The Cecil Whig., 1881-01-29
SELECT LITERATURE.
"REMINISCENCES OF WASHINGTON
The Taylor Administra:i> from Is4e to
1850.

The Taylor Administrator from Is4e te
1850.
From The 4Hdntic NoHthig.
General Taylor was elected President
as an available candidate. The Wings
in nominating him rather than Webster
or Clay, surrendered their good repute OF
fidelity. threw off all pretense of princi
| pie, and supported the hero of Buena
! Vista "as the only means SO said Mr.
Winthrop-''o of ayerting the present pol.
icy of the country" II defeated COM
petitors for the nomination were natu.
rally much chagrined, for their ambition
had not been weakened by age, or dis
heartencd By defeat, while their credul
ity had only been increased with then
years. Mr.. Clay had confidently expect
ed to be nominated until the result came
upon him like clap of thunder in a cleal
sky: and he not only denounced the ac.
tion of the convention, but was severe in
his criticisms upon his former lieutenant,
John !. Chittenden. for what he had done
to bring it about. Mr.. Webster was equal
ly forcble in his denuncation of treacher-
ous friends at the convention, and, while
his pecuniary necessities forced him to
accept considerable sum of money from
the Wing State Committee of Massachu-
| setts. III payment for one of his oraculal
speeches advocating the election of Tay-
| lor, he did not hesitate to say that there
was mo man more firmly of opinion that
General Taylor was, of all the men who
have filled the Presidential chair by the
choice of the people, the one least COM
petent to perform its duties. lie had
been placed before his countrymen as a
candidate. in spite of his repeated avow-
ais of incapacity, inexperience. and re-
puguance to all civil duties. Although
sixty-four years of age, he had never
exercised the right of suffrage, and he
was we'll aware that he was elected be-
cause of his military prowess. But no
sooner did he learn that he had been
chosen than he displayed the same in
vincible courage, practical sense. and in
domitable energy of purpose in the dis
charge of his new and arduous civil du-
ties which had characterized his military
career.
The President-elect was fortunate in
having as companion, counselor. and
friend Col. William Wallace Bliss. who
had served as his chief of staff in the
Mexican campaign, and who became the
husband of his favovite daughter. Miss
Betty. Col. Bliss was the son of Captain
Bliss, of the regular army, and after hav-
ing been reared in the State of New York
he was graduated at West Point. where
he served afterwards for some years as
acting professor of mathematics. lie thus
acquired Il pedagogical manner and STU
dious habits, but he was sagacious and
energetic, unacquainted with the crooked
nit to arrogant Southern dictation.
On his way to Washington from his
Louisiana plantation, Gen. Taylor visited
Frankfort. and personally invited Mr..
John J. Crittenden. then Governor of
Kentucky, to become his Secretary of
State. Gov. Crittenden, embarrassed by
the return of Henry Clay to the Senate,
declined, and General Taylor then tele-
graphed to Mr.. John NJ. Clayton, of Della
ware, rendering him the position, which
that gentleman promptly accepted. The
Southern Wings had selected Mr.. Will
liam G. Rives-the man who. as Mr..
Webster said. could ride with all his
personal friends in an omnibus, but
the President-elec did not fancy his i'm
practicable conservatism.
Mr.. Abbott Lawrence, who had con-
tributed largely to the expenditures dur
ing the Presidential campaign, solicited
the appointment Of Secretary of Treas
ury, and was offered the Navy Depart
ment, which he declined Mr.. Thomas
Butler King. of Georgia. had desired this
place. but Mr.. Robert Toombs, support
ed by Representative Stephens and Sena-
tor Dawson. succeeded in having Mr.
George W. Crawford. of that State, ap-
pointed Secretary of War.
Mr.. William VI. Meredith, of Pennsyl-
vania. was rather forced upon General
Taylor as Secretary of the Treasury, by
Mr.. Clayton and other Wings; not only
on account OF his acknowledged talents
but to exclude Objectionable Pennsylva-
mans, among them Mr.. Josiah Randall,
the man who. more than any other, had
contributed to the nomination and cleo
ton of the General. A contest between
Messrs. Corwin and Ninton, of Ohio, for
seat in the Cabinet was settled by the
appointment of Mr.. Thomas Ewing, of
that State. as Secretary OF the Interior;
and Mr.. Jacob Collamer, of Vermont,
who had been an unsuccessful competitor
with Mr.. Upham for a seat in the Sen
ate. and had been recommended by the
| Legislature as Attorney General, was
made Postmaster General.
General TAYLOR had intended to ap.
point Mr.. William Ballard Preston, OF
| Virginia, as Attorney General, although
several Wing Congressman had expressed
their disapprobation of the selection
Finally. Senator Archer, of Virginia,
called and asked if there were any foun-
dation for the report that his friend Pres
ton was to be made Attorney General
Yes" answered General Taylor, Il
have determined to appoint him Are
You aware, General. said the Senator
that the Attorney General must repre-
sent the Government in the Supreme
Court. ," "Of course. responded the
General But do you know that he
must there meet Daniel Webster. Rev.
erdy johnson, and other leading law
| VERSE" "Certainly. What of that >
Nothing, General, except that they
will make n - fool of your Attorney
General The Virginia Senator thei
took his leave, and the next morning.
pipers contained the announcement thai
the President had decided to appoint hi.
friend Mr.. Preston Secretary of the Navy
and Mr.. Reverdy Johnson Attorney Gen
eral. Ridicule had secured the desired
| result.