New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-05
THE CABINET VACANCY FILLED.

WASHINGTON April 4.-Tho President has filled
+he vacancy in his Cabinet by the appointment of
Walter O. Gresham, of Indiana sketch OF whom
'oppeared in to-day's TRIBUNE. 1t is understood
that the Office of PostmasterGeneral was rendered
to Judge Gresham as soon as the PRESIDENT lOnnu
that he could not renew an ad interim appointment.
The selection was made known to the Cabinet oiii-
GERS at the meeting yesterday, and the commission
of the new Postmaster General is dated April 3.
While Judge Gresham has never taken very ac-
tive part in politics. he enjoys the acquaintance
and confidence of most of the men who have been
prominent leaders in the Republican party since the
war. and in Washington, at least, his selection
elicits hearty appreciation. Colonel Dud-
ley. Commissioner OF Pensions, who was formerly
United States Marshal for the district over when
General Gresham has long presided as Judge, thnks
that the appointment will result in healing the df-
ferences among its leaders, which have for several
wears threatened seriously to iIjure the Rcnubcan
party in Indiana. Colonel Dudley said Ihe
President has selected man of marked ability ana
n iurist of note. He is qualified IN every way Tor
the Office especially because of his great executive
ability and sound integrity" Colonel Dudley also
spoke in high terms of Judge Greshams decisions IN
cases arising under the pension awsand said that as
the head of the Pension Bureau he had published
and circulated some of tho decisions thus officially
recocizng them as authoritative expositions of the
law He remarked that some of Judge Greshams
more important decisions IN other cases had Deen
widely quoted and referred TO with approval; and
that very few of his decisions had been reversed by
the superior courts.
Commissioner Raun. Of the Internal Revenue
Bureau, whose official duties make him especially
observant of and familiar with the manner in
which the internal revenue laws arc enforced IN the
various United States courts said to-day that
H.
Judge Gresham is one of the very best district
Judges in the United States"
SOME DISSATISFACTION FELT.
As was stated in to-days TRIBUNE, the appoint
ment will not be considered satisfactory one by
Assistant Secretary New, who was very anxious
that Mr. Hatton shcufd receive it. That gentleman
was not an applicant for the Office, but it is under
stood that Mr.. New made caused to be mlde some
demonstrations to the President in Mr.. Hatton's
behalf In doing that Mr.. New was probably
moved By an earnest desire TO serve friend; and
he might also have reflected that it would still leave
Indic ua without representative in the Cabinet In
that event Mr.. New, perhaps, thought he would be
reasonably sure of his promotion to the vacancy in
case Secretary Folger should retire-a contin-
Cency which Mr.. News friends have long hoped for
and which some of them have expected with con-
adorable confidence. or conrse, neither Mr.. New
nor anybody else cheIishes the belief that Indiana
There is some talk TO the effect that Judge
Greshams appointment will not be regarded with
allowed satisfaction by Senator HARRISON who was his
successfu competitor in the last Senatorial contest,
but there is no reason TO believe that General Harr-
son will throw any difficulties III the way. The
trouble between Judge Gresham and tho popular
Indiana Representative, General Browne, Is OF a
personal nature and at one time the latter was ex
tremely bitter. believing that he had been deeply
wronged. While the new Postmaster-General
will thus 60 into office without the most
perfect good will of some Of his party associates
In Indiana, there is probably not one among them
who will not concede his high ability and IRE
proachable integrity The unfriendliness toward
him which finally prevented his selection as a
member of President Garield's Cabinet is probably
less active and pronounced now than il was two
years ago.
JUDGE GREsHAMs PERSONALITY AND CAREER.
Postmaster General Gresham is man OF com
manding stature and appearance, and is about fifty
seven years of age. He was born in Harrison
County, Indiana, where he lived until the outbreak
OF the rebellion. After he was graduated at college
he studied law and Immediately upon his admission
to the bar he was recognized as a young man of
promising and superior abilities lie was elected
to the State Legislature, overcoming large adverse
majority. At the beginning of the Governor
the 3sth Indiana Volunteers. After few
months of service in the field he was authorized
to reofait regiment-the 53d-of which he
became the Colonel The regiment was engaged in
ID o military operations In Western Tennessee and
Northern Mississippi in the summer and autumn Of
1852, which eliminated in the second battle of Cor
NTH In the engagement at the Hatche in October
1862 the regiment under the command of Colonel
Gresham distinguished itself by a gallant and sue
cessful charge across the bridge and upon the
enemy's works under CALLING fire.
For his gallant and distinguished services during
the operations against yicksburg in 1868, Colonel
Gresham was promoted to the command of q
brigade and soon afterwardt the rank of BriRader
General. After the Meridian expedition in the
winter of 1868. his brigade was ordered TO Natchez
and for several months General Gresham
commanded the district of Natchez. AT the be-
ginning of the Georgia campaign in 1864 he
was given the command ola division; and on July
u OF the same year. ~ one OF Ins naIe' n Ne as
never fully recovered from the wound then re-
ceived. He was breveted Msjor-General for gallant
ana distinguished services
HIS CAREER SUBSEQUENT TO THE WAR.
In 1865, while still in the military service, he was
offered an assignment as Assistant Commissioner OF
this Freedmens Bureau for the State OF Georgia, but
was compelled to decline it on account of his Grip
plod condition. He returned to his home in In
diana, and resumed the practice of the law at Cory
don. In 1866 he was the Republican candidate for
Congress In district which was strongly Demo
cratic and succeeded in cutting down the majority
of Michael c; Kerr, his Democratic opponent,
TO l.sOO lie was appointed agent Of
the State to supersede Democrat whose perform
ancc of the duties had been very unsatisfactory 10
the people OF Indiana: In this capacity General
Gresham rendered valuable service and conducted
with signal ability the operations relating 10 the
funding of the State debt. Soon after General
Grant became President he appointed General
Gresham United States Judge for the District Of
Indiana, An office which he has filled with marked
spiity and success
Postmastsr-General Greshain's family consists Of