The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-12-04

my resolution. Nothing on earth could
induce ME again to accept Il Cabinet APP
pointment.' Yet never did a willy poll
tician more industriously plot and plan
secure nomination than Mr.. Buchanan
did. in his still-hunt for the Presidency.
President Polk. anxious to placate his
defeated rival, Mr.. Van Buren,. rendered
the appointment of Secretary of the
Treasury to Silas Wright, who declined
it, having recently been elected Gov
ernor of the State Of New York. but re-
commended for the position Mr.. y. C..
Flagg. Gov. Marcy, who represented
the anti-Nan Buren, faction Of the New
York Democracy, objected to the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Flagg, and then to the
appointment of Mr.. George Bancroft, the
historian. Finally, Robert J. Walker,
who had been Senator from Mississippi,
and who was believer in the British
doctrine of free trade, was made Secre-
tary of the Treasury. Gov. Marcy, a
known friend of the South and man Of
determined character. was appointed Sec
rotary of War. Mr.. Bancroft was APP
pointed Secretary Of the Navy. and Cave
Johnson. of Tennessee, PostmaStcr-Ge
eral. John y. Mason. of Virginia. who
had been the Secretary of the Navy in
Tyler's Cabinet, was retained by Polk as
his Attorney General. having made earn
est appeals that he might not be dis
turbed. He wrote to an influential friend
at Washington that he desired to remain
in Office on account of his financial wants.
- Imprudence amounting to intatuation,
he went on to say. "while in Congress,
embarrassed me. and am barely Tecov-
ering from it. The place is cnnoenial to
my feelings. and the salary will assist
Virginia land and negroes in educating
six daughters. Although | still own a
large estate, and am perfectly temperate
in my habits, have felt that the folly of
my conduct in another respect may have
led to the report that was a sot-an un-
founded rumor. which originated i'll a
Richmond paper
While President Polk endeavnred tn
crafty each of the component factions
OF the Democratic party in the compost
ton of his Cabinet. he ruthlesSly depOSed
the veteran Francis p Blair from the
editorship of the Globe, to crafty the
chivalry of South Carolina, who made it
:he only condition upon which he could
receive the electoral vote of their State,
then in the hands of the General Assem-
bly,, and controlled by the politicians.
The Glohe ceased to be the editorial organ
of the administration. and Father "
Richie, who had for many years edited
the Richmond Inquirer. was invited ia
Washington, where he established the
Union. which became the mouth piece of
President Polk. 1.-THE Gl0be." says Col.
Benton, was sold and was paid for; it
WAS paid for out of public money-the
same fifty thousand dollars which Were
removed to the village bank ut Middle
town. in the interior of Pennsylvania.
Three annual instalments made the
payment, and the Treasury did not re-
claim the money for three years Col.
Benton may certainly be regarded as ex-
cellent authority.
In the contest among the Democrats
for the Federal offices, woman made hel
first appearance in the struggle for the
spoils. The widow of Senator Linn. OF
Missouri. became an applicant for the St
Louis post-oi1ice, and she secured large
collection of autographs recommends
tions from Democratic magnates. But
Col Benton. whose home residence wa.
at St. Louis, claimed that in accordance
with the recognized usage he was emit
tied to name the postmaster there. anC
he preferred to have one of his politica
followers appointed. The voice of ''OlC
Hickory however. was more potcntia
than that of "Old Bullion and the per
sonal intercession of General jackson
made Young Hickory" appoint Mrs
Linn postmistress at st. Louis. Elatet
with her success, Mrs. Linn was thence
forth active in advancing the political
interests of her friends aud among thos,
for whom her persistent efforts secure:
places was the Rev. Mr.. Milburn. nearl,
blind and very poor, was elected chap
lain to the House of Representatives.
Another gifted woman, Mrs. Alexan
der Hamilton, secured the passage of al
purchase of her illustrious husband
papers, which she had carefully pre-
served in tifty-Seven folio volumes. Sh
was daughter of General Schuyler, o
| New York, whose gallant services dur
| ing the war of the Revolution have be
| come part of our national honor. Witt
slight figure and apparently a feebl
organization, she approached fourscor
and ten years with an almost total eX
| emption from disease, notwithstanding,
the severe misfortunes which had over
cast her life in its prime. Her eldes
son. Philip, and then her distinguish,
| husband fell martyrs to the So-calle
code of honor, but her mistaken piety
her gentle courage, and her cheerfulnes
upheld by the forces of the mind til
natural weakness of the body. Sh
guarded her husbands memory wit
| Jealous care, and was always ready
purchase, at an eXOrbitant price. Stra
c ,pies of his celebrated pamphlet. i
which lie avowed his inlidclity to he
rather than expose himself to Il charg
of official misconduct.
The Oregon question had been be
aueathed to President Polk by his prede
cessor. He had been elected OF the pla
form of 1.-THE whole of Oregon or n..ne.
and "54. 40 or fight was the euphoniou
ALTERATION the war cry of the Democrat
party in the contest which he had gained
Mr.. Polk recommended an application
the Monroe doctrine to Oregon i'll his il
augural message, yet it is well know
that he did not intend tn act upon hi
own recommendation. He sent Mr.. |
McLane, of Maryland to London to neg'
tiate treaty for the final settlement {
the Oregon question; and that minist'
plenipotentiary stated on his return. ;
Il public dinner at New York city. tn:
the adoption of the forty-ninth parall
Of latitude had always appeared TO hi
to be practicable basis for an honorab
adjustment of existing difficulties.
| p,rot;,tipUa treaty on this basis Nj