Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-20
WERsTERIAN FINANCE

| In the way OF Fiction, few things can, we think
take Stronger pull" upon ones cIedulity than
the notable history which the Secretary OF Stat.
has given, in his late speech, OF his own Induction
into President Harrison's Cabinet He states the
facts as follows
| "As soon as General Harrison was elected Pre-
sdent Of the United States, without a word from
me upon the subject, he wrote 10 me inviting me to
| take a place in his Cabinet, leaving me free 10
choose, and asking my advice to the persons |
would wish associated with me. He expressed
rather a wish that should take the department Of
the Treasury; because, he was pleased TO say he
knew ] had paid some considerable attention TO
currency aad finance; and he felt that the o {
the country, the necessities OF the country the
subjects of currency and finance were among the
causes which had produced the revoluiIon-that re
volu,ion which had resulted IN placing him IN the
Presidential Chair.
IL SO happened that I preferred another place
that which now occupy. felt all its responsible
lily; but ! can say truly and correctly that what
ever attention | had paid TO currency and finance.
Eel, more competent TO carry on other concerns OF
the Government; and | WAS not willing 10 under
take the daily drudgery OF trade
Now, the world is already in possession Of very
difcren, version Of these facts, partly from general
no,oriety partly from It's own notions of wha, was
likely, and partly from witnesses little to !e
depended on than our great "BuIlionislp-as he
calls himself.
FRS, Of oil, We knew, long ago, ,hi, Gen. Hurr-
son wrote, soon as elected, TO Mr. Clay, to con
suit him, as to the formation OF his Cabinet. No
hing could be more natural. The eminence OF Il
man-hs greater popularity among the politicians
Of the Pary-lhs TACT that the competition for the
Presidency had been between THEM sone-ths
ma On nimous friendness with which he had borne
himself AFTER Gen. HIS nomination-all these
things made Mr. Clay the vERr PERSON 10 be FIRST
consulted by a uoblc- minded and a wise man.
And he oaS consulted. Henry Cay has said 50:
and Ills not worth while, to credi. for verncity,
10 he brave and truthful man, il Henry Clay can
be supposed to have lied nbou, such thing
II is equally gu, Of the question that man OF
Gen Harrson's integrity would o. hypocri,e enough
TO play this foolish double Eane, Of pretending to
consult, his sole adviser, each Of two such at
once.
In the next place. MIR Webser's tale is di5cred-
tied by the subsidiary facts wh eh he relates. IL 10
notorious tina, Others had been long before desgna
ted, by the general wisi OF MIR urFison's friends,
az memte,s of tho new Administration. Among
these, Mr. Ewing and Mr whttesey hsd been al
mos. unanimously deSignilsd for Secrelaryships;
one or the other Of them had been universally pro.
noubsed the man for the Treasury and the Post
Office.
Blu, the very idei OF eonhjinE the strong box Of
toe nation to man as laI, asnscssstous, ss bound
lsssly profuss % Mr. Webster, is totally incredible.
I, would have argued childish simplicity in GEM
Harrison, rather impossible 10 soy body but tho
newest Of noyices, the grsenss, Of greenhofns.
Had not QsuT Harrison, in a word, read Gil
BlasI Certainly no mao who eve: did could fail to
remember how santane, after he has a. las, got
mo honest company, visits eapuchin monastery,
in two Of the monks OF which, hs rocognz,s hi,
old friends, Ambrose and Don Raphael, now be-
coms the dsyoutest lhars Of tbs WhoIS fsiteroity.
lie is charmed at their conversion. But presently
when no learns that one OF thsm keeps the keys
and the other the pufSs Of the Convent, no smells
ra'. and begins 10 have sons douOis Of the sin
coriiy Of the tvo saints. Accordingly, the M
news he hears IL that brother Ambrose and the holy
Raphael are missing, and with them years in
como Of the Monastery.
We tell the tale. fret because Ills a good ore
and next, because though We mean not 10 apply i
Il erslly 70 MIR Webster, we hold tina, he 10 man
however No for other things, or the very last Il
be trusted With a nations sIropg.boH, ss ever
body knows.
Could the LocOs carry New York ard Masfashui