The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-23
The Cup Of Tantalus.

date for the Office of marshal OF New York, tells the who,
story" OF his aspirations and disappointment Sin few
words possible" He original supporter of Gen
Taylor On the day after the presidential election, dis
tnguished wing OF the city accosted him with these
words Fuller you must be marshal II is the best Of
flee in the city everybody says you entitled 10 it,
and the wings will all go in for you. General Taylor
knows what you have done for him, and of course you
will only have 10 say that you will accept it" Mr.
consented to be considered candidate His success
was considered so certain that 'one so far as
to guaranty our appointment, provided would consent
to dvide the salary with HIM Another. who wanted the
Office for personal friend agreed TO enter into bonds 10
pay us 900 year for the next Tour years the con.
dtion that we ,roud wittdraw has favor 10 insure his
success % The most friendly credentials Offered
him; but they respectfully declined; as, says he
we did mol deem it necessary to offer certificates Of
character, after the grateful letters and messages had
been honored with from General Taylor" The next
OF the drama his visit TO Washington, TO wit
the inaugural and congratulate the old Hero; but
here unwecome spectacle presented ITSELF though any
man tolerably well acquainted with the springs of wing
politics might have foreseen it would have 10 pass
Before the President had taken oath Of Office 1t be-
came apparent regular scramble for the oaves and
fishes about to take place, and that the masia for
office spreading like contagion through the whole
injected District of Columbia To great surprise
encountered the ground some five or six competitors
the mashalshp of the southern district all of whom
strongly fortified and backed with Certificates from their
last ployers. These hafdozen, like Fals,afs men in
buckram, quadruped in number; and each, in the
hope OF nsurng his concentrated his oppos
ton upon the most prominent OF his rivals We have
believe, that during the last three months, about the
pueus of The departments, have been the best abused
man in the nation. But let that pass for the present"
The scene began to deepen in interest After two or
three very pleasant interviews, and bref addressed
to the President, oerng ourse 10 his consideration as
candidate for the Office Of marshal, advised
in reply, through a gentleman belonging TO General
Tayors southern suite, make "a formal application 10
the proper department, accompanied by few letters that
might be filed in justification of the appointment We
presume this reply from the President himsdf,
through his confidential agent. Upon this hint, like
Oheo, Mr. Fuller spoke. He obtained several letters
from gentlemen of the highest character and onges,
purses well testimonials from many Of the most
eminent politicians in the Empire State and city," as well
petition from 70 Of the leading members OF the bar
among whom were Messrs. Maxwell and Hail. Several
members of Congress, too joined in the most earnest
recommendations strong letter in his behalf was ad
dressed to Mr. Ewing. by ga gentleman who had been
offered place in the cabinet" (Mr Truman Smith, we
presume)
The Vice President of the United States gave US the
comfortable of hope" in the following words:
When your up Mr.. Fuller, shall do my part
Tor you" But we will dwell longer upon the "docu
meniary strength which proved to be "pecct weakness
in the decisive hour.
tits private opinion that single member of the
cabinet troubled himself read any portion Of the papers
have above alluded to- with the exception of the Presi
dent HIMSELF who 'read them all attentvely" [Fioae
letters, signed by one hundred and fifty seven names
But il would not all do Tantaus had the cup to his
lip, but the waters after they rose, receded from his
T" How (says Mr. Fuer,) the appointment Of Mr.. Toll.
madge Effected, is not purpose to inquire We
left application in General Tayor's hands, with the
special request that he should withdraw the papers in case
he could not make the appointment. He did so and
sequen,ly at the time the appointment made
mott candidate for the Office"
He accompanies this expose with various Testimonies
from the newspapers, and finally begs Of his friends
longer to 'stop [hm in the streets to condoe with
our dis appointment, TO rail against the powers that
be-"
We shrewdly suspect that Mr. Fuller, amid his other
consultations to the afflicted" has companions enough
to sympathize in his disappointment. The fact is, The
President has held out hopes TO several Of his friends
that he could not carry out The old saying is, that
"where there is wM, there is Say" But the doubt
is whether the President has confidence enough in his
own qualifications 10 form will or if he had, whether
the rules Of the cabinet proceeding would leave him
a aoay TO carry out his own wishes His cabinet
frequently override him; and the rumor is, oulvoh
him. II is said that Mr. Van Rensselaer, was promiss
the post office of Albany, but he failed Cen s. s. Smith
of Philad elphia, also underwent the fate of Tanau
and there is little doubt that Mr. Collins Lee had an
in black and white OF the Presidents wshesn
his behalf. and yet he cut out OF the post Office
Baltimore This is, indeed, extraordinary spectacle;
but is true it is strange Curious enough, that bs
President of the United States should reduce himself
the embarrassing necessity of sacrificing his own wishes
to those Of his cabinet
Such is the state to which the impatient and polite
wings have reduced the President OF their choice and
the dignity of the executive. The secret consists in The
selection OF amary man who is available oandidds
but entirely disqualified and utterly unavailable The
first magistrate of great republic. The Athens ga
Banner remarks with great force. yet without being
aware of the length to which things are proceeding
the capital: n
In republic, this chief executive should @'
man OF sufficient capacity rely upon himself IL, shond
be above the intrgucs and corrupons OF cabinets AMI
able to impress his own views upon the administrator n
the government, FAR the forms OF the constitution
permit him. We nsediocriiy' of abilities. no
" doeiiy" in being led by cabinets That the sas
to which we invite our Presidents. We want bold aud
energetic Execu. who under stands the constitution
lie nf rho