Middletown transcript., 1869-03-13
srlDDLnrowS, DEL.
From washington.

Things are not working smoothly, at
Washington with the new President. Diff
fculties meet him at the very threshold Of
his administration. His inaugural ad-
dress did not please some Of his adhereuts.
Its structure was inelegant, if not COM
moBplace. 1t breathed something of in
dependence Of party; it spoke of the poe
sible exercise of the veto power, all of
which grated harshly upon the ears of
old party hacks, who will be satisfied with
nothing less than unquestioning obedience
tothe bchests of party.
The President has not been very for
tunate in the selection of his Cabinet. 1t
has not given satisfaction to the leading
politicians of his party, and his appoint
ments have been sharply criticised. He
is represented as looking more to the gra-
tifcation Of his own private friendship
than to the public service. 1t is very
properly said that the public offices are
not the rewards of private friends, but
should be filed by men whose ability
would assure the country of the proper
fulflment ofthe duties pertaining to them
1t is conceded that Judge Hoar is the only
one whose attainments are anything more
than those of respectable mediocrity
The two most important appointments are
the most unfortunate. Mr.. Washburne
has but poor qualifications for the pre-
miership. He is remarkable for nothing
so much as the duration of his term in
Congress, and there are already some
whisperings that he will exchange places
with Mr.. Dix, and that while he goes to
France for q scientific medical nursing" !"
,sAeh he he m this Country, Mr.
Dix will conduct our foreign relations at
home. Such is Washington rumor. Had
Gen. Grant counseled with his friends
upon the subjet of his Cabinet appoint
inents he would not have committed the
blunder of appointing Mr. A. 7. Stewart
as his Chancellor Of the Exchequer, when
the law of 1889 which organized the Trea-
sury Department, imposed disabilities
which prevented him from filing the place.
Gen. Grant was ignorant of this law, but
if he had made his purpose known to some
well informed friends, he would have been
apprised Of it, and would have avoided
this mistake How does he act in the
emergency? He sends message to Con-
gress asking that body to repeal that part
of the law which applies to Mr. Stewards
case. Objection was very properly made
and Mr.. Stewart has to resign. Mr.. Stew
arts proposition to transfer his interests t.
trustees, and devote the profits of his i'm
mense trade to the benefit of the poor o
New York, was not deemed complanc,
with the law which debarred him from
filling theofice. So g the man who nom
mated Grant" has to forcgo the honors @
ahe position to which he was called by hi
grateful friend.
CamNET CHANGES. President Of
Thursday nominated to the Senate Georg
s. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,, for Secre
tary of the Treasury Hamilton Fish, c
New York, for Secretary of State, an
General John A. Rawlins, for Secretary c
War.
He also appointed E. B. Washburne,
Illinois, Minister to France, with Fran
Moore as Assistant Secretary of Legation
A. X. Sharp, Marshall for District of Co
umbia; G. A. Newcomb, Postmaster fc
the District of Columbia. A. G.. Curtir
of Pennsylvania, Minister to st. Peters
burg.