The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-19
evening State s(ournat.
EvEG. DEC. 10. 1879.
washington ana bis Adyisers.


Such were the gentlemen who were gath
cred round the council table at the Presi-
dents house in New York in 1870. How
interesting the groupl At the head of the
table, General Washington, now fifty
eight, his frame as erect as ever, but his
face showing deep traces of the thousand
anxious hours he had passed. Not vcrsed
in the lore OF schools, not gifted with o
great sum Of intellect, the eternal glory of
this man is that no used all the mind he
had in patient endeavors to find out the
right way ever on the watch to keep out
of his decision everything like bias or
prejudice; never deciding till no had ex-
hausted every source of calculation within
his reach. Some questions he could not
decide in his own mind, and he knew he
could not. In such cases, he bent all his
powers to ascertaining how the subject APP
peared to minds fitted to grapple with it,
and getting them to view 1t without preju
dee.
am delighted to learn that Mr.. Carlyle
can seldom hear the name of Washington
pronounced without breaking forth with an
explosion of contempt, especially, it is
said, II there is an American within hear
ing. Washington is the exact opposite of
fell Carlylean hero. His glory is, that
he was not richly endowed, not sufficient
unto himself, not Indifferent to human
rights, opinions and preferences; but feel
ing deeply his need of help, sought it,
where alone it was to be found, in minds
fitted by nature and training to supply his
lack. 1t is this heartfelt desire 10 be right
which shines so affectingly from the plain
words of Washington, aud gives him rank
80 far above the gorgeous bandits whom
hero worshippers adore.
On the right of the President, in the
place of honor, sat Jefferson, now forty
seven, the senior of all his colleagues;
Older IN public service, too, than any of
them tall, erect. ruddv noticeably quiet
and unobtrusive in his address and dctnean-
or; the least pugnacious of men. Not
fanatic, not an enthusiast but ain old
fashioned Wing, nurtured upon "od Coke"
enlightened by twenty-five years intense
discussion--with pen, tongue, and sword
of Cokean principles. Fresh from the
latest Commentary upon Coke, the ruins
OF the Bastile land wearing still his red
Paris waistcoat and breeches,~ he was On
object Of particular interest to all men,
and, doubtless, often relieved the severity
Of business by some thrilling relation out
of his late foreign experience.
Opposite him on the Presidents left, was
tho place of Hamilton, secretary of he
treasury, in all the aiertness and vigor OF
thirty-three years. If time had matured
his talents, it had not lessened his selfsuf-
flciency because, as yet, all bis short life
chiefly with men who possessed nothing
NIT hnr rNf Ii Lie 1, -.
A positive, vehement little gentleman,
with as firm a faith in the appa-
ratus of finance as General Knox
had in great guns. He was now in the
full tide of activity, lobbying measures
through Congress, and organizing the
Treasury Departmental most conspicu-
GUS man in the administration, except the
President. AS usual, his unseen work
was the best. In organizing system OF
collecting. keeping, and dIsbursing the
revenue, he employed SO much tact, fore
thought, and fertility, that his SUCCESSORS
have each, in turn, admired and retained
his most important devices. He arranged
the system 30 that the secretary
of the treasury, Of any moment, could
survey the whole working Of it; and hs
held at command all the resources of the
United States, subject to lawful use, with
out being able to divert one dollar to pur-
pose not specially authorized. He could
not draw his own pittance Of salary with
out the signatures Of the four chief officers
Of the department--comptroller, auditor,
treasurer, and register.
Hamilton and | =" Jefferson wrote,
were pitted against each other every day in
the Cabinet like two fighting cocks" Age