Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-03-09
THE NEW CABINET.

On Friday, the day alter installation INTO
Office, President GRANT kindly relieved the
anxiety and speculation of the quid nuncs,
by sending to the Senate for confirmation, the
following names, as his selected Constitutional
advisers -
E. B. Washburne, of Illinois, Secretary of
,4Stute; Adolph 4. Borie, of Pennsylvania.
Secyeta,y of Many A. T.. Stewart, of New
Work, Secretary of Ireasuryj j. d. Cox, of
Ohio, Secrcta'y Of Interior j. A. j. Cres-
veil, of Maryland, Postmaster General; e.
B. Hoar, of Massachusetts, AttoSaey General.
No nomination was sent in for Secretary of
War, Gen. Schofeld retaining the Office for
the present. The nominations were confirmed
by the Senate, but Washington corresron-
dent thus graphically refers to the indignaN'
ton and ridicue incident to its doing so -
WASHINGTON, MARCH 5, 1869.
The mountain has brought forth ridcu
lous mouse, to the great amusement OF some
and to the disgust of many. Grave Senators
did not hesitate to laugh outright when the
seal of the Important package was broken to-
day and the names of the new Cabinet were
for the first time announced to the world A
Leading Radical Senator from the land of
steady habits severely remarked that it was
no longer matter of surprise to him that the
names of the Cabinet should be kept a secret
so profound by General Grant, the surprise
now being that he ventured to make such
selection known at all. Everybody expresses
surprise and disappointment, and many of the
Radicals profess great indignation. Although
Mr. Stewards name had been mentioned in
connection with the Treasury Department.
they deny that any one had seriously contem-
plat 9 his appointment to the position, as
successful career in specializing III dry goods
does not necessarily fit u man to manage the
financial affairs aud control the currency of
n nation Outside of his mercantile operations
Mr. Stewart has no standing whatever; but
with an ovcr;rown fortune he Is ambitious "t
position. and this he has secured-hOio it is
needless to inquire.
The selection OF Washrurne for the State
Department caused frequent reference about
the Cartel to day to the old simle OF IA bull
in a china shop" Because u mans mental
calbre aud peculiar organization fined him
to watch the appropriation bills in Congress,
aud object to.doing justice to private citizens,
the same man is not necessarily a statesman
fitted to manage the foreign affairs OF u great
nation.
When the name of Adolph f. Borie, of
Pennsylvania, was read oui tor Secretary OF
the Navy, the inquiry ran around the Senate
-"Who is Mr.. Borie Z" No one seemed
able to give the required information. Aud
when the name OF Samuel L. Hoar, of Massa-
chusettt, WIS reached, Senators Sumner and
Wilson, from Mr.. lI0lr's own State, laughed
aloud, in violation of all parliamentary dcco>
rum.
But President Grant has given the South
a representative in his Cabinet, and that is u
marx OF his favor which even the Southern
Senators and Representatives in Congress had
hardly draed to hope for, although they had
sought it most diligently. But such repre-
sentative! The ultra Rldjclls profess to be
much amused at this recognition of the South
aud express, a surprise that the choice had
not fallen upon Governor Brownlow, of Ten.
nessee, as they say between Creswell and
Brownlow the latter would have been prefer.
red. The only Cabinet appointment which
appears not to excite surprise is that of Jacob
D. Cox, OF Ohio, who was Major General in
the Army of the Potomac, and to whom
President johnson at one time rendered the
War Department as q compromise with the
United States Senate. +.
OF the selection made, the Baltimore Ga
zene pertimenty remarks, that it will be re-
ceived by the country with profound astonish-
ment, and, if we mistake not, with mingled
feelings of bitter disappointment and deeper
indignation. All who trusted in General
GRANT, aud very many of those who mistrust-
ed him, had hoped that he would realize the
critical condition in which the country now
stands. and that he would summon around
him men of recognized ability and patriotism.
He has thought proper, however, to name for
his Cabinet officers, individuals who are only
known to the public as professional patriots
and shifty politicians. There is no. one among
them who bears an established character for
disinteresteduess, or who is entitled to be
classed among statesmen. This first act OF the
President will spread Encouragement and
dismay among hosts of those who were pre-.
pared to give him cordial support, and will
be very likely to breed confusion in the ranks
of the extremists and Radicals, to whom he