Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-04-04
ebert J. Waixcr's AppOintment-His Pre-
cIivitics judged by his Antecedcmis-san-
guinc View OF the Prospects Of his ADJ
tninistration in Kansas.
wAsu1Sorox, Thursday, March 20, 1867.


WASHINGTON, Thursday, March 20, 1867.
Until Mr.. ROBERT ]. WALKER can prevail
upon his family, and some Of his intimate
friends, to drop their strung opposition to his
making Kansas his home for so long a period
as would be requisite in order to accomplish the
task, in that Territory, which the Administra-
ton requires at his hands, | fear it will be dit.
fcult for him 10 go. His health, seriously i'm.
paired by the National Hotel attack, could
scarcely be benefited by the anxietics of a
Western s%ojourn. He has never been physic-
ally very robust, and at the present time care
will be necessary before he can recover even
his usual vigor. Still, the general impression
is that he has made up his mind to accede TO
the personal solicitations of Mr.. Buchanan, and
that he will tic Governor Geary's successor.
1t had escaped the notice Of the people here,
as it was not regarded for the moment as hav-
ing any political significance, that the Presi-
dent, Notwithstanding the pressure of public
business upon him from all directions, had Ia
ken opportunities Of frequent aud lengthy in
terviews with Mr.. Walker during the past fort
night, which are now understood 10 have had
reference to Kansas. Mr.. Buchanan had, prob
ably, made up his mind previous 10 the advent
Of Ex-Governor Geary, whom he would APP
point in his place, and hence the intlmalions
which were thrown out that a statesman Of the
first order of talent and energy would he cho-
sen, and that opportunities Of higher disiinc-
tion would be afforded in Kansas, than could
be enjoyed by any other appointee of his Ad-
ministraiion.
1t seems to be the common supposiilon that
Mr.. Walker is entirely identified with the ex-
sreme Southern interest, and that his sympa-
thies are with the school of Davis, Toombs and
Others of the secessionist stripe. This is not
The case, and scarcely ought to be charged against
the man who was chosen 10 the United States
Senate, from Mississippi, as the opponent of
Mr.. PoindexIer, in the very campaign in which
the latter gentleman stumped the State under
the Palmetto flag, as the advocate of South
Carolina notification. Mr.. Walkers course,
at that time met with the appreciation Of every
Union man throughout the land. His stand
ard was the flag Of the Union, which he wore
around his waist, in which costume he denounc-
ed disunion as treason, in every principal town
and village Of his adopted Southern State.
Robert ]. Walker, the son of Judge Walk
er-one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of
the United States-was born in Pennsylvania,
and, | believe, not far from the home Of Mr..
Buchanan. lie studied law under his own IA
Their. and ~practiced his profession at Pittsburg,
where he married a daughter OF Franklin Bache
of Philadelphia, and a granddaughter of Ben
jamin Franklin. The first nomination of An
drew Jackson for the Presidency was made by
young Walker, shortly after he was admitted
TO the bar, at a Convention of the Pennsylvania
an Democracy. After his emigration TO Miss
issippi, he became identified with Texan indie
pendence, but took no leading part in national
matters until The declaration of South Carolina
in favor Of notification had excited his zeal in
behalf of the Union. Then succeeded The ia
nous struggle between himself and Poindexter
tho latter the right hand Of Calhoun in Miss
issippi, through whom he hoped to gain over
that Stale 10 the cause Of secession, or an un-
constitutional States Rights extreme. No
M Saiss, Soi ought It'll Il Co go out o;t' the tie i%asanSOry" OF
patriots in the North. Whatever may have
been the real causes of complaint against Mr.
Walker since, he did his duty then m~anfully
triumphantly, and in a way which caused hin
to take his seat as an equal among the giant
who composed the Senatorial body of that peri
cd.
Walker, in the Senate, soon became a con
fdential friend of jackson, and took a leadin.
part in the annexation of Texas but be it re
membered by those who distrust him on accoun
of his supposed Pro-Slavery proclivities, tina
he SttenuOusly opposed Mr.. Calhoun project o
making all Of 1eras Slape Territory, and Tea
The main instrument Of making the freedom o
The soil Of The Northern portion Of our neciy &C
CURED possessions a condition Of annexation.
Walker was first requested by Mr., Polk t
enter his Cabinet as Attorney General, tina
post being deemed most in accordance with hi
tastes but subsequent events transferred hin
to the Treasury Department. He then inau
gurated the 'Revenue,'' as distinguished froI
the Protection" tariff system, and drew u
and reported the tariff of 1876. 1t was a Dol
measure, reducing duties more than one-halI
on an average, and that at a time when III
country was involved in a war, and in opposi
tion TO the views Of the commercial, moneye
and manufacturing classes. On the passage
the bill, Mr.. Evans, Senator from Maine, an
considered the financial leader of the Wing:
declared, in his place, that the revenue of tn
next year would not be $40, 900 900. Dani'
Webster left a memorandum " 18th the clerk {
the Senate, that it would not produce $l4 900
S'N ga thS OaihihS ihtci
ests of this city and New-England considere
the policy as destructive. Walkers recorde
estimate was that it would give, in the fir
year, $50, O0O, 900. 1t gave $20, OOO, 900 an
some hundreds of thousands, and has gone @
increasing until it has reached It's present PR
digious amount.
Walker is the only Cabinet officer who HI
had his reports reprinted abroad. Sir Robe
Peel had them printed for the benefit Of Il
House of Commons, and his is the honor ofb
ing the only financial minister uhom The IGOR
has produced, who has advanced Governme
Stocks, and maintained Them above par, durir
a foreign war, and while it vas borrowing mo,
ey daily.
If this sketch sounds to you like a pauegy
ic, it is because | have cared to present you o
ly one side, and a true one, of the character
n very remarkable man uho ie ahont IN bo a