The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-10
The Cabinet.

Senate the names of the following gentle
men as those whom he wished to constitute
his Constitutional advisers:
Secretary of State-James G. Blaine, OF
Maine.
Secretary of the Treasury-Wm Window,
of Minnesota.
Secretary of the Interior-Sam1 J. Kirk
wood, of Iowa.
Secretary of War-Rob't 7. Lincoln, of
Illinois.
Secretary of the Navy-W. II. Hunt, OF
Louisiana.
Attorney General-Wayne Mcveagh, of
Pennsylvania.
Post Master General-Thos. L. James, of
New York.
The entire Cabinet was at once con-
frmed without the formality of reference
to committee, a rather unusual and as
complimentary as unusual proceeding.
The general judgment of the country is
favorable to the choice of Cabinet officers. 1t
is regarded by those well qualified to pass
opinion, as well balanced, free from perso-
nal partizanism, and independent Of the
machine influence Of parties.
| Mr. Blaine was born in Washington
county, Pa, January 81, 1880, and has just
entered upon his SD year. After gradual
ing at Washington College, Pa, in 1s47, he
selected journalism as his professon-the
theatre of his labors being the State of
Maine. first as the editor of the kenebec
Journal, a weekly paper, and afterwards as
editor of the AdUertiser, at Portland. a
daily paper. He served in the Legislature
of that State, and was speaker of the House
| Of Delegates for several terms, and until
elected to Congress in 1862. He was sue
cessively elected to the latter body, until
1869 he was made Speaker. and served in
that capacity until transferred to the United
States Senate.
Mr.. Window was born in Belmont. Ohio,
May 10, 1927, but his parents were from
| Virginia. fin 1856 he removed to Winona,
Minnesota, where he has resided since, prac-
ticing his profession when not in public life.
He was elected to Congress in 1859 as a
Wing, and was chosen for four consecutive
terms thereafter. At the expiration OF that
time he declined a reelection and turned
his attention to his private business. Soon,
however, there was vacancy in the United
States Senate from that State, occasioned
by the death of Hon. Daniel S. Norton, and
the Governor appointed Mr.. Window to fill
the vacancy. He was twice elected there
after by the Legislature-his term not ex-
piring until 1888.
Mr.. Kirkwood was born in Hartford
county, Nd, Dec. 20, 1s13-and is now
sixty-eight years of age, the oldest member
of the cabinet. In early life he removed to
Ohio, where he studied law and practiced
the profession, occasionally accepting polit-
ical position from the people. He removed
to Iowa in 1856. served in the Legislature
of that State, was elected Governor in
1859, succeeded James Harlan as United
States Senator for the period of 1S66-67,
was again chosen Governor in 1875, and re-
signed that office in 1877, on his second cleo
ton to the United States Senate, for the
period ending 1888.
Robert T. Lincoln is the eldest son of
President Lincoln, and was born at Spring
field, Ill.,, and is only 81 years of age. He
is a young man of excellent requirements,
holds high position at the Chicago bar,
and possesses fine administrative abilities.
He has never aspired or been candidate
for political position. His selection for the
office of Secretary of War is a tribute to the
| "A n fotb ha
milton of the young element in the Repub-
lican party, which is soon to take charge of
its direction and control. He was an earn
est friend of the nomination Of Gen. Grant
at the Chicago Convention, but entered ac-
lively into the canvass for Garfield and
achieved good reputation as public
speaker and political advocate.
W. H. Hunt is native of South Caro-
lima, but emigrated with his father to Lou
isiana during the notification troubles, his
relatives being positive opponents of the
doctrines of Calhoun. He is graduate of
Yale College, distinguished in his State as
lawyer, and in 1876 was elected Attorney
General on the Packard ticket. In 1878 he
was appointed by President Hayes Judge
of the Court of Claims at Washington,
where he has since resided. lie was a
Union man during the war, Republican
of the stalwart stripe afterwards, and main
tains an enviable reputation as citizen and
lawyer. His appointment to the Navy
Department will be accepted by the South
as recognition of the better class OF native
Southern Republicans, and will be gener-
ally approved.
! Wayne Mcveagh was born at Phoenix
vile, Pa, April 19slS33. graduated with
distinction at Yale College in 1858, and was
adm tilted to the bar in 1856. He married a
daughter of Hon. Simon Cameron in 1867,
as his second wife, and has been prominent
in the practice of law and in the politics OF
his native State ever since he entered upon
his profession. He is gentleman of very
decided ability, great firmness and moral
courage, and has made record against ma
chine politics which brought him frequently
in conflict with his brother-in-law, Hon.
Don. Cameron, although they both have
been Republicans since the organization of
that party. He was opposed to the nomi-
nation of Gen. Grant at Chicago and is a
warm personal friend of Senator Blaine.
Thos. L. James was born in Hamilton,
N. Y, in 1881, and is thus in his 50th year.
He was apprenticed to the printing bust
ness at the age of Is, and after acquiring a
knowledge of the practical part of the bust
ness, commenced successful editorial ca
reer. He was called to New York to accept
political office, and in 1873 was appointed
Postmaster of New York city. In this ca
pacity he won his greatest laurels and it is
to the admiral management of the compli-
Gated business of that position that his
present appointment is due. He will make
useful and efficient Post Master General,
and give the department thorough bust
ness administration.
1t is not stating too much to say that Mr..
Blaine will be the guiding spirit in the new
Cabinet. There is much in his sympathetic
nature, his bold leadership and versatile
genius, which harmonizes with the distin-
gushing traits OF Gen. Garfield, giving as
| Surance that the administration will he