Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-02
EEAc First Cabinet.
THE MEN WHO SURROUNDED WASHINGTON.

THE MEN WHO SURROUNDED WA5HINGToE.
Mr. Parton, in the January Atla4atjc,
thus describes Washington and his first
Cabinet:
Age had not quenched the yiyacity OF
either of the four Secretaries-Jetferson,
A.; Knox, 40; Randolph, 81; Hamil-
ton, 80. When, in the worlds history,
was 50 young a group charged with a
task so new, so difficult, SO momentous
Such were the gentlemen who had
gathered around the council table at
the Presidents house in New York in
1889; at the head of the table General
Washington. now So, his frame as erect
as ever. but his face showing the deep
traces of the thousand anxious hours he
had passed. Not versed in the lore of
schools, but gifted with a great sum OF
intellect, the eternal glory of this man
is. that he 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 pre-
iudice. never deciding till he had ex-
hausted every source of elucidation
within his reach. some questions he
couldnot decide with his own mind, and
he knew he could not. In such cases,
he bent all his powers to ascertaining
how the subject appeared to minds fitted
TO grapple with it, and getting them to
view it without prejudice.
am delighted to learn that Mr.. Car
1vle can seldom hear the name of Wash
inrton pronounced without breaking
forth with an explosion of contempt,
especially, it is said, if there is an Amer
lean within hearing Washington is the
exact opposite Of full Carlylean hero.
His glory is that he was not richly en-
dowed, not sufficient unto himself, not
Indifferent to human rights, opinions
and preferences but, feeling deeply his
need of help, sought it, where alone it
was to be found, in minds fitted by ma
ture and training to supply his lack. 1t
is this heartfelt desire to be right which
shines so effectingly from the plain
words of Washington, and gives him rank
SO far above the gorgeous bandits whom
worshippers adore.
On the right Of the President in the
place of honor, sat Jefferson, now forty
seven, the senior of all his colleagues j;
older in public service, too, than any of
them tall, erect, ruddy, noticeably
quiet, and unobtrusiye of his address and
deneanor; the least pugnacious of men.
Not fanatic; not an enthusiast; but
an old fashioned Wing, nnrtured upon
.'old Coke, enlightened by twenty-five
years intense discussion-with pen,
tongue and sWord-of Cokean princi-
pies Fresh from the latest commenta-
ry upon Coke-the ruins of the bastile-
and wearing still his red Paris waist
coat and breeches, he was an object of
particular interest to all men, and, donbt-
less, often relieved the severity of busi-
ness by some thrilling relation out OF
his late foreign experience.
Opposite him, on the Presidents left,
was the place of Hamilton, Secretary of
the Treasury, in all the alertness and
vigor Of thirty-three years If time had
matured his talents, it had not lessened
his self-sufficiency because, as yet, all
his short life had been success, and
he had associated chiefly with men who
possessed nothing, either of his fuency
or bis arithmetic. A positive, vehement
little gentleman, with as firm faith in
the apparatus 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 Department-the most con-