The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-30
THE CABINET CHANGE.
The Selection of Hugh McCullOch-His Pre-
vIOus Services in the Treasury.

The Selection of Hugh McCullOch-His Pre-
viOus Services in the Treasury.
Washington Special.
The appointment of Hugh McCulloch to be
Secretary of the Treasury would have been less
of a surprise Immediately after the death of the
late Secretary Folger than it now is. 1t was the
desire of President Arthur to select some one for
that position who, if not familiar with the duties
of the Treasury ITSELF had had experience as a
Cabinet officer. He did not wish, in the little
remnant of his administration, to select man
for so important a position as the Treasury who
was inexperienced in administration.
There were several living ex-Secretaries of the
Treasury, among them McCulloch, Boutwell,,
Brstow, Sherman and Window Sherman, Win
dom and Bristow were among the impossibilities,
for various reasons Window said he would not
accept it if rendered to him, and that it was not
likely to be rendered him, which was doubtless
true. Sherman of course, would not accept it.
The names of Mr.. McCulloch and of Governor
Boutwell, were both considered. Governor
Boutwells friends say that the position
was rendered him but that he declined it on
account of his ranidly increasing law business.
If it was not formally rendered to Mr.. McCul-
loch, he was requested to consider whether or
not he would accept if it should be rendered and
his reply was that account Of his advanced
years, the state of his health, and the fact that
he had entirely withdrawn from politics, he
could not accept
The decision of Mr.. McCulloch came SO late
that within the legal limit the President had not
an opportunity to determine upon a permanent
appointment. Accordingly Judge Gresham was
nominated for the office, entirely without his
own knowledge, almost between two days. Judge
Wyle, of the District Court, who administered
the oath to Judge Gresham however, has since
said that the precipitate haste of the State De-
partment to drag Judge Gresham and himself
from their beds at midnight was quite unneces
sary. 1t never had been intended, either by the
President or by Judge Gresham, that the ap-
pontment of the latter should be permanent.
The various rumors as to Mr.. Greshams inten-
ton with respect to the judgeship or politics are
due to the fact that that gentlemen did not him
self, until recently, fully determine upon
his course. He was troubled, as few other
Americans have been, by embarrassment of
riches. Stepping from one of the great depart
mentS to another, it still remained for him TO de-
termiLe whether or not he should accept a life
position upon the bench. Judge Gresham has
had political ambition, but it may be doubted
whether he very seriously contemplated placing
a large stake upon succeeding Voorhees, in the
Senate. He has at last made the choice which
his friends from the outset have urged upon him,
and has chosen life position on the bench which
is well adapted to his taste and which he will or
nament with his abilities. He will make Chica-
90 his family home, and will leave at once for the
West.
Mr.. Hugh McCulloch is probably the oldest
man who ever undertook the duties of Secretary
of the Treasury. He was born at Kennebunk,
Me-, in 1911, and is now, therefore, seventy
three years of age. He has been a nominal resi-
dent of Indiana since 1885; was appointed First
Comptroller of the Currency by Mr.. Chase in
1868, and succeeded Mr.. Fessenden as Secretary
of the Treasury, upon the retirement
of the latter remaining in the Treasury
until 1869. In 1870 he was engaged
in the banking business in London, Eng
land. Some years ago he returned to this coun-
try, and has lived for the most part on farm in
Montgomery county, Nd, few miles north of
Washington.
Mr.. McCulloch, after he left the Treasury,
continued his interest in national finance and
contributed to the press Of the day, particularly
during the imitation era, many very notable let
tiers upon finance. There never was any diff
Guilty in discovering the position of Hugh Nc
Culloch on finances. He was one of the sound
est of hard-money men. He was one of those
fnanciers who believed that the legal-tender
notes were issued as a measure; that the
limitation on their issue was act of wisdom;
that the national banking system furnished cur
rency absolutely SAFE and the best the country
has ever known; that the national debt should
be paid according to the spirit Of the contract,
and should be reduced rapidly as possib lie.
He has attributed our financial disasters,
mainly, if not exclusively to a redundant cur