Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-27
RICH Nj o ND, VA.
Saturday Morning, March "a, ls49.
OLD ZACH AND NAPOLEON.

The Republican makes an elaborate effort 10
prove The present Cabine, 10 be The very best that
could have been created, for the negative reason
that most OF Them are unknown men" They
are moi great now-but they ,otH be men Of stu
pendous tame. To substanliate this theory, it
draws parallel between President Taylor and
LIE Grand Emperor, as follows:
General Taylor has introduced into his sys-
TEN OF selection something OF the plan OF Napole-
on, in taking men from the ranks, and raising
them 10 responsible posts, which The sagacity OF
The emperor had perceived, even under their pam
gabs, their competency 10 FILL Most oil Them
were comparatively unknown men," when call
ed by Napoleon to The head Of armies, yet tneir
subsequent career more Than Juslineo inc pro.
found knowledge OF character which dictated
their selection, and cast sunshine oil glory upon
their own names and that OF France, which will
never fade from the memories OF men,"
When we read lhis We ieit that the Republi.
can could scarcely have hit upon more unior-
lunae illustration. Napoleon cid take men from
the ranks and raise them TO posts which his 'sa-
sacity preeipsd their competency 10 FILL" He
made his selections from men whom he knew,
and whose qualities and merits he had witnessed
in scenes oil trial. But lar different was the
course Of General Taylor. 1t is a remarkable
fact, that he did no, personally know single
member Of his Ca binet, and that he was induced
10 Ego il blind" and take most of them up on The
advice and opportunities oil their personal friends
Take Virginia, for example. Who ever, prenl-
Gus 70 the inauguration, saw or suspected 10 Mr..
Preston any peculiar competency Tor seat in
the Cabinel-ether for the Attorney General
ship, Of, nounlaineer as he is, Tor the Secretary
ship of The Navy2 Had General Taylor con-
suited The Wings Of Virginia, would they have
advised Mr.. Preston to be elevated 10 seat 10
the Cabinet, to The exclusion Of such men as w.
C. Rives, James Lyons, G. w. Summers, John
Janney, Ro E. Scolt, Sea- General Taylor,
therefore, has not sced upon Napoleon's plan,
nor has he consulted the voice OF his own party
He has been moved by the appeals OF personal
friends, and no one will contend that the road OF
safety and wisdom lies in that direction.
Since wiring the above, we have received The
Abingdon (ya.) Democrat, a new and valuable
paper, conducted with spirit and judgment II,
too, marks the contrast and not the parallel, be-
tween Gen. Taylor and Napoleon, in The selec-
lion OF his officers. lis views are very sound, as
follow:
TIE CABlNET.-It has been truly said OF
Napoleon, OF Gen. Jackson and others, that they
possessed in IN eminent degree the faculty Of
Justly approaching character, and OF making The |
very best selections OF individuals Tor the per-
Torrance OF any trust or duty which they wish
ed faithfully executed. Can This be said of Gen. |
Taylor, when we look al the Cabinet officers he |
has called around him as his constitutional ad-
viseIs7 Have they been known 10 tame 7 Mr.. |
Clayton, Mr. johnson and Mr.. Ewing are known |
10 some extent as men OF considerable ability |
Mr.. Clayton; but who has ever heard |
Of MIR. Meredith, Mr.. Collamer, Mr.. Crawford |
or Mr.. Preston, beyond a very narrow circle |
within the vicinity OF their respective honest
They are without any distinguishing traits OF
character as men OF great abilities, or they have
heretofore been marked examples Of neglected
merit" But 10 Old lack belongs the honor OF
having discovered genius in disguise. How
tame and mpolenl these names appear when COM
pared with Webster, Clay, Crittenden,
Befren, Rves, and host OF others in The
Wing ranks.
From The composition Of the Cabinet ii may
Justly be feared that the Administration OF Gen.
Taylor will be anything but what we might just
ly have expected from his own professions before
The election, and The promises Of his advocates.
If The country is doomed 10 biller disappointment
10 this particular, wo be unto those by whom The
offence shall come A fearful responsibility
rests upon the shoulders Of the minority who ele
valed Gen. Taylor TO the Presidency; and should
disaster TO the country be the result the just in
dignalion OF an injured people will TALL upon their
gully heads tor years hence.