Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-01
WEDNESDAY MORNING., APRIL !, 1899.
THE "BRILLIANT CABINET."

I'i''S 'Siy INTERESTING sPcC'hattous, oi u cores
pendent of the Pittsburg Statesman. We believe
with him, that Mr.. Calhoun's influence has secured
majority, in the "brisnt cabinet" at Washington
but by no means an uscendency. We believe that
Mr.. Van Buren, is more than match, for q regiment
ofsucn men as Ingham, Branch, Eaton and Barry.
and that the Vice President ch6ckles too soon, when
he iutters himself that the number of his dependents
in the cabinet, will secure it's influence in favor of hi.
election Van Buren, will check mate him. and the
only doubt is, If he does not at the same time check
mate himself If Err. Van Buren,s superior address.
establishes his influence in the cabinet land every body
knows that the President is not able to stand alone
but must have friendly shoulder to lean upon he
must become responsible for the measures of the Co.
vernment. Ii the President throws his sword into
the Tariff scale, or the Anti Tariff scale--Mr. " B.
Will have to be thanked or blamed for il; and the dis
position OF the great questions pending before
the nation, must determine whether his ascendencv
In the cabinet, shall rebound TO his profit or loss
That he is pleased with the materials of the cabinet
we have no doubt; first, because Hercules looked
larger by the side of IIylas; and secondly, because
while he expects from the weakness fIngham Is Co.
to have the chief influence, he hopes from the fact,
that Mr.. Calhouns partizans have the numbers, TO
make them and him bear al unpleasant responsible
ty. The fox cunning he is. sometimes out una
nouvres himself 1t will be difficult to persuade the
people ofthe u. States that in a cal net composed
OF Van Buren,, Ingham, Branch, Eaton and Barry.
Mr. Van Buren, is not the principal hand at the bel
lows and if his pride is fltered at the distinction he
must likewise prepare to shoulder the responsibility
which that distinction imposes. he must not hone
to play the game Of fast and loose. If the present
administration prove fortunate and successful ore
this responsibility may be repaid in the way most
coveted by the Secretary; if northumberland all al
low it to have made bad start-thc Hon. Secretary
may wish himself again safely ensconced behind the
Albany Regency. Time will stew. AS to the Pres.
dent, he is the Great Mogu only to be kept for &C.
casonal show. No man suspects him of the design
or the capacity of taking any efficient part in public
business. The frogs asked Jupiter for King, and
he heard the petition.
The author ofthe letter has conceived rather exar
gerated opinion of Mr. Van Buren's abilities Where
shall we look for the of those abities,-
What great measure has he originated, What in
fant system has he taken by the hand and identified
with his name and his fame' What bcnefccri scheme
OF state or national policy has he reared to
None. speech on the Judiciary, or OH the Pana
ma Mission, few and far between are the sole monu
ments of Mr.. Van Burens agency in the national
councils lie is distinguished, but for nothing TINT
adds to the solid fame Of his country or the ameio
ration OF lis condition He is distinguished for De,.
sonn succession successfully threading the mazes
OF New York politics, and bending her lieterogene
Gus and dlscordant politicians to concur in one great
and never relaxed purpose-his oton adUancement-
as party Sleman, his success in drilling has been
nrlvalled In discovering the views and weak sides
OF others, IN conceang his own sentiments behind an
mpenetrab!e mask of unwavering selfpossogsion, in
discovering and bending to his purpose the LEADING
passions OF whoinsover he chose study or sought TO
gain, in address of manners--in all these oual;,;o
Mr.. Van Buren, is without rival. Do these coesti
tute the great man Are these qualities compatible
with the character of really great man. o. are
they rather the characteristics of inigdnle--
OF c0uTfisr, rather than statesma De Retts
converting to his own profit and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
the passions and vices Of a court rather than Rich
lieu, sacrificing oil for glory and as, onshng and api
tatlng Europe, By the mmcnsity of his designs, and
the terrific energy Of bis actions1 The world is bronze
to measure men by success---and where the thing
accomplished, was deliberately conceived and prose-
cuted amidst diffculties--n other words where sue
cess Is the effect of effort and of fortune. the
standard is good one. Il We wrigh Mr.. Van Bu-
rem by the mere success that has attended him, he
must be conceded no common man---if VIC look n liz
tie more closely into things, we shall find that for
much of that success he has been indebted to cir
cumsanccs, and that where il the result of EFFORT il
vase sort ofeffort requiring for its successful drcc
ton no higher qualities than GOODNESS, selfpossesson
md frfrfsr nfnI - H.
sense 1.-THE fitness of things. In brief, he is cum
ming but not great tnan.
From a Correspondent ofhe Pittsbuyzg Sia.es0,an
., "Washngton, JLirch IN, 1879.
" We new cabfne IS formed, and the Calhoun party
have the majority but asceadeaey or with the srcep.
on 81 The vice president who VIII make part the cabinet
ana oI bren WHO belongs n the old Crawford party, TaH
IHr - an overmaich for the whole household. Tie long
heade siewd, srgseyed politician, with real talents
pan y lnehap and Eaions, and Branches; and am told
eat those who know him and the vice president intimately,
no heation ~ oscrbng % him decided superiority.
CeWon snowy ohand, rapid and fluent but his judgment
Is M the rear Of al these ENC qualities. lie takes admirably
audh INN auyl