Litchfield enquirer., 1831-05-12
From d z Rickmend Eaqmirer.

Erfract of Lstter from Washington, ApvI 26.
 "T had very free conversation with the President on the subject of the new Cabinet. It was mentioned tn my presence, that the ap- pOintment of Mr. LivingstNn was objected to by some of the friends of the administration and with that spirit of frankness which char acterises him on all occasions, he entered ve- " freely into the reasons which induced him tO make the appointment. Some of these will state to you. In the first place. must remark to you, that the story of Mr. Living stOn being once defaulter. is misunderstood. The President examined intO the matter some time ago, when he turned his attention toe wards nominating him Minister to France. Mr. Livingston has documents tn his possession to prove that not one cent of the money ever came into his hands. The bonds on which suits were instituted, were collected by his deputies and agents. and squandered by them
 whilst he was sick in bed, where he had been
 confined for three months. The money, not
 withstanding, has been paid up to him, and
 his accounts closed some time ago, as the
 Comptroller informed me this morning.
 "The President stated that when Mr. Van
 Buren first communicated his wish tO resign
 he had made it his business to cast about and see where he was to find his successor: thathe
 found the subject full of difficulty that it was
 all important tO him at this period of the
 world. that he should lave man at the head
 of the State Department who was we'll versed
 in the principles of maritime and international
 law that the prospect before US gave an im-
 portance to those qualifications now, greater
 than at any ordinary period, as in the event of war in Europe, we must expect to bedrawn into discussions again upon these subjects :- That he thought it also important to have man, if possible, whose public fife had been such as to make him well acquainted with the
 diplomatic history of the world--that he thought it also indispensable to have man at the head of tlie Cabinet, who belonged to the old Republican School, and with whose dis. position and habits he was we'll acquainted that Mr. Livingston had acted as his Aid at New Orleans, in difficult times-thGt he knesc him scell. and the value of his services that his reputation abroad as we'll as at home, as a profound jurist. and as gentleman of accom- plished eruditiOn, united to his habits and profession of life. seemed to point him out as peculiarly fitted for the place for which he was selected. That it was true Mr. Livingston and himself differed upon some points but that he could not expect to get Cabinet who would coincide with him upon all points -and that it would be for him to give the rule, and for his Secretaries to execute his views 1 aS ne naO 0One nefetOfOres
 " The President frankly stated, that in his 1 friend Judge White he had the most unlimit- I'd confidence, and that he had invited him in ] the most pressing manner to take charge of he War Department, whose duties he was | highly qualified to discharge. Among other 'eas0ns. on account of his extensive and fa. ! niiiar acquaintance with our Indian affairs, hat are SO important to the peace and tram utility Uf our country at this time. But noth- ng could have induced Judge White to take hargs ofthe State Department. His pursuits n life had allowed him no opportunity of be- Oming acquainted with its duties, in the first 'lace : and in the second place, his retiring abits were such that he could not be prevail d upon at this time of life, to adapt them to hat constant intercourse which the head of he State Department must have with For ign Ministers, Foreign Agents, &c.,. and with he forms and etiquette necessary to be ob- erved in if, Sc. And, withal, it was abso- ltely certain that Judge White would not rave listened to the suggestion for one mo- nent of taking the State Department that he lad considered the pretensions of many oth- rs of the friends of the Administration, and ould not see where he was to find one better ulted for this place, Mpon the whole, than Mir. Livingston.
 "The President remarked that nothing gave him more unfeigned pleasure, than for | his friends frankly and openly to state to him, ] at all times any objections they might have to his course upon any and every point. That he estimated them the more highly, the more and frank they were with him. All he asked was, that they would not break ] out into complaints upon first impressions, but | would look at the the matter aN around, before they decided, and then they would readily admit the difficulties with which he had to contend. Those that had been spread before him for the last two years. he thought, ought 1 to entitle him to some indulgence on the part 1 of his friends-they ought to wait and judge the tree by itS fruit. He did not despair at all of realizing yet. all the expectations of the 
 " He would continue to administer the Gov arnment upon the principles of Thomas Jef- fersOn, SD far as his duties were concerned; and to preserve the Union and Liberty Ofthe coun- try. SO far as it wss in his power. The sim cerity of this declaration, nO unpreiudiced or hOnOrable man will deny, who knows the character of General Jackson, and had wit. messed on this occasion the spirit and manner ia which it was Made."
 zhs CensSs.-Ths whole population of the United States, according to the recent census s l2a2l Isl oals. Ofthis nHmber there are upwards of coo 600 Iaves.
 We learn from the Wssschsster Hsrald. .that on one lay last week. company of men employed in fishing ~ish seine on the southeastern side ot Tellar's Poins with one haul drew land l270 shad, and uL.