Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-01-31
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Mr.. Parton, in the January Atlantic,
thus describes Washington and his first
Cabinet:
Age had not quenched the vivacity of Ell
ther of the four Secretaries--Je efferson, AZ 4;
Knox, 40; Randolph AZ; Hamilton, 80.
When, in the worlds history, was so young
group charged with a task so new, so diff
fcult, so nome entous?
Such were the gentlemen who had gath
cred around the council table at the Presi-
dent house in New York, in 1880 at the
head ofthe 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 anything like bias or preju-
dice, never deciding till he had exhausted
every source of elucidation within his
reach. Some questions he could not de-
eide with his own mind, and he knew he
| could not. In such cases he bent all his
powers to ascertaning how the subject ap-
peared to minds fitted to grapple with it,
aud getting them to view it without preiu-
dice.
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, IL there is an American within hear
ing. Washington is the exact opposite of
full Carlylean hero. His glory was 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 ii,
where alone il was to be found, in minds
fitted by nature and training to supply his
lack. 1t is this heartfelt desire to be right
which shines so aiiectingly from the plain
words of Washington, and gives him rank
so far above the gorgeous bandits whom
hero worshppers 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, ruddy, noticeaby quiet, and unob-
trusive in his address and deineanor; the
least pugnacious of men. n. fanatic,
not an enthusiast but an old hshioned
Whig, nurtured upon "old Coke" en-
lightened by twenty-five years intense
discussion-with pen, tongue and sword
of Cokean nciples.-Fresh from the lat
est commentary upon Coke-the ruins of
the bastlle-and wearing still his red Paris
waistcoat and breeches, he was an object of
particular interest to all men, and doubtless
often relieved the severity of business by
some thrilling rotation out of his late for
egn 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, II had not lessened his self-suf-
ficiency; because, as yet, all his short life
| had been success and he had associated
chiefly with men who possessed nothing.
either Of his fiuency or arithmetic. pos
tive, vehement little gentlemen, with as
firm a 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 organic
| ing the Treasury Department--the most
conspicuous man in the administration, eX-
cept the President-as usual, his unseen
work was his best. In organizing sys-
| tenn of collecting, keeping and disbursing
the revenue, he employed so much tact,
| forethought and fertility that his successors
have each, in turn, admired and retained
his most important devices. He arranged
the system so that the Secretary of the
| Treasury, at any moment, could survey
the whole working of II and he held at
command all the resources of the United
States, subject to lawful use, without being
able TO divert one dollar to a purpose not
! specially authorized. He could not draw
| his own pittance of a salary without the
signatures of the four chief officers Of the
Department-Comptroller, Auditor, Treas
urer, and Register.