The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-10
Correspondence of the Public Ledger
From Washington.
A Lsoaet from the Secret History Of the Cobi"

| A Lsoad from The Secret History OF the Cabinet
WAsHIYGToN, June g. ls49.
have in one of nv previous letters, promised you
short essay cabinet making, applied 10 me history
| of the day, and about to redeem my promise
Cabinets do not spring finished and armed cap PIE our
of the heads Of Presidents, Minerva oil old sprung IRON
the head OF JUPITER neither the heads OF PRESIDENTS DC
lrepanned for that purpose with IMMUNITY Inc api
polnment OF suitable cabinet has always BEEN and sui
is, of the most difficult things undertaken by new
President 1t generally determines the character OF his
administration, unless he be man of experience and
sagacy, who though accepting and listening 10 advice,
still remains master Of his own actions Between taking
advice and shaping ones actions to suit the fancy oil
Others there is vast differences the former is ihe part
o wise man-the latter has been ably commented upon
in well known fable OF Ksopus, which 1t is needless
here 10 repeat
But The history of cabinets is yet remarkable in other
respects shows the original bias OF the President, and
the causes which make him take what sailors call
new tack The recital Of these things is always enter
tanning and many cases, full OF valuable instruction
may, therefore, hope to be pardoned If place before
the readers OF the Ledger eale OF the organization oil
the present cabinet i,
that combination of wings in Washington who had de-
tennlned orsake the fortunes OF Henry Clay and that
up the very election OF General Taylor, he was con-
s.iered the leader of the socaed Taylor party. II was
he who conceived the plan not only V abandon Mr.
Clay but also Of MIR, Clay's avowed principles
and among these, especially that OF prescription Mr.
Criltenden was popular man, and numbered many
friends and admirers even among the democratic party
He afterwards foreshaowed General Tayor's course in
his speeches, and in his inaugural as governor OF Ken
lucky preuious 10 General Tayior's visit FRANKFORT
This of MIR. Crienden, which was consistent
with his professions before the election OF Gen Taylor,
did receive the unqualified appreciation either OF the
Washington or OF the southwestern Clique which hoPei
to influence General Iaylors administration; and as Mr.
Crenden was found lnexble was determined to place
him at hors de combat Letter writers from Wash
ingon in the service OF the clique then gave out that
Gen Taylor would Offer not press cabinet appointment
on Mr. CrittenIen and in this they right. General
Taylor did press Mr. Crttenden to come into his cab
met, and what is MORE Mr.. Crittenden had no hand
either the organization of the cabinet or in any OF its
subsequent dolngs.
The way this was managed is this:-Gen. Taylor
artuly impressed with the belief that to be President OF
the people, it necessary for him to invite gentlemen
from many different States to his cabinet as possible,
in order to satisfy them ALL and to offer but one appoint
each Stale, which being refused would discharge
his obligation toward that State and allow him TO invite
gentleman from anoh State OF the Union With this
notion well fixed on his mind, he left Baton Rouge The
letter writers Washington IN the secret OF the cques
Secretary of State Gen Taylor thought of one but
Mr. Criltenden and of Mr. Horace Bnney.
| Arrived at Frankfort Kentucky his interview with Mr..
Cnttenden short one, on which occasion neither
the letter writers nor the papers had much to says the
knowing feeling disposition TO tack and the rest
know ing nothing about what TRANSFERRED
| Mr. Crttenden, while taking the stump in kentucky,
frequently obliged to say that he did not consider the
governorship of Kentucky of warming place
Tor him in General Tayors cabinet (Mr Mangum, in
the Senate, agreed with him that subject and when
became certain that Mr. Clay would be returned TO the
Senate, resolved at once not 10 embarass General Tayors
administration by allowing himself to be whipped over
| Old lacks shoulders, but 10 substitute Ex-Governor
Lecher, mutual friend of Henry Clay and himself in
his place. So certain was he of the expedlency and
of this arrangement, and Mr.. Lecher
OF being Postmaster General, that he letters to his
| friends in Washington desiring them to procure Tor
him the necessary accommodations in the metropolis
General Taylor at last arrived at Frankfort, with his
lesson well prepared, and at offered Mr. Crttenden
place in his cabinet The Offer however, the let
Writers had predicted it would be- not pressing and
cordial Mr. Crittenden had expected and when Mr. Crit
tenden proposed Mr. Letcher his substitute, General
Taylor replied that he had but offer to make to Ken
Post Office 10 Tennessee Mr.. Gentry accordingly in
vited but declined The chroncles of that day do not
speak of the balls and dinner parties which given in
honor of General Taylor; but the next day eegraphc
despatch dated Cincinna invited Mr. Clayton 10 the Sec
rotary ship OF State Mr. VIM C. Rves had been spoken
of as Secretary of State, but the cques quickly over
ruled s. the conservative, impracticabe Vrgnian"the
man who, as Daniel Webster said, could ride with all
his friends in omnibus"-and with the rapidly of
lightning blocked that game. Mr.. Claytons acceptance
conveyed hack with the speed OF Joves thun-
derho
| Mr. Corwin, of Ohio, stood high among the
clques, and he was consequently passed over without
ceremony. But Mr.. Vnton was not so easily disposed
Of He had been the leader of the House, chairman OF
the Committee of Ways and Means and of decided
though moderate talents Yet General Taylor was at
Cincinnati, and, powerfully impressed OF the importance
of the support oil the Buckeyes he stated his desire to
have gentleman from Ohio in his cabinet and he was
young in the exercise OF power Tor any one to dare to
oppose him. There was crevasse in the arrangements
of the cques and to stop they seized the nearest
and largest man they could lay hold on. and the Hon.
Thomas Ewing was accordingly thrown into ~ lie was
selected to keep out Vnton, who committed on
many questions hut he not selected for the Treas
uy as his Treasury report sent to Congress under Gen
HARRISON yet fresh in every bodys mind, and his
fitness for that Office automatically demonstrated. He
selected for the Post Office, and addressed by letter
as Postmaster General by Crittenden himself.
The next difficulty that presented itself was the selec-
ton of proper person from Georgia Mr. Toombs had
objection to be Secretary of War; while Mr. Thomas But
Ter King looking forward, with great conf ence 70
the Secretaryshp of the Navy Mr. Toombs at per-
ceved that his voice could not prevail against King
long as himself candidate and as the killing of
of King TO him matter of greater Importance than
even his appointment he at once resigned his claims
land brought forward those of MIR. Crawford, who
supported also by Mr. Stevens. of Georgia, and the
SENATOR Dawson, elected in the place of Johnson. Thus
was Mr. King overslaughed, and Secretary of War
made for the old General who objected to nobody he
was not acquainted with anybody's merit.
Mr.. Abbot Lawrence's turn came next. lie pow
erully backed by the originals" and powerfully OPP
posed by the old hunkers Of The party but what is
he was opposed by the oliques He invited 'seat
in the cabinet" expected the Treasury but declined the
Navy.
Things now bore new aspect, and General Taylor,
once IN Washington, at taken by the hand, and
reasoned with Mr. Bnney was fought down, not with
out efort the rest of the appointments presented no
serious obstacle Mr.. Meredith the selection of MIR.
Clayton and Governor Johnson, and determined to
give him the treasury, not only account of his
knowedged talents, but keep out all other asprans