Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-23
CABINET CHANGES.


The President surprised the coun-
try yesterday by sending to the
Senate the following nominations;
Edwards T. P~ierrepont, of New
York, Minister to England; Alfonso
Taft, of Ohio, Attorney General;
]. Donald Cameron, of Pennsyl-
vania, Secretary of War. The
nominations we're confirmed. Two
of them at least are not such ex-
ceptional appointments as might be
supposed. Judge Pierrepont is adj
mitedly an able man; he has an
ample fortune and is above the mer-
cenary temptations which have be-
set and ruined so many of the Pres
idents appointees and friends But
he is an ambitious man, and does
not hesitate to use partisan means
for his own advancement. For many
wears he has ministered to Grant S
vanity, was ostentatious in his hdel-
ity and obsequious to a degree that
showed a purpose. He contributed
large sums of money to aid In
Grants election, and in various
ways suggested himself to the
President as a man who de-
served well at his hands.
Grant is true to his friends,
and uses the trust he holds to re-
ward them. In due time Pierre
pont had his reward. When Lam
daulet Williams had to step down
and out of the Attorney Generals
Office Pierrepont was appointed in
his stead. He soon had an oppor-
tunity to further show his zeal in
the service of his master. When
Bristow succeeded in sending two
or three of the Presidents personal
friends to the penitentiary and was
about to reach Babcock, his trusted
private secretary, and no one dared
to interfere, the situation became
alarming and desperate means were
necessary. 1t wasthen that Pierre.
pont came to the rescue and issued
that famous order which effectually
stopped all witnesses who wer'
ready to make confessions and i'm
plicate others. After that conyic
tions became impossible. Babcocl
was acquitted through the most ex
traordinary means employed ant
the administration was saved. Fo
such signal personal service tn
President in hisprofound gratitud
appoints Pierrepont Minister t
England, to succeed the notoriou
Schenck. There is no probabilit
that he will dabble in Emma min
stock, write a treatise on poker q
otherwise bring discredit upon I'll
American name. He has realized
great ambition and is not after ii
pay. When Belknap, the disgrace
Secretary Of War, resigned Il
President found some difficulty
securing a successor. Finally Il
place was offered to Judge Taft,
Cincinnati. The Judge report,
promptly for duty and we have hea
little of him since. 1t is presun
bic that he has rendered hims
agreeable to the Administration,
he is rendered the Attorney Ger
ralship, a position for which be
probably better qualified than
Secretary of War. 1t Is said Il
Judge Taft sustains very intimI
relations with brother-in-law Gas
Of New Orleans. This charge m
be unjust, as it has never taken t;
gible shape. The last appointing.
that of Don Cameron, of Pennf
vania, will be received with
favor than either of the Others ev
in the Republican party. Don Ca
eron is a notorious politician, as
father before him was and is to I
day, in his seventy-eighth y,
Senator Cameron was Secret
of War in 1861, and it has been
cherished ambition Of the son
fill the same place. There wa
split between the Senator and Gil
about the distribution Of patron
in Pennsylvania, but this has b
settled and the Camerons will
their powerful influence in SUPP
of Grants choice for the Pr
dency, understood to be Conkl
While these three appointments
better than some that have b
made, they are not any better Il