Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-08-21
correspondence of the Muscatine Daily Journal. J
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Rebel Cabiaet-The Draft at flashing
ton-Fleas, etc., etc. ....

The Rebel Cabiaet-TAe Drafta at Washing
ton-F1eas, etc., etc. ....
WASHINGTON, Aug 12, 1863
Your readers have probably concluded that
l have no very exalted regard for some of
the members of Mr.. Lincoln's cabinet, con-
sidered as individuals Fact is, lots of your
great men don't bear close spection-hence
the old saying, that "no man is a hero to his
valet de chanabre," not to mention the home
broils which history describes, arising from
contests between the gallgaskins and the
petticoats in families of distinction. There
| is wide difference in the number of great
men we hear about and the number we actll-
ally see But though our Presidents con-
st'tutional advisers do not, in my poor judg
ment, embrace all the brains, patriotism, hon
esty and craftsmanship in the country, they
manage to worry along with considerable
success, and on con sti-tu, tion-al grounds are
entitled to the support of good citizens every
where. .4..
But what shall we say of the Cabinet Of
jeff Davis, for whose shabby and fast falling
to.pieces government the amabe Copper
heads of New York City, and the incestuous
ditto of Keokuk county, seem to have so
much respect? You will remember the live
ly description of the family of temperate old
Sir Hidebrand Osbaldistone, by the lovely Di-
ana Vernon, in Roo Roy. "Thcy form, said
Die, a happy compound of sot, game keeper,
bully, horse Jockey aud fool; but as they
say there cannot be found two leaves on the
same tree exactly alike, so these happy ingre-
dents being mingled in somewhat various
proportions in each individual, make an
agreeable variety for those who like to study
character Thus, Percie, the son and heir,
has more of the sot than Of the game keeper,
bully, horse;jockey or fool. Ny precious
Thornie is more of the bully than the sot,
game keeper, jockey or fool. The jockey IS
powerful with Dickon, who rides two hundred
miles by day and night to be bought and sold
at horse race. And the fool predominates
so mnch over Wilfred's other qualities, that
he may be termed fool positive"
Change the words descriptive Of private
vices into words descriptive of public crimes,
and we have a wonderfully exact description
of Jeff. Davis and his cabinet, whose tout en-
sem6le of character presents delightful com
mngling of treason, reputation, blood thirs-
tyness, pecuIation, falseho d and unholy am
bition Thus Davis himself, whilst sufficient
ly anbi.ious, false, avaricious, blood thirsty
and treacherous, has more of the repudiator
than any member of his cabinet The huge
Israeite, Benjamin, Rebel Secretary of State,
is more of a peculator; Seddon, of the War
Office, a white-hared gentleman Of the " con-
servatve schoo may well enough be con-
sidered as the father of Ii s, and good match
for the original daddy in that line; Mem
minger Of the Treasury, has more Of the un-
mixed traitor, but good deal of the public
thief; Mallory, of the Navy, curly headed :.
stout fellow, is a most precocious blood drink
err whilst Attorney General Watts, and
Postmaster General Reagan have all the amia-
BILE qualities have mentioned in about equal
degree one with another.
A proper set of men indeed, to have con
troll of the governmental machinery Of a
e free country p Their compeers in po'iti-
cal inialny and in misery resulting therefrom
will be found only in the Neros, and the Cal
igulas, the Francis Seconds, and the Jeffries
of history, and they will hardly be found in
them. Yet it is to such men as these, the
wholesale destroyers of our people, the ruth
less, savage desolators of our country, that
some among us seek to render aid and
comfort by all the means in their power, and
of whom they would ask humiiating peace.
History will give them other treatment, and
send them down the ages, branded with the
red-hot iron of universal eXecration.
The draft in this city passed off without a
| word of complaint so far as have heard
Five gentlemen from Iowa were drafted,
among the rest my particular friend, Chas.
A. Page, Esq, who was sandwiched in be
tween two gentlemen of color, to wit: George
Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte. Page
has been exempted, however, on account of
the piles-of greenbacks, making just $500
By the way, he will soon be appointed tax
commissioner for Arkansas, under the law
for collecting taxes in insurrectionary dis
tricts. Salary $4,000 per annum. George
Cowie, Esq, of Powesheik county, now of
the 5th Auditors Office, will receive like
position for North Carolina.
I saw letter from an American Consul at
one of the renowned cities of Italy, the other
day, wherein was nearer approach to pro-
family than I can admire, On account of the
leas which were bobbin' around every where
in the said classical locality. We are in the
same unhappy fix here, just now, the unusual
heat bringing to life all sorts Of these jump
ing insects, or vermin, or whatever you may
choose to call 'em. So we arc constantly be
ing reminded of jolly, hypochrondiacal Bur
tons subj dolor ibi digitus" must needs
scratch where it itches.'
/ TlNKENSAJE