Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-03-19
Con. Washingtons Cabinet

Well, the dispute began Ia Gen.
eral Washington's Cabinet.
The word cabinet means little
cabin. 1t comes to us through the
French, who call the room Of u
chateau where busine is transact.
Ell and accounts are kept le cabinet.
We should say office.
In kings palaces, also, there
were cabinets, to which ministers
brought their letters and documents
for the king to sign, AMI to which
they repaired when the king wish
I'd to consult one or more or all of
them. Hence the ministers them.
selves were called Cabinet Minis.
ters, or, In short, the Cabinet.
General Washington had Cabi-
net in this sense: They met in a
small room Of his house in Market
street, Philadelphia, where they
sat around a table. There were not
many OF them, but there has sci.
dom been gathered in a small palt-
ment more interesting group.
AT the head of the table was the
President, dignified, grave, u good
listener, slow to speak. You know
how he looked, and how he be-
haved.
Considering what important per-
sons his ministers were, we are sur.
prised to find them SO young. At
the Presidents right sat Thomas
Jefferson, Secretary Of State; a tall
gentleman, ofreddish face and hair,
recently home frnm France, and
wearing a red waistcoat according
to the fashion of that country when
he left. He was but forty-nine,
erect from riding on horseback go
much. plain in his appearance, and
very simple in his manners.
Opposite him was Alexander
Hamilton, Secretary of the Treas.
ury, only thirty-five years of age
in 1872 He was a gentleman Of
small stature and slight figure, hut
elegant, vigorous and graceful,
with a bright, rosy face, and an air
of great DISTINCTION, which im.
pressed every beholder.
From o boy he had been fond of
military exercises. aud he had that
firm. graceful carriage of body
which military drill imparts. Be-
sides being very particular in his
person and dress, he had the form
al elaborate, and yet pleasing man.
ners pf the time.
Fancy him in light blue coat
with gilt buttons. a white waist.
coat, and white silk stockings. He
was courteous in his demeanOr, but
very positive in his opinions, and
not in the least inclined to defer to
men because they might be older
and more experienced than him.
self.
Next to him sat Gen. Henry
khox, Secretary Of War, a large,
stout, military gentleman of forty
two; above the middle stature, and
a strong sonorous voice, |
tit to give the word of command to
a corps of artillery. He was en-.
tireIy the soldier; not in his appear.
ance only, but In his character and |
opinions.
Next to Jefferson and opposite
Knox, was Edmund Randolph, of
thirty.nine years of age,
the son OF an old Virginia tory, |
who disinherited him for siding |
with his cOuntrymen In the Revo.
lutionary war. He was a warm Re.
publican, but cautions, undecided,
u good lawyer, slow to make up his
mind. Washington Irving, who
saw him in after years, says that
his appearance and manners were |
pleasing and dignified. He had an
countenance, the beam.
lng eyes OF the Randolph race, and |
q full, round voice.
These were all; for there was
then no P0stmastsr.G General, no
of the Navy, aud ne Sec.
retary of the Interior. In fact, We
bad no navy then, and no interior
aither. We were merely a line of |
settlements along the Atlantic
Coast.
The Secretary of State had
four clerks IN his office, and one of
Them (the translating clerk) had a |
salary of $3.50 year. General
army consisted OF about six
hundred men, and he had but. two
Or three clerks to assist him in
1t. The Attorney : Gen.
,ral may have had u clerk or two.
Hamilton was thought to be ter
rible person because he had under
him as many as a hundred clerks,
besides y few custo m house officers.