The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-02-27

Washington telegram TO Pittsburgh Commercial
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1869.


WAsHINGToN, Feb. 25, 1869.
The Pennsylvania politicians are in
| a terrible ferment about the Cabinet
question. They have bored and wor-
ried General Grant on the subject more
than those of all the other States to-
geth er. Every day this week some of
them have been to see him, and the in
dicatiOns are that he will have to see or
decline to see some of them every day
till the inauguration. 1t is proper
enough that the people of Pennsylva-
mia should wish to have one of their
fellow citizens in the Cabinet, but the
course their politicians are pursuing is
in no way creditable. To those who
called on Monday, Tuesday and Wed
nesday, the General said that his pres
ent intention was to nominate one gem
tleman from their State, though he
would give no indication of his selec-
| ton. AuimpresSiOn got out somehow
that the person whom he had In his
mind was one not prominent in politi-
cal life. and the names of Stnart, Meri-
deth, Mckennan, BOrle, Welsh and
others, OF Philadelphia, have all been
canv0ssed. Geo. II. Stuart, formerly
President of the Christian Commission,
seemed to many of the politicians most
| likely to be selected. Colonel Mcclure
had already on several occasions strong
ly pressed the claims Ofex-Gov. Curtin,
| but he resolved this morning to go
again. and kill Stuart if he couldn't
save Curtin, He was accordingly on
| hand when Grant reached his Office,
duly armed with letters from Governor
Genry, Judges Read and Williams, and
others, and at once asked an interview.
| The report of what occurred is sub
stantially that given by Colonel Nc
| Clure himself. He says he remarked
that he was glad TO learn Pennsylvania
| would have q member in the Cabinet,
to which General Grant responded he
| intended selecting one gentleman from
that State Colonel Mcclure then said
he would like to know if Governor Cur
tin was to be the man. General Grant
made no definite reply, and Colonel
Mcclure began presenting Curtin's
Clnimg and inducements, after which he
again pressed for an answer. This time
he got pretty straight reply, TO the eff
feet that Curtin was not the man. Col.
| Mcclure went on to say that the APP
pOintment of such q man as Stuart, or
| Welsh, or any one else from private
life, would give great dissatisfaction to
| the people OF the State, wheretO General
Grant responded that he thought no
loyal man would object to Stuart,
though he must not be understood as
intimating that he was TO be selected
Colonel Mcclure answered that the
State was close, and the appointment of
such a man, who was not known to the
people, ana WHO COuIu nOJ properly
distribute the patronage, would give
the Democrats victory in the election
of next fall. To this Grant is said to
have responded that he would like to
have tho Republicans succeed there, but
he didn't know as anything could be
gained by putting an unfit man into
his Cabinet, Col. Mcclure took this as
a notice of dismissal, and left in some
disgust. He and his friends are talking
Tonight as If it were n sure thing that
Gen. Grant is going to do the dogs
forthwith, whereat there is mourning
among the Curtin politicians. Came
ron is in high feather. He met Nc
Clure this evening, and told him that
the appointment of Stuart would be
good thing for the Stale ard country
He says in private conversation that he
wants the State to have member in
the Cabinet, and don't care who it is j f
Curtin, FOrney and Kelly are left out.
He is sharp eDouR b to see that if ever
Curtin had any chance, he has been
KILLED by the greediness of his own
friends.
Mr.. Dickey successor to -Thaddeus
Stevens also had an interview with
Gen. Grant. Mr.. Dickey said he de-
sired to suggest that the claims Of the
State o! Pennsylvania might be conSid-
cred in the selection Of the Cabinet.
General Grant is said to have respond
ed that the claims of Pennsylvania had
already been considered, and that a se~
lection from that State had been deci-
ded upon. 1.-The gentleman will prob
ably be as much surprised as any one
when he is notified" said Gen. Grant;
che is and has been Republican from
the first, and think will satisfy all OF
you" This prompt response staggered
the party, it was so much more than
they expected, and without pressing
the matter further, they retired, but the
conversation was soon repeated in both
Houses and Senate. and the Pennsyl-
vanlans particularly were put in ket-
tie OF excitement over the announce
ment. The guessing rs to who the par
ty is at once grew desperate, and ran
down the whole list OF names from For
ney, through GearY, Curtin and Grow
to Mcpherson, Then it resurrected
several very able, fine and honest fOs-
sils who have been dead, politically,
for thirty years, when at last mali
cious wag threw a bombshell into their
specuiatiOns by suggesting that, after
all, it might mean Stanton. Tonight
the hotel corridors were full of it, and
Pennsylvanians are cudgeling their
brains in vain attempts to solve tho
mystery of the name. Some asserts
Judge Kelley Is the man; others are
certain it is William NJ. Meredith, of
Philadelphia, who was Secretary of the
Treasury under Taylor. Is 1t General
MoOrhead?