The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-06
Abe Lincoln, the Rail-splitter, rs n Cnbi-
net Maker.

ence in the world between splitting timber
and putting il together; and we are not at all
surprised to see that the opponents of Lincoln
declare persistently that he is still at his old
business Of dsintegration; that he has split the
country in twain, AMI that all his Cabinet
making will amount to nothing. On the con-
trary it il quite natural that the friends of Lin
coin should insist that he is first rate
Cabinet maker, and that he will ma
mage to glue the North and South together
aud dovetal the Union so that all the seams
and cracks will be as smooth as if they had
never been exposed to the fire of secession.
OF course the result of Old Abe's first al
tempts at Cabinet making will be looked for
with the utmost impotence by the country
Hon. Massa Greeley, who ought to be posted
about the affair gives the following list of Lin
coins journeymen:-
State VIM r. Seward, Of New York
Treasury ........... Salmon r. Chase, of Ohio.
Attorney General ...... Edward Bates, oil missouri
war. simon cameron, OF fennsyiVa
Navy. Robert T. Scott, OF virginia
Interior. ............Wm Vim. A. Graham, OF Carolina
Postmaster General Gideon Weies Of Connecticut
The first stick of timber brought to Spring
field for Lincoln's inspection was old Mr.. Bates,
of Missouri-a beautiful fossil, round, smooth,
and in very excellent preservation. Old Mr..
Bates is susceptible Of very high degree OF
polish, and therefore was accepted without
hesitation. Next came Proviso Wilmot, OF
Pennsylvania, who was pressed for the
Treasury Department. but, being measured,
weighed and tried by al the usual tests, he was
set aside as not being up to the mark. Simon
Cameron vas the next customer, and he was
declared sound as Florida oak. Simon will be
the leading spirit in the new Cabinet, ruling in
the kitchen as well as the parlor Cameron
gets the War Department and will be found
equal to the post. lie is a descendant OF the
old Scottish clan-the Highland Camcrons-
who used to divide their time between pecula-
ton and devotion; equally fond of piety and
plumber, they succeeded in serving God and
Mammon as well as any of our modern stock
jobbing parsons and religious defanlters. In
times of political troubles the Camerons were al
ways to be found on the stronger side; and to the
gentlemanly occupations previously alluded to
they occasionally added little homicide, by
way of relaxation. Nobody ever questioned
the pluck Of Cameron, and as this is virtue
generally transmitted in the blood it is more
than probable that Simon has large share of
it. He is self made man. Beginning az
printers boy, he worked himself up to the cdi-
torial chair, waxed wealthy, was cashier of
bank, and then turned professional politician.
He is one Of the shrewdest men in that busi-
ness that the country can show. Tn 1856 he
organized the peoples party in Pennsylvania
and in the very next Legislature managed TO
upset Forncy, who had Just succeeded
in carrying the State for buchanan. aud
fancied that he had Pennsylvania in
his brooches pocket. Cameron got the place
in the Senate which Forney had set his heart
upon, and has been a prime mover in all party
tactics since 1857. As politician he COM
bincs the qualities Of all the members Of the
celebrated New York frm--Seward, Weed
Greeley & Co.-bu resembles Weed more than
any Of the others.
Seward, as we understand, goes into the Cabi-
net in order that he may provide for his friends
Weed, Draper 4 Co Lincoln believed Seward
to be rather crooked stick and desired that
he should go abroad, The Greeley faction also
insisted that Seward should be sent off, and it
was finally arranged that the post should be
rendered TO him. and that he should keep it
until after the distribution of the spoils, and
then go upon long tour to the East, visiting
Japan China, Iiindostan. Persia and Tartary,
bringing up at the Holy Sepulchre. Mr.. Seward
and Mr. Bates have accepted the posts offered
10 them. Mr.. Chase, who is named for the
Treasury, is considered as piece of sound
timber of democratic stock. and was urged by
the Ohio delegation at Chicago. Chase is
smoother stick than his coat,ere Wade, who has
a tendency TO 90 against the grain. Chase's
appointment will be very satisfactory to the
West. Robert L. Scott, Of Virginia, is the
identical Captain Scott whose achievements in
coon hunting are well known. In 1852
Captain Scott brough. down all the Presiden-
tial aspirants by opening a correspondence
with them and spreading their views before
the country. Now all the Presidents are
bound TO come down when summoned
by Scott. They inquire Are you Captain
Scott-the Captain Scott whom poor
Pierce sent to Rio.r If so, don't fire; I'll come
down. II may be, however. that Scott has
not levelled his rife at Lincoln, but that the
immortal Bolts is 10 be taken TO sleep with Old
Abe as with Captain John Tyler. Perhaps the
appointment Of Bolts would have the effect Of
curing him Of the cacoeihes scriJeadi-a frghtful
malady which has affected him during the last
FIVE and twenty years, more or less.
Mr. Graham is seasoned stick OF cabinet
timber. He was Secretary OF the Interior un-
der Fillmore. In the present aspect Of affairs
il docs not seem probable that he would take
office under Lincoln.
Last, and most wonderful OF all. we have
Gideon Welles. Of Connecticut for the Post
ONCE. Where, in the name Of all the departed
heroes and fossilized politicians, did they
dig up that antique bit Of timber
We recollect that one Gideon welles came TO