The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-24
INTERESTING POLITICAL HISTORY.
The Presidents and their Cabinets.


is always interesting period OF political history.
In the HERALD of the 10th March, soon after the
ANIMATION OF President Pierces cabinet, we gave full
sts of the names of members Of cabinets under the
various administrations of national government
hom that of General Washington, in $780, to the
present time. We also noticed the circumstances
which caused the difficulties in the cabinets of
Washington and John Adams, and the impressions
which the personal character and qualifications Of
the successive Presidents made upon the government
and officers of the country during the period OF their
administrations. 1t will, we think, be interesting
10 give some account of the formation and dissolu
tion Of cabinets and the ntrgues Of politicians con-
neoted Herewith.
Passing over the administrations Of Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams
under which with few exceptions in the case OF
Madison the cabinet members generally ccincided
m feeling with the respective Presidents, and CO
operated with them-as possessing few points Of ip-
terest at this time, we come to the memorable ad-
ninistration of Andrew Jackson, which commenced
n March, 1929 and continued through a period of
eight years. Jackson, who may be called the last
of the cooked hats was also the last President who
was reelected.
Great expectations were formed that brilliant
and talented cabinet would be selected by General
jackson, after his triumphant election, by large
popular majority, over Mr. Adams-and some disap-
pOintment expressed that he had failed to choose
the strongest men from among the leaders of the
party which had elevated him to the Presidency.
In consequence of the death of De Witt Gin
ton, few months previous to the. election
of President, in 1928, it was generally con-
oJad hot Martin Van Uh SucppaaIal
Mr.. Clinton as Governor of New York, and on whom
the jackson party united in this State occupied the
most prominent position of any of the democratic
leaders for seat in the cabinet. He was therefore,
made Secretary of State. As to the Treasury Depart
nent, much difference of opinion prevailed, and va
rious candidates for Secretary were recommended to
the President. Jackson himself preferred the late
Henry Baldwin, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (after-
wards Judge of the United States Supreme Court,)
and on his way from Tennessee to Washington in
vited Baldwin to accompany him, with the assur-
ance his being placed at the head of the Treasury
But there was at that time in Pennsylvania power
full clique OF democratic leaders who were devoted
the interests of Vice President Calhoun, and not
originally Jackson men. A large proportion of
the Pennsylvania delegation in Congress of this
Calhoun clique and determined to prevent appoint
ment of Baldwin, who was an original friend of Gen.
Jackson. They therefore brought forward, as their
choice for Secretary Of the Treasury, Samuel D.
Ingham, one of their own clique, and a member of
Congress from Bucks county. AS thirteen of the
twenty jackson members of Congress from Pennsy-
vnnia were in favor of the appointment of Mr. Ing
ham, and represented to the President that he was
the choice Of Pennsylvania, Gen. Jackson reluc
family gave up his own choice, and appointed Mr..
Yngham few months afterwards he placed his
friend Baldwin on the bench Of the Supreme Court
For Secretary of War, Gen. Jackson selected Ma
jor John II. Eaton, who at that time was one of the
United States Senators from Tennessee and had held
. seat in that body for more than ten years. He
the particular friend and bographer of Gen. Jackson.
When invited by the President to become member
of the cabinet he desired to be excused, and only
gave up his objections at the pressing solicitations
of Jackson. Mr.. Desha, a member of Congress
from Tennessee, in letter to Duff Green, pub
hshed in the summer Of 1881, says -" was one
of General Jackson's original, warm, personal,
and political friends, who have been denounced for
no other reason, as believe, but that could not
say Major Eaton Of the greatest men in the
nation, and that Mrs. Eaton was slandered woman
/ was in the city when it was rlmored that Major
Eaton would be appointed in the cabinet, a few
days before the General was inaugurated) / waited
on the President, and gave him my opinion, honest
ly, that it would be unfortunate appointment
that could see disappointment and modification in
the countenances of his friends that the country
expected him to select men for his cabinet Of the
FIRST talent in the nation that Major Eaton not
one Of that description. The Presidents answer
was, that Mr.. Eaton was talented man, and that
he was well informed that it would be a very popu-
lar appointment in New York and Pennsylvania
John Branch, of North Carolina, was selected by
the President az Secretary Of the Navy He was one
Of the United States Senator's from his native
State and it seems he was partly indebted
to the influence OF Major Eaton for his appointment
to the Navy Department. In an address to the pub
Lie, in September, 1884, published after the dissou
ton of the cabinet, Major Eaton says" Mr. Branch
and myself were born and reared in le same county
OF North Carolina, educated at the same college and
had been associates and friends in early and ad-
yanced life. / solicited his appointment as men,
Der of the cabinet, and at the Presidents request
informed him of the selection He made no objec-
tion-not the least, save on the score Of a modest
distrust of his competency, and expressed at the
time much gratitude towards the President, and ex-
hibited much good feeling towards myself
William 7. Barry of Kentucky, who was appointed
Postmaster General, was jealous friend Of General
Jackson, and had made strong run for Governor of
Kentucky, at the August election, in 1923, although
unsuccessful. Major Eaton says" Mr.. Barry was
appointed, from the confidence reposed in him by
the President, derived from his personal knowledge
OF his worth and merits. Between Mr.. Van Buren,,
Mr.. Barry and myself the most cordial friendship has
always subsisted nothing has ever arisen to inter
rupt in the least our friendly relations
The same gentleman further remarks -" met
all the members Of the cabinet as friends, personal
and political, to whom was assigned the highest
destiny, by harmony Of feeling among themselves, of
giving unity of design and vigor Of action to the adj.
mnistration of General Jackson. In the same light,
j am cure, did he consider US. In the sngleness Of
his heart and the ardor Of his patriotism he suspected
not that there was amongst any other object than
by cordial support to enable him in the cabinet
IL Al. ALI "a. Qtt