Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-08
The First Cabinet.

THE MEN WHO SURROUNDED WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Parton, 10 the January Atlantic,
thus describes Washington and his first
Cabinet
Age had not quenched the vivacity of
either pf the fox Secretaries-J etfersou,
~ Knox, 40 Randolph, 81; Hamilton,
30. When, in the worlds history, was so
young group charged with task SO new,
so difficult, so momentousP
Such were the gentlemen who had gath
cred around the council table at the Presi-
dents house in New York in 1889; at the
head of the table General Washington,
now 5S, his frame as erect as ever, but his
face showing the deep traces of the thous-
and anxious hours he had passed Not
versed in the lore of schools, but gifted
with 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 prejudice, never deciding till he had
exhausted every source Of elucidation
within his reach. Some questions he could
not decide with his own mind, and he knew
he could not. In such cases, he bent all
bis powers to ascertaining how the subject
appeared to minds fitted to grapple with it,
and getting them to view it without preju-
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,
if there is an American within hearing
Washington is the exact opposite Of full
Carlyean hero. His glory is that he was
not richly endowed, not sufficient unto him.
self not Indifferent to human rights, opin-
ions and preferences but, feeling 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 to be right which shines SO
ehectingly from the plain words of Wash
ington, and gives him rank so 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 senion of all his colleagues
older in public service, too, than any of
them tall, erect, ruddy, noticeably quiet,
and unobtrusive Of his address and demean-
or; the least pugnacious Of men. Not
fanatic, not an enthusiast; but an old
fashioned Wing, nurtured upon "old 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--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 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.suf-
fciency 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 arithmetic. A positive, ve-
hement little gentleman, with as firm q
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 Treas
ury Departmental most conspicuous man
in the administration, except the President
-as usual his unseen work was his best
In organizing a system Of collecting, keep
ing and disbursing the revenue, he employ
ed so much tact, forethought and fertility
that his successors have each, in turn, ad-
mired and retained his most important de-
vices. lie arranged the system so that the
Secretary of the Treasury, at any moment,
could survey the whole working of it; and
he 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 authorised. He could not
draw his own pittance of salary without
the signatures of the four chief officers of
the Department-Comptroller, Auditor,
Treasurer, and Register.