Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-06-28
Correspondence ef the Public Ledger.
From Washington.

ter ueher can the heads Of Presidents be trepanned
purpose IMMUNITY The appointment OF suitable
cabinet has always been, and still is. Of the most diff
cult things undertaken BY President II generally
determines the character of his administration unless he be
msn Of experience and sagacity, who though accepting
End listening to advice, still remains master oil his own
ons Between taking advice and shaping ones actions 10
suit the fancy Of Others there is vast difference the for
the part Of wise man-the latter has been ably
commented upon in well-known fable Of EscPus, which
il il needless here 10 repr7t.
Bat tho history Of cabinets yet remarkable in other
specis shows tho original bias Of the President AMI the
causes which make hn AXE what sairrs call tack
The recital Of these things Is always entertaining AND 10
many cases. full Of valuable instruction may, therefore,
hope be pardoved II place before The readers Of the
Ledger eaRet Of the organization Of the present cabinet
Il Is well known that Mr. CeHden the soul Of that
combination Of wings Washington who had determined
foTake the fortunes Of Henry Clay, and that 10 the
very election Of General Taylor, he considered The
leader Of so-csIcI Taylor party. II he who
eeived The Man not only 10 abandon Mr. Clay but also
Of Mr. Cay's avowed principles and among these, espe
eially that OF prescription Mr. CTitenden popular
man, and numbered friends AID admirers
democratic party He afterwards foreshsdowcd General
Tayors course his speeches. and in his inaugural
Of Kentucky Pre1iOs to General Tdyors pisH TO
This course Of Mr. CritendeD which consistent with
his professions before the election Of Gen TAYLOR did not
ton OF the southern Clique which hoped 10 influence Cen
Tayior's administration snd Mr. CTenden was found
inhxble it determined to place him at once hos de
in
The Clique then gave out that Gen TAYLOR would offer not
press a cabinet appointment Mr. Cendcn and in this
they right Genesl Taylor did not Mr. Crit
into bis cabinet MIR Critien-
den had hand either in the organization of the csbne
in any Of its subsequent doings.
The way this was managed is this .-Genersl Taylor
arfuy impressed with the belief that 10 be President Of
the people necessary for him invite gentlemen om
many different States his cabinet possible in order
satisfy them ALL and offer but appointment to each
State, which being refused, would discharge his Obligation
owsfd that Stste and allow him TO invite gentleman from
smother State Of the Union. With this notion well fixed
his mind, he left Baton Rouge The letter wIers in WASH
ngou in the Of the ciques, published at the
of Hon. John NJ. Clayton Secretary of State Gen.
Taylor thought Of no one but Mr. Cri'tenden, and Of Mr.
H0gsce. Binuey.
Arrived at Frankfort Kentucky his interview with Mr.
Crenden short one, which occasion neither the
letter writer's the bad much to the knowing
feeling disposition TO tack, and the rest knowing
nothing about what transped.
Mr. Criitenden, while taking the stump Kentucky
frequently obliged TO say that he did not consider the
ernOrship of Kentucky Of warming place for
him in Gen. Tayor's cabinet mr. Mugum in the Senate
agreed with him subject y became
tain that Mr. Clay would be returned the Senate resolved
not enbaTass Gene al Taylo administration by
allowing bmsef to be whipped over Old Zack's shoulders
but to substitute Ex-Governor Leicher, mutual friend Of
Henry Clay and himself in bis place So certain he Of
the expedieuey and Of this arrangement and
Mr.. Leiche Of being Postmaster General that
letters his friends Washington desiring them procure
for him the necessary accommodations in the metropolis
General Taylor at last arrived Frankfort with his les
well prepared, aud offered Mr.. CneDden place
in his cabinet The Offer however, was the letter wTi-
Crittenden had expected and pro-
posed Mr. Letcher h substitute General Taylor replied
that be had but one offer to make to Kentucky, and that
Mr.. CTittenden declining he NUT offer the Post Office
Tennessee. Mt Gentry accordingly invited but de-
cned. The ehronclers OF that day do speak Of the
balls and dinner parties which given in honor of
Taylor, but the next day tegraphc despatch, dated Gin
ciHndi invited Mt Clayton to The Secrearyhip Of State
Mr. VIM c. Rve had been spoken of as Secretary of State
but cIiques quickly overrued the conservative
practicable YiTginan THE who, Daniel Webster
said could ride with al bis friends in omnibus '-and
with the rapidly Of lightning blocked that game. Mr.
Csyton's acceptance conveyed back with the same
speed Of Jove's thunderbOlt.
Mr. COrwin of Ohio stood high among the clques
and he consequently without ceremony. But
Mr. Vinon easily disposed Of He had the
leader Of the House. chairman Of the Committee of Ways
and Means and Of decided though moderate talents
Yet General Taylor Cincinnati and powerfully i'm
pressed Of the importance Of the support Of the Buckeyes
be stated bis desire to have gentleman from Ohio in his
cabinet and be was too young in the exercise Of for
any to dare oppose him. There the
arrangements OF the eques; and to stop they seized
and largest they could lay on
Hon. Thomas Ewing accordingly thrown into IT, He
was selected 10 keep out Vinton who was committed on
many questions; but he selected for Treasury,
his Treasury report 90 Congress under General
IsOn yet fresh in every bodys mind and his uuhtness
for that Office Mechanically demonstrated. He
Iected for Post Office by
master General by Criiteuden himself.
The next difficulty that presented itself the selection
Of proper from Georgia Mr.. TOombs had OBJ
JestiOn to be Secretary Of War. while Mr. Thomas
King looking forward, with confidence, the Sc
creisyship Of the Navy. Mr. Toombs at once perceived
that his voice could prevail against King long him
self candidate, and killing King
20 him matter OF greater importance than even his own
appointment he IT resigned his claims and brought for
ward those Of Mr. Crawford who supported by Mr.
Stevens OF Georgia. and the senator Dawson elected
in the place Of Johnson. Thus MI King oversaughed
and Secretary Of War made foe the old General who
jeefed TO nobody as he not acquainted with anybody
merit
Nj. ABBOT Lawrenee's turn came next He was power
fully backed by the originals and powerfully opposed
BY the uld bunkeTs Of the party but what MORE he was
opposed by the cques. He invited to seat in the
cabinet" expected the Treasury, hut declined the Navy.
Things now bore new aspect and General TAYLOR.
in Washington, taken hand reasoned
with. Mr.. Binney was fought down. not without effort
the rest OF the appointments presented serious obstacle
Johnson and was determined 10 give him the Treasury
only Of his acknowledged talents but 10 keep
ali other asprants from Pennsylvania,
especially, Mr.. Josiah Randa-the who, any
other had contributed 10 the nomination aud election Of the
old General The regard him was that he had
GAINED the Attorney GeneTahip; but that General Taylor
having resolved to give Pennsylvania the Secretaryship
Of the Treasury his claims fen. Of course the gfound
So the fault Of Mr. Randall consisted aiming high
enough he fell the victim OF ilI-timed odesty By the
side Of Governor CrittenGen.
Mr.. COllamer at first only thought Of as Attorney
General IN conformity wiki the recommendation Of the le
gisiaiure OF Vermont He had been a competitor with Mr.
Uphsm for in the United States Senate and being
feated received parting situation, which
who had been eay the spot and TO defeat another og
nal, Mr.. ReveTdy Johnson Of Maryland. who a cand
date for the favor On the decIinatOn of Mr..
fence, MI Preston without difficulty, called 10 the
Navy Department still keep VIM C. Rves who il is
well known is opposed removals for opnions sake and
as impfaecabe as wing as he was democrat. The
Mr. CLAYTON State
Meredith, Treasury,
Z" Crawford War,
Preston, Navy,
Ewing, p. nj. General,
Collamer, Attorney General,
when the bill ESTABLISHING the SscresTyshp Of Interior
passed the Senate Then IL that Mr. Truman Smith,
another Of the original eoDspiFaors invited IL being
well understood be would accept c claimed the same
privilege as MI Citenden, viz to his substitute.
hich. al hfst granted by Gen. Taylor but ae
wsIds leave was asked by The President and gahed by M
smith to Withdraw that p'emse The public
II the Transaction Mr. Smith, singular letter General
which ion