The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-06
CHI AR ES TON
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 6, 1862
The New Cabinet.

The New Cabinet.
The riddle is solved at last. President
Grant has announced the members of his
Cabinet, and his ominations have been
promptly confirmed by the Senate. The
knowing ones, as the result shows, have been
sll at fault in their copjectures. The men
whomthe new President called around him
are unqucstionsbly able, practical and we'll
fitted to conduct their respective depart
ments with advantage to the government
and credit to themselves. But, in his BE-
lection of advisers, Grant plainly indicates
that he means to be President in fact as
we'll as in name. There is not, in Tie
whole list, man whose individual force of
character or extreme views and prominent
Identification with Radical measures would
give room for the fear that he might exert
an evil sway over the policy Of the new
administration. This, at least, is some
thing in our favor.
Mr.. Eihu B. Washburne, of Illinois, the
new Secretary of State, was born in Maine,
in 1916, served an apprenticeship in q
printing office, studied law in Howard Uni
versity, and, removing to the West, prac-
ticed law at Galena, Illinois He was
elected representative to the SD Congress
from that State, and e-elected to the Gath,
35th and 36th Congresses, serving on two
occasions as chairman of the Committee on
Commerce He was elected to the 37th and
Seth Congresses, and on account of his having
served continuously for longer period
than any other member of the 18Th Con-
gress, usage awarded to him the title of
Father of the House," He was the author
of the bill reviving the Office of Lieutenant
General, which was conferred on General
Grant. He was reelected to the seth and
10th Congresses. Mr.. Washburne was
largely instrumental in bringing General
Grant into notice under the Lincoln admin
istration, and has ever since been his warm
, supporter, giving him countenance and
strength when the popular tide ran against
him. There seems to be strong link of
sympathy between President Grant and the
veteran Congressman, who has for some
time been regarded by the public as the
coming power behind the throne. Mr..
.Washburne has been noted in Congress for
his bitter and uncompromising opposition
to financial rings and plundering cliques,
and has fairly won the brave title of "Watch
dog of the Treasury" He is decided
though not an extreme Republican, and is
likely to throw all his influence on the side
of retrenchment and an economical admin
istration.
Mr.. A. T. Stewart, the dry goods MILL on
aire, of New York City, who is to preside
over the Treasury Department, is new to
political life. A Scotchman by birth, he
began his career in very humble position,
and working his way up by integrity, rssO-
luton and self denial. is now able to count
his property by tens of millions of dollars.
Mr.. Stewart, VIC believe, has never been
guilty of . generous action, being as re-
markable for his inaezi5ility in e1aoting
the last farthing which is his due as for his
astonishing commercial success As an ex-
ecutive and administrative officer he will
have but few equals, and if he devotes to
national affairs, as he doubtless will, the
ability, the honesty and the incor1uptibil-
ity which have marked his individual
career, there are hard times in store for
the thieves aud plunderers who glow fat by
feeding at the public crib. Mr.. Stewart is
well advanced in years, but is full of life
and vigor. During the late campaign he
was steady friend of General Grant aud
has lately thrown an anchor to windward
by heading subscription to buy Grants
house for his successor, General Sherman.
Mr.. Stewart is not without ambition, and
may have an eye to the Presidency in the
distant future.
Genera, Schofield, as was intimated by
General Grant previous to his inauguration,
will retain, for the present, the portfolio of
! War.
Mr. Adolphe E. Borie, of Peno lyanis,
the Secretary of the Navy, is u retired
merchant, of Philadelphia, having fu,
many years been engaged in ,hc East India
trade, from which be reaned a princcly
fortune. lie is regarded as one of the
wealthiest men in the coun,rv. His private
character is sspotless; but Il, h,s never been
mixed up in politics. DAr:.g the war he
was an active worker in behalf of the Uuiou
cause, aud he served for several years as
vice president of the Union League. In
summer he resides at Torreedale, near
Philadelphia, where he has magnificent
! villa but in inter he lives in Pniladel-
phis.