Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-01-04
THE FIRST CABINET,
The Mem who Surrounded Washing
tom.

The Mem who Surrounded Washing.
ten.
Mr.. Parton, in the January Atlantic,
thus describes Washington and his first
Cabinet:
Age had net quenched the vivacity of
either Of the four Observation-Disclosures
AZ; Knox, 40; Randolph 81; Hlm.lton.S3.
When, in the worlds history, was 50 young
| 4 group charged with a task so new, so
difficult, 50 TnOmentOus?
Such were the gentlemen who had gath
| cred round the council table at the Prasi-
| ident's house in New York in 1850; at tie
/ head of the table General Washington, now
| tfGy-eight, his frame as erect as ever, but
! his face showing the deep traces Of the
| thousand anxious nours he had passed
| Not versed in the lore of schools, but gifted
| With a great sum Of iutelleC-, the eternal
glory OF this man i9, that he used all the
mind he dad in patient eEdesvOrs 70 find
ont the right way; ever CT the watch to
keep out Of deciding until he had exhausted
| every source of eluciGali0n within lis reach.
Some questions he could not decide with his
own mind, and he knew he could not. In
such cases he bent all his powers 70 ascer-
tanning bow the subject spJsared to minds
fitted to grapple with il, aud getting them 10
view it without prejudice.
am delighted tO learn that Mr.. CARLYLE
can seldom near Jhe name CT Washington
pronounced without breaking forth with an
explosion Of contempt, especially, it is said
if there is an American within hearing.
Washington is the exact opposite of a fell
Carly lean hero. His glory is That he was not
richly endowed, not sufficient unto him
self, lot indifferent to human riyhts, ODiu-
ions, preferences; but, feeling deeply his
need Of hep, sought it where alone it was
to be found, in minds fitted bynature and
training to supply MS lack. It is this heart
felt desire to be right which shines so sffac-
tiugiy from the plain words of Washington,
aud gives him rank 80 tar above the cor
oeOus bandits whom herO-wOrshiDers adore
On the right OF the President, in the place
of honor, Sat Jefferson, nov forty seven,
the senior Of all his colleagues; tall erect,
ruddy, noticeably quiet, ana unobtrusive
Of his address and demeauOr; the least pug
naciOus of mel. Not a fanatic, not au en-
thusisst, but an fashioned Wing, nurtured
upon sold Coke" enlightened by twenty
five years intense discussion-With pen,
tongue and swOri--of COkean principles.
Fresh from the latest commentary upon
Coke-the ruins Of The Bastile-and wear
iny still his red Paris wais.COs5 and brseCh-
es, be was an object Of particular interest TO
all men, and, doubtless, often relieved the
severity of business by some thrilling rela
ion out of his late foreign experience.
Opposite him, on the Presidents left,
was the place o! Hamilton, Secretary Of the
Treasury, in all the alertness and vigOr Of
thi. ty-three years. Ii time had msJured
his talents, it had not lessened his self
sufiicency; because, as yet, all his short lie
had been success, and he had associated
chiefly with men who possessed nothing OF
his f1uency or his arithmetic. A positive,
vehement little gentleman, with as arm a
faith in the apparatus Of tinalc3 as General
Knox had in great guns. lie was now IN
the full tide of activity, lobbying measures
through Congress, and organizing the Treas
ury Departmeng-the most conspicuous
man il the Administration, except the Pres
dent--as usual, bis unseen WOJk was his
best. In organizing a system ct collecting,
keeping, and discussing the revenue, ne
employed so much tact, fOrethougDt, and
fertility, that his successors have each, n
turn, admired and retained bis most impo--
taut devices. He arranged the system 50
that the Secretary Ct the Treasury, at any
moment, could survey the working OF 1t;
and he held at command all the resources
of the United States, subiac5 to lawful use,
without being able to divert one dollar 10 a
purpose not specially authorized. he could
not draw his own pittance OF salary with
out the Signature Ofth9 four chief otf1cars Of
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Auditor,
Treasurer and Register.