The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-08-24
Our Washington Letter.

and PRESIDENT Moirnc made the stale (;
formal visit. U.s.
T Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. IL, 1877.
called in day or two ago to talL
with Secretary of War McCrary about
the situation of affairs in Montana and
Idaho, where certain Indians have been
rapidly reducing the strength of oul
regular army, and though ] had offer
been in the same room before, | had
on this occasion an opportunity to looL
at the portraits on the walls with con.
siderable leisure. This was due to the
fact that l courteously waited for al
elderly gentleman TO precede me in his
business with the secretary. lie hap
pened TO be something of a bore in the
specializing line, and l consequently
had time TO look about me and ex
anime the paintings with some care
Let mesmakc this hours stay-for sc
long did the venerable customer afore.
said continue TO chuck his eloquenct
into the ears of McCrary-the topic Of
portion of this epistlc.
The portraits, each fine oil painting
of no less than sixteen secretaries OF
war adorn the walls of the secratary's
one office. First chronologically, and
among the first of American statesmen
| is John G.. Calhoun. Ills portrait
hangs near the center of the east wall
and is an uncommonly fine work of art
giving one an admiring conception OF
the great intelligence and intellectual
force of that iliistrious conspirator-
| o. AaI.s,,.. hn Ia
hair, the eyes of fire, the determined
expression of the man generally, ]
thought he could be properly described
only in the words of Milton:
"Fierce as ten furics, terrible as hell"
This remarkable man was secretary OF
war during Monroe's administration,
from December, 1917, till he became
vice. president in March, 1925.
Right above him on the wall is the
portrait of John b. Floyd, who was
Buchanan's secretary of war till Dec
ember, 1860. when he "seceded." On
his right is jefferson Davis, who had
preceded Floyd in the office. This is the
best picture of the 'arch-traitor," as he
is often called, that have ever seen.
On the left of Floyd is an admirable
vi NCnCidl w w
whose misfortunes in Office have brought
forth the tears or Indignation of the
American people, according as they
have judged charitably or sternly as to
his participation in the high crimes and
misdemeanors with which he stands
charged in history. Being among the
former could but keenly regret the
singular juxtaposition of the portraits
Oh the east wall-Calhoun, JEFF, Dayis,
Floyd, Bclknap. Surely no man can
count his life happy or miserable until
ii is ended
But let me hasten on. The north
wall is graced with the portraits of
George w. Crawford, of Georgia, Sec
rotary of war under President Tay-
i", cI,", leo Nj. CvuroJ, OF I-nuieiaua
who filed the Office under the presi-
dency of Fillmore: and William l..
Marcy, who was at the head of the de-
partment during Folks administration,
and, of course, throughout nearly the
whole period of our war with Mexico.
Marcy was great man, and honest, as
was shown by his whole political his
tory; as judge, governor, senator,
secretary of war, secretary of state.
Nevertheless, he was the author of one
of the most harmful of American saws,
often attributed to others,-'"TO the
victors belong the spoils of Office"
On thc south wall we have portraits
of Gen. Lewis Cass. prominent in our
politics for forty wears: Judge ,Josenh
Holt, secretary during the latter
months of Duchanan's term: and Gen.
John A. Rawlins. for some time So re
tary under Grant. Above fine mantel.
on the west side of the room. are ,nagni.
ticcnt portraiis ofGenerals Grant. .Sher-
man. and Schoiield. our most distin-
0nished modern captains who have had
charge of the department of war, On
t,e same side of the room. and directly
fronting Tho secretarv's desk. are nor
traits Of Simon Cameron. Edwin NJ.
Stanton. and Alonyo Taft
Thus is the LIST complete from the
fine that Polk become president IN
HAYES. with the execution of Don.
Cameron, and with the addition of Cal
hom of the elder time. Every one
must agree that these paintings. al, of
which are much better works of ART
tbau can be seem every day. form n
study of exceeding interest. There is
world of sugeestiyencss in them 70
the student of American politics. Ialt
of the men here represented are dead.
and two more. jeff. Davis and Be!knap'
have seen tho last of earth i'm political
affairs. Among all the eminent mon
who have attained this position in the
past. few have. II any did SO. at so carly
an age as McCrary. the present incum-
bent. He has already had many and
exceptional duties thrust upon him by
the singular situation of affairs, but il
is only Justice 10 cav that he has per-
formed them all with rare Gdciity,
promptness, and yigor. George vi.
McCrary is thoroughly western.
doubt whether he was ever as far east
as Ohio till about the time he was cleo.
ted TO Congress nine wears ago. lie
was born i'm Indiana. lived short time
in Illinois, but has spent nearly the
whole of his life in Iowa. He ia A ;.man
ofthe people. ,, modest. unassumina,. and