The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-11
MAKING THE CABINET
Continued from Page Q.

which Mr.. Stanton and the other counsel
were sitting, although they did not know
it. He heard them discussing who should
make the oral arguments to the court, for
not all of the lawyers were to be permitted
to do that. Lincoln was very anxious to
make one Of the arguments himself. for he
had spent great pains in preparing it. He
heard Mr.. Stanton say some things that
cut him to the quick, for Stanton spoke In
terms of reproach of this uncouth prairie
coat about the hotel, and intimating that
he presumed his argument would be as
musty as the coat was.
Mr.. Lincoln swallowed his pride, voiun-
tarily offered to submit his argument as q
brief, and keenly feeling the contempt of
Stanton, nevertheless asked Mr.. Stanton
to make one OF the arguments. Four years
later President Lincoln sent for Edwin M.
Stanton and said to him: "Mr. Stanton,
Gen. Cameron is to retire from the war de-
partment and has accepted the Russian
mission. / have sent for you to ask you
to accept the place thus made vacant"
Some men who have been presidents
would not have been great enough to over
look the slight which Mr.. Stanton be-
slowed upon Mr.. Lincoln in that Gin
cinnati hotel, but Mr.. Lincoln, with his
unerring judgment Of men, knew that
Stanton had such quality as would make
him able to direct the enormous RESPONSE
bility of the war department. during the
emergencies of the civil war. with no
other member of the cabinet was Mr.. Lin
coin SO intimate as he was with Mr.. Stan
ton, and upon no man did Mr.. Stanton
ever bestow such a measure of affection as
he gave to Lincoln.
Lincoln's treatment of Secretary Chase
was equally tactful. He recognized fully
Mr.. Chase's extraordinary ability in hand
ling the treasury department in times of
tpn 0Ia
realized those weaknesses of temperament
which limited Mr.. Chase's ability some
what in the opinion of those who knew
him best. Most men would have made
Chase an enemy by sending him uncere-
moniously from the cabinet; Lincoln
waited in patience until the death of
Chief Justice fancy made it possible to
transfer Mr.. Chase from the cabinet to q
post which is regarded as second only to
the presidency.
President Johnson retained for time
most of the members of Lincoln's cabinet,
but his quarrel with Secretary Stanton
precipitated the antagonism which was
developed between himself and congress
even to the point of his impeachment by
the house of representatives.
Curiosity and excitement were raised to
the highest pitch in the interval between
Gen. Grants election and Inauguration on
account of the secrecy he maintained re-
garding his cabinet purposes. Grant had
been known as silent man when engaged
upon the field, and he now showed that in
civil life he could maintain that reputation.
The papers were filled with speculatlons
and guesses, and yet as the time for in
auguration drew near it was apparent that
Grant was keeping his counsels well, and
it was expected that he might even send
nominations to the senate without having
first learned whether the men thus APP
pointed would accept. That he made
mistake by such secrecy was evident as
soon as the cabinet was announced The
nomination of A. I. Stewart. the merchant
prince of New York, for secretary of
the treasury was made, and the sem
ate was obliged to send word to Presi-
dent Grant that Mr.. Stewart could not
be confirmed. No one had any personal
objection to him, but he was ineligible
under the statutes, being engaged in the
importing business. 1t was proposed, and
it has been said that Mr.. Stewart himself
made the suggestion. that he retire from
business, making his great establishment
over to some one else. But the senators
declared that that would be regarded as
an unworthy evasion of the law. Grant
name. Within two weeks he was also
compelled to recast his cabinet. He had
nominated Elihu d. Washburn secretary
of state, but it is understood that Mr..
Washburn took the office knowing he
could retain it but a short time. Mr..
Washburn was sent as minister TO France,
and Hamilton Fish, of New York, became
served throughout Gen. Grants two ad-
ministrations, being the only member of
the cabinet who remained with him
through the eight years.
Grant was the first to break the prece-
dent by selecting two members of his cab
met from the same state. Gov. Boutwell,,
of Massachusetts,, was his secretary of the
treasury, while f. lockwood HOar, of the
same state, was his attorney general. Mr..
Hoar's experience illustrates the principle
adopted by the senate; although Mr.. Hoar
was unanimously confirmed as attorney
general, ne was rejected when nominated
for chief justice. The unwri.ten law of
the senate is that all cabinet nominations
are to be confirmed unless the nominee as
in the case of Mr.. Stewart, is ineligible,
the idea being that the president has the
right to select without objection his ad-
visers.
Gen. Grant had two unfortunate expert
ences, perhaps three. One was with Gov.
Jewell, his postmaster general. What the
trouble was has never been satisfactorily
explained, but Gen. Grant demanded sud-
denly JEWELS resignation. Gen. Belknap,
his secretary of war, was implicated by
congress committee in the sale of a post
leadership, and he offered his resignation
before Gen. Grant could demand it. Years
later il was understood that in that case
while Mr.. Belknap was legally response
bic, yet he had been an unwilling victim
of most deplorabe and sorrowful con-
splracy not political.
President Hayes in the selection of his
cabinet broke another precedent, and did
1t IN an astonishing manner. He nomi-
mated Tor postmaster general David NJ.
Key. who was conspicuous member
of the party opposed to that which voted
for Mr.. Hayes. That had never been done
before. The senate hesitated somewhat
before confirming Mr.. Key. Mr. HAYES
reason for making the appointment was
said to he that he desired to reveal to the
section from which Mr.. Key came, he be-
ing a citizen of Tennessee, that the new
administration desired to bury all Sec
tional animoslty.
Probably Gen. Garfield had as much
trouble making up his cabinet as any
president. Politicians in the state of New
York were almost imperious in their de-
mand that Levi 7. Morton should become
his secretary of the treasury The kew
stone OF Gariield's cabinet was the secretary
OF state. which he had determined to offer
to Mr.. Blaine. But he complained bitterly
that he could not complete the arch.
lie lett his home In Ohio for Washington
City few days before the inauguration.
and was then utterly at sea about his
cabinet. He desired Senator Allison TO
take the treasury department, and it was
scarcely twenty-four hours before Garfield
WAS to be Inaugurated when Mr. Allison
declined, and that made recast neces-