Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-23

The CabiHst.
The New York Commercial doubts the fac,
whether General Harrison has selected for his Cab
met, those whom our neighbor Of the Enquirer so
ofhe'ously announced some days ego. as the new
m'nistry-to wit: Messrs. Webster, Sergeant, Clay.
ton, Granger and Preston. We more than doubt
IT. We arc satisfied the fact is no: So as il il were
30, 1t is evident that the Enquirer could not know
u. BESIDES MIR. Webster as Secretary Of State, Mr.
Crittenden as Attorney General, and Mr.. Ewing
rs Post Master General, we have the stronses
reasonsior believing, that General Harrison has de-
signated even confdentially, no other member of
his Cabinet.
The Enqnirer's Cabinst was made up partly from
two reasons. First, from the force Of Ia Bit the old
gentleman having meddled in such affairs so long
that he forgot that meddling would no, now be toll
Grated. Secondly, to make ar unfavorab bic impress
sion on the public mind, preparatory to the spring
campaign. Fortunately, there will lie time after
the 9Th March, to mako known Gen. Harrison's
own Cabinet, and Tor the information to circulate
before the elections.
While we have little doubt that MIR. Webster has
been offered the Department Of State, and that his
first impulse was to accept il, later information in .
clincs us to believe that he will finally decline it,
why should he accept it Not for $4,000 per an
mum, whose practice is OF the value Of s5O,OOO!-
Not for any accession Of fame il can bring him.
whose reputation is already wide as civilization.-
Not at his age, for any love of the drudgery il will
impose upon him: Nor, supposng MIR. Webster
to look to future Presidency can he so much have
mistaken the signs of the times as to believe that
Department, nor seat in Congress- either, places
nm Jot nearer that supreme elevation. The truth
is, the People look with jealousy at all Presidential
asprants, and moro especially those who are in fe
derai employment. The natural tendency of theft
minds is, TO suspect them of giving direction TO
public affairs favorable to their own aspirations,
and this tendency is Strengthened by the arts of
Demagosues. Were Mr.. Webster in the Depart.
ment Of State, faction would instantly assa him as
having sought to place himself in the cline of safe
presidents" His innocence and integrity would
avail him nothing. The most splendid services
would count as nothing. He would, with all his
abilities, be a dead weight upon the new Admins
tration, simply from the fact, that his numerous
trends looked forward to his being President, and
because faction would poison the public mind with
the belief that all he did was for himself. He
might well weaken, but he could not strengthen, his
popularity or his position.
While we acknowledge the pre- eminence Of his
claims, and the peculiar adaptation of his order of Ia
lent and requirement TO the post, we sincerely hope
that Mr.. Webster will decline place, TO accep,
which, would give faction so much Joy, and impair
his own strength. We do verify think tina, were
the country in a crisis, his abilities would be called
Tor by all parties; but 1t is the routine in the De-
partment OF State does not require them.