The New York herald., 1869-02-15
INTERESTING POLITICAL RETROSPECT.
The History OF Cabinet EIaixing--By One Who
Expects 10 be Ia General GrunI,s Cabinet.

The History OF Cabinet MakfnG--By One Who
Expects be Ia General Grants Cabinet.
From The Hartford Courant-Governor Hawley-
FEB. 10l
There has been much specuatonin regard to the
composition Of General GRANTS Cabinet, and the
non-annouucement OF the individuals whom he
Intends shah be his advisers ia spoken OF as
thlng singular and Objectionable; hut II inquiry is
decessors. Il win be found that with scarcely an
exception. they have each declined 10 elect the
heads OF departments or 10 make known their choice
until after the votes have been Officially can
yassed and declared by Congress. This takes place
By Law on the second Wednesday OF February, which
this year comes on the i0th--to-day. retrospect
OF the last forty years shows that only cabinet
has been perfected prior to the week preceding the
inauguration.
General Jackson arrived ut the capital. Great Inte
felt BY all In regard TO his constitutional ad
visers and although IL was generally expected that
Mr.. Van Buren, would be Secretary OF STATE the first
Cabinet specuaLions not published in Wash
ington until the 2oth OF February. On he next day
lively announced the following as the probable
Cabinet:---
York; Secretary OF the Treasury, s. D. fncham, OF
Pennsylvania; Secretary OF War; !. II. Eaton, OF
Tennessee; secretary OF the Navy, John Branch, OF
OF Ohio; Attorney General, John N. Berren. OF
Georgia.
substitution OF W. r. Barry, OF Kentucky. for
Postmaster General In the place OF Mclean,
who was appointed TO the bench OF the supreme
Court II Is wei known that Henry Baldwin, or
PeDnsylyania, came 20 Washington The invitation
OF General Jackson, who intended to make him Sec
relary OF the Treasury. Mr.. Baldwin. however, was
not acceptable to the Vice President Mr.. Calhoun,
and the opposition OF that gentleman and his friends
including almost the whole. OF the pennsylvania
change was made, and Mr.. Ingham, a devoted par
tsan OF Mr.. Calhoun, was appointed
Mr.. van Buren, VINO succeeded General Jackson,
made on nus accession TO the Presidency but single
change 10 the Cabinet, lie Immediately nominated
BenJamn I: Bu,er' or New YORK, Tor !, temporary
quenly named Joel x. P0insett, OF South Carolina,
who served through the term.
General Harrison arrived In washington on the
9th OF February, IS4l, and on the 18th the Ma
ttonai Intel lgectr announced, semioliicialy. that
so far ~ depended upon the President the Cabinet
would In ali probability be thus comp0sed:--Secre-
tary OF State, Daniel webster, OF Massachusetts:
Secretary OF the Treasury, Thomas Ewing OF ONO;
Secretary OF War, john Bell Of Tennessee, Secretary
OF the Navy. George y. Badger OF North Carolina;
Postmaster General, Francis Granger, OF New York;
Attorney General, John J. .rittenden OF Kentucky.
No change was made In the list thus early an
Mr.. PoIk reached washington on the 18th Of Feo-
ruary 1s45, and II Is understood that his Cabinet
was not definitely formed until after the st OF
March, Washington papers pubIisned no spccula-
tions concerning it Mr. poik, having been nonll,
acknowledged MS obligations TO the friends OF
| the latter, and Immediately after, his election
tury to silas Wright. then recently elected
Governor OF New York. That gentleman declined
the place, but desired as dd NJ. Van Buren, tnat y
man OF great financial ability aud Integrity. This
arrangement however, was not satisfactory to
Governor Marcy and his friends, who were
not at that time IN full Fellowship with
tue democratic party 10 View York Mr..
Polk thought, therefore, 10 evadc difficulties
and complications by rendering the Treasury 10
Mr.. Bancroft, profound admircr OF Mr.. Van
Buren. But this unexpected selection satisfied
neither, though Mr.. Van Buren and hts friends nc
quicsced, IN the expectation and with the under
| standing that Mr.. Butter or General DIE should
represent Newsrork in the Cabinet. But Governor
Marcy and his friends dlssented, and, uniting with
Others, procured X. ]. Walker. then q Senator
| from Mississippi, to be substituted In lieu OF
was efTected ut late day It's object was to extri
| cate the administration nom the influence OF
| the New York Regency without an open rupture.
But Mr.. Polk, In order 10 keep faith with Messrs.
about the 1st OF March 70 New York. rendering the
War Department TO b. y. Butter, who had refused
that post under Mr.. Van Buren, and required an I'm
,sns mediate answer TINS answer = mr. Polk and the
t'S 70 Consult with " bis " friends al E'DyKd Kinder
hook and Albany. The once OF Secretary of
cornnturc Of Mcssrs. ven Buren and Wright. Mr.
Bancroft was transferred to the Navy Department.
then filled By John Y. Mason, and Mason, who was
cfTylers Cabinet and expected to Be retained, Tss %
Cabinet was finally organized as sfoll0ws:-Secrctary
iary Of the Treasury, Robert }. walker.
sMsssypp Msrcy or sfsssta' sss york; ~ sesre.sry q
lse Navy George Bancroft OF massachusetts,; Post
master General Cave Johnson Of Tennessee; Attor.
eeS ss %nsG q exos xsM
poinsment or the friends Of M Tyler, WHO
were d,soontentcd because Mason wa, vas :. com; com;
70 Bsocrofs Tns Nanonat iatelsgeroe q