The New York herald., 1869-01-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

Hotels and Boarding Houses FulI-The
New Gabinet-Its Possible NIcmbers-Gsossip
About Mr.. Seward and Minister Johnson
How the New Administration VIII Make
Itself Historic.
This CITY was never 30 busy before The hotels
and boarding houses crowded with aspirants for
office, with railroad telegraph and canal jobbers
reconstructionsts and destructionsts, st. Domingo
fbusters and Cuban revolutionists. All OF them are
working away with zeal worthy Of success. The
resistance ofered to their steady assaults upon the
central power OF the United States Is the best proof
OF the strength OF this form OF government. II
stranger unaccustomed to republican institutions,
were to drop down here, he would think that we
were to have, In the next administration, some 900
or 400 Cabinet ministers, Everybody has the honor
OF being named but, as in the Christian doctrine,
few are elected. Perhaps little Cabinet pudding
may be paiatable:-
It is certain that General Schoneld win remain
Secretary or War. Admiral Porter Is evidently nt-
ting up his newly purchased $4,000 house to enter
tain those who wish to pay court TO the Secretary OF
the Navy. Now these little appointments from the
army and navy are not to the liking Of either
branch. General George II. Thomas, now here
freely asserts that it is very bad policy intro
duce the shoulder strap element into the Cabinet,
while Admiral Farragut, with equal soundness de-
miral Porter 1t win be remembered that it has been
one OF the most cherished rules of West Point and
Annapolis that the branches OF the public service re-
presented By their graduates should hold themselves
entirely aloof from political life. maintaining their
positions as the great sturdy conservative element
In the country. Farragut and Thomas may be right
fully considered, In their respective branches q
representing the highest embodiment OF this princ-
Is the nrst step towards the corruption Of the army
and navy and the increased corruption Of political
life.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
IL can scarcely be believed that the old gentleman
tain IT, yet such is the fact Last evening he made
the first move on General Grants works BY giving
him dinner. He wsil not carry his point, however,
element in the Cabinet should he himself far viii
try Mr.. Evarts afterwards for Cabinet appoint
Marshall O. Roberts for position. the whsle
Western country IL very much incensed at
loud are the complaints at the corruption which
clings TO everything that Mr.: Seward touches
around which reyoye the diyiders. Ben wade il
appears quite certain. will be Postmaster General.
AZ yet Y Is not settled who win he in the Treasury.
Boutwell, OF Massachusetts, Is mentioned. or Foreign
prominent but Grant himself does not yet know.
The newly elected President is. however, beginning
to look around him with alittle activity, and Is
conversing with greater freedom coming events.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
These Will all be settled by the next admInistra-
non The hest friends OF Minister Johnson think that
he has made failure in England. The fact is, he Is
understood here to be the paid agent or number of
insurance companies In whose hands the claims are
now principally held. There are but about 100000
or claims held In the hands OF private parties
or merchants; all the balance are In the insurance
companies. Now these companies have already been
Of the United states, which they insured at en0r
nous rates during the depredations Of the Alabama
hsy w be pad over 70 he w
have really been the sufferers In high rates Of insur
ss W1 M Reye
pressing the insurance business hard upon John
ku and Why ar. Seward allows II TO be done at the
now CUBA sufFERs ON ACCOUNT or THE ALABAMA
CLAIMS.
gress for the revolution in Cuba but the state De-
partment holds It In check for fear that
| revoutionIsts win damage our Alabama claims. \
is advocafei by prominent leader IN the House OF
ard cannot understand tnat there are twc Kinds Of
belligcrcnt rghts-one class for the land one for
the ocean declaration OF sympathy for the rev.
Oution would be OF Immense advantage to the In
surgents ard the reason they have not had It ere
| this is that Mr.. Seward Is a man OF one idea.
now THE COMING ADMINISTRATIONS WILL MAKE
ITSELF HISTORIC
Mexico, Canada, the West Indies These are to
be the footballs OF historic fortune the next Presi
| dent and his friends. Old internal troubles, the
war, reconstruction, are a to be forgotten IN
nn Inc wn. ~ @ pe@a 81 M OF ~
least upon the northern half OF this Continent.
do not say. that oil this will be done by war,
although. II necessary, the composition OF the
Cabinet, thus far, gives hint. With reference TO
| Mexico, II IN considered that she stands m our
way, has proven herself totally incapable Of keeping
pace with the demands made upon her by the clviIi
zation OF thu times, and especially OF the progress
which IL rubbing against her on her northern froR-
| tier. General Grants policy win be az once aggres
siye and 70 the point and probably within year
from the sth Of next March Mexico viii be quetef
than she has been since Hdalgo raised the standard
OF revolt against Ferdinand VII. 1t win be shown
TO Canada that It In for her interest to unite with NJ
sftfrn s,f nv tiol
| ing those curses TO mankind heretofore known ~
boundary lines. the West Indies-tnyse outp0sts Ia
the l2oo,0o0 square miles OF tho. Mississippi valley
beside Mexico--are to be counted in In fact. the
whole Idea Of the coming new government is the
grand OF making the northern haf OF tins Cont
nent compact There must he rs little territory as
possible touching II that 70 opposed 80 II in politica
- tt...n