
most important Department of the Government, and
which he has energeticaly conducted. This re-.
! gretis enhanced by what we understand TO he The
character of Mr.. Barry, his successor-wbo though
shewy man, is said to be idle in his habits and de-
VOID OF the particular of capacity essential to the
successful administration of his new duties.
Ihe Hero 1t seems was not to be moved from his
choice OF Eaton rs Secretary of War. Y'he Incl
dents OF their respective lives had begotten fellow
feeling too stropg and ntmate to be sh aiken by nal
try considerations of qualification for office If he
himself was t for President, the General very nat,
rally argued that Maj Eaton his superior in political
Information, was ft to be Secretary of War Antso
he may prove, but it is experiment., urSustiable
from the superior abilities which the General had at
hand, and mdefensible the score of Difference to
puphc opinion and private morals. IF the duties of
the Department were far less arduous than they re-
ally are-if mediocrity was competent to discharge
them-yet as the first offices in the Government,
they ought to be conferred upon the most eminent
men N 1t, for the sake Of adding dignity to the gov
Vernment ITSELF and inspiring the confidence and re-
spect ofthe people. Neither dignity is added to the
nor can any high confidence or respect be
feit N On administrations three out of FIVE Of which
consist OF ingham, Branch and Eaten. These gentle
men adequate tighter high stations are not known, 10
Dc So They are in truth, unknown as statesmen TO
the people OF the u States. They have no perva-
dmg reputation They could not be looked up to-
IN the event OF any national crisis. Had they died
two months ago, their fame would not have survived
as many years. Mr.. Ingham has sol1c rppnsation Is
pusaneas mnr. He is supposed Competent to fras,s
oce the oetahs OF business But he has little eIev.
ZION OF charaetcr-.o fixed principles OF politics
-ts-' ever been a dabber in the dirtiest pools
Vi pennsylvania politicss morts aged soul and body
% N'' Calhoun-has abandoned all parties in his
state IN turn, ever cleaving to the strongest for
the te oeng and incapable indeed of acting upon
any other motives than such are personal to Sam
u 1nggaam.- he Is the man who dug up the bones
OF Old John Adams, at the Bucks county meeting,
ana dwelling on his errors, forgot his great
revolutionary services. Though superior in cnpa-
(cty to Brunch or Eaton, he is far more Oh
jeenonabie than either. He is despicable as o
poitican tor the contractedness of his ends and the
DIRTY means by which he is everready to pursue them.
we nave mar ked the man. and our estimate of his
character IS sustained by many who have been bro't
INTO legislative contact with him, and who know him
we'll tie is another example of what ccnsummasc
eiirontery, unsleepng selfshness, and ever ready
cunning, can DO for man, where the road Of prefer
mcnt IS open to oil. He has good deal of what is
called tact-the result with him, of an enlarged
philosophical study observation of human nature
our OF the constantly recurring differentiation how
would Samuel d. Ingham, think, feel or act, were no
situated so and SO? When the subject of this inter
nalspecuation, resembles the self catecst in char
acteT, Mr. IDgham doubt hits the mil on the head
and shows his tact. When he happens to be of u
higher and nobler order, the speculation fails. But,
as men of his order are ofcner met with than
those of superior order, it may be Supposed tbut be
more frequently hits than rnisses--and hence his
success in politics.
Gov. Branch is gentleman Of a different and
superior character, though of inferior abilities We
have had frequent opportunities of hearing him in
debate and elsewhere, and the impression made was
not Gerry vivid favourable. He possesses very
tie information, and as Is generally the case, is pro-
portionately Violent and bigoted. He is no debaser
having neither the fund to draw upcn nor the man
ner to make it available, if he had but he is est eeu
ed by all, an honorable and patriotic mau who would
be less dogmatical and bigoted, if he had more
knowledgeS His industry and turn for business are
said to be conspicuous, and Mr. Southland turns
linn over the Navy Department in excellent order and
condition, and duty of originating will be i'm