The New York herald., 1845-04-16
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL
Washington.
Correspondence Of TIE Heraid.l

Correspondence of TIE Herald1
WASHINGTON, April IA Is45. X
The Cabinet-Hs Original Formation The Sc
creta,yship Of State and Silis ight-C Chanees-
Mr. Buffers Refusal of the War Department.
offered TO Marcy and he accepts Butler cith
draios has reftsat-T Too appointment of COL
Claiborne as Lireoak Agent-Jndge B,yce-Vix
President Dallas and Suppositious Iravelling.
There are "unwritteR chapters" as the Consti-
tuition says, In the history OF The formation OF the
present Cabinet, their various nomin ations the
measures by which, and the reasons for which
they are made, and various other matters, which
from time to time. shall, asl have opportunity
and information, lay before your readers.
One of these unwritten chapters relates to the
formation OF the Cabinet, whereupon | will throw
some little light. Many persons have supposed that
this curious and intricate piece of joiner work was
not at all framed previous to the arrival OF the
the President had at first intended 10 invite Mr..
Calhoun to remain in his Cabinet, but was induc-
ed: to change his mind, as the price on which the
refractory clique in the Senate insisted in order
to insure the passage Of the Anne xation Resolu-
tions. Others again have said that Mr.. Sias
Wright, Of New York, was invited by Mr..
FOLK to take the first post in the Cabinet. and that
he refused have also heard persons make the
latter statement, who must undoubtedly have
known better, but probably did so to magnify the
Van.Buren- Wright clique. None Of any Of these
suppositious statements is true. Mr. Polk
had decided upon the formation of his Cabinet
previous to his crossing the mountains. He
ti0ns secret from his friends who accompanied him
across the mountains, or else they wifuly deceived
other persons, by assuring them OF what was not
the case; such, Tor instance, as Mr.. Helss stating
that Mr.. Calhoun was to be retained. have IT up
on very good authority, that the following was the
original constitution OF the cabinet as Mr.. Polk
had decided previous to leaving Tennessee
Qorr ~ n,oI
Secretary Of the Navy-Mr Bancroft
Secretary of War-Mr Stevenson DIVA
Attorney General-Mr. Walker.
Postmaster General-Cave Johnson.
The Secretaryship of State, your readers NAV
rest assured, upon the most indubtnble authority
never was offered to Mr. Silas Wright ,nalgre ali
the protestations of the Morning Ne,os and others
OF that clique to the contrary notwithstanding. All
tins n was spoiled BY the de.
in any cabinet bel00 the station of Secretary Of the
Treasury; and such representations were made, and
80 many "reminiscences brought to mind, before
James X. Polk. that he could not think Of doing
without Mr.. Walker in his cabinet. AS therefore,
the redoubtable Mississippan had determined to
have nothing less than the Treasury, why Mr..
Polk resolved to give it to him. This, however,
involved the Reconstruction of the whole cabinet
Mr. Buchanan was then resolved upon for Secre-
tary Of State, and Mr. Walker for Secretary of the
| the Navy. Mr.. Stevenson would not accept Of the
War Department. 1t was rendered to Mr. Butler,
Of New York. He declined it, and Mr.. Polk ten
dered it to ex. Governor Marcy, who, Immediately
upon receiving the proffer accepted it, and posted
| of to Washington in propia persona. In the mean
! time Mr.: Butler had written TO the head quarters
| alias Kinderhook, had advised him to accept by
all manner of means. He Immediately revoked
his declination of the Office, but was too late;
Thus far Virginia had no representative in the cabi.
net, and Mr.. Stevenson's claims had been urged
for the first post, which had been given to theS
nator from pennsyivania. In ORDER therefore, to
called in, and after some solicitation, he agreed to
take the Attorney Generalshp, and thus the cabi-
net was formed; While the cabinet was under
consideration, the claims OF Colonel Butler, of
Ky, and ex Governor, now Senator Fairfield,
(about whom by the way, have one of those un-
written chapters to relate) were seriously thought
and Virginia could not be left out OF consideration
the apportionment, and therefore these two gen.
tlemen, with some Others, 'bide their time:
written chapter, which completely demolishes the
differences which have been drawn from the state
s, s sss and Wright offered the
Wright never was offered the State Department
Butler was offered the War, declined, and then
withdrew his declination, which withdrawal was
too late; and the prompness OF Mr.. Folks action
IN offering that department to another New Yorker,
shows that he had no great desire to have one Of
the Benton-Van Buren-Wrght clique in his cabi-
net; else would he have used. some means to in
ateIy offering the post to Marcy, an old bunker to
be sure, but an anti-Van Buren one.
notice that Of Col. ]. f. H. Claiborne, editor Il
the Nelo Orleans Jefersonian Repsblican, and late
M G. from Mississippi, as live oak agent for LOU
isiana: The title Of this office gives no concep-
tion Of its Importance, o. Of the magnitude Of .c
duties There are vast t.acts of public lands in
the South West, wnich are covered with very
valuable timber of Ell descriptions. Most of the
land is at present swamp, and if it is ever to be
disposed OF, IT Is highly important that the timber
should be preserved. If the timber be removed
the lanc becomes valueless. Now there are mum.
OF o. public land, cut down all the most valuable of
the timber, form it into RATS, and when the floods
come, float It off and dispose of it, thus despong
the lands and rendering them worthless, and in
fact defrauding the Treasury of Alleghania Col
ClaIborne's duties, understand, comprehend and
include the supervision OF all these tracts and the
these depredators. He is well qualified for his post
and 1t 10 be hoped that his extensive know ledge
OF the country will enable him to for the pub
lie the value OF this land and the timber. Both he
and Judge Bryce, the eloquent and aristocratical
Tin appearance) Louislanian, the champion of the
young democracy, who was prevented from dis
democracy by severe sickness, have LETT this city
for their own sunny cline, both being heartily tired
of thelwind and dust,lwhch we have SO plsntifully
experienced in this metropolis.
A the publication OF the list of Senators who
have received the sconstructive' travelling money,
which forwarded TO you few days ago, with my
remarks upon the fact Of Mr.. Dallas having award
ed it, has excited some stir. I send herewith
copy Of the section of the law, under which Mr..
Dallas ordered this money, which certain of the
Senators have refused to receive. The law was
approved ON the I'D January, 1918. The section
is as follows:-
Be 1t enacted That at every session Of Congress, an
every meeting OF the Senate in the Of Congress
after the 3rd OF March, in the year 1917, each Senator
shall bc entitled receive eight dollars for every day he
has attended or shall attend the Senate, and shall also be
allowed eight dollars for every twenty miles, OF sstma
ted distance by the most usual his place
sidencs to the seat OF Congress- at the and
end OF every such session and meeng and that all
for travel already performed payable at the
time Of passing this act and in case member Of the
Senate has been shall be- detained by sickness
his journey to from such session meeting, sfter
his arrival has been is or shall be unable to attend the
Senate he shall be entitled to the daily Allowance
n 20nat nr0 vvh thp