The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-07-29


men, governors and judges are among
their heritages.
Thomas Jefferson's name stands alone.
So far as have been able to learn none
other of his name has figured in the
civil history of the government.
Besides James Madison there was
only George, who was governor of Ken
lucky.
James Monroe's name is accompanied
only by the names of another James, a
congressman from Ohio, and Thomas B.
and v, who were federal judges in Ken
lucky.
Andrew Jackson's name leads list
Of thirty, among whom were governors,
congressman, judges and foreign min
listers.
Besides Martin Van Buren, the records
show only John, a judge and congress
man from Ulster county, N. Y.
Among dozen or more Harrisons we
have two presidents. the son of the first
and father of the second, John Scott,
who sat in congress- Albert G., con-
gresham from Kentucky: Carter B.,
and Carter H., congressman from Vir-
ginia and Illinois, respectively; Hor-
ace H., congressman from Virginia;
Richard, auditor of the treasury for
fifty-fve years; Richard A., congress
man from Ohio; Robert H., secretary
to Washington and chief justice of
Maryland; S. S., congressman from
Pennsylvania, and William, delegate
from Maryland to the Continental con-
gress.
John Tyler's name stands almost alone.
Another John Tyler was federal judge
in Virginia, and Royal Tyler was chief
Justice of Massachusetts, and a success
full dramatist.
Besides James Knox Polk there were
Charles, governor of Delaware; Trusten,
senator from the same state, and Will
liam H., the presidents brother, con-
gresham from Tennessee.
Twoscore Taylors have won places in
our list. Zachary was president, and
perhaps twenty-five of the others have
been members of congress.
Our records show but one Fillmore.
Nearly a dozen Pierces, several of
them of the immediate family of the
president, have won distinction as con-
gressmen, judges and governors.
James Buchanan's father was mem
Der of congress, and relative, James
NJ, was minister to Denmark.
The name of Lincoln appears only
half dozen times in the record. Enoch
was governor of Maine; Levi, ST., and
Levi, Jr., governors of Massachusetts,;
w. S., congressman from New York,
and Robert t., Abraham's son, secre-
tary of war and minister to England
Ulysses S. overshadows the few Grants
whose names appear in the list A. P.
was congressman from New York and
Fred Grant is minister to Austria.
Besides Rutherford B. three or four
Hayeses have won place as congressman
and judges.
There has been but one Garfield,
though Selucius Garfelde was a con-
gresham from Washington.
William Arthur was congressman
from Ohio.
Chauncey F. Cleveland represented
Connecticut in congress some years ago,
and Orestes Cleveland was representa-
tive from New Jersey.
Which is the greatest name in Ameri-
can history? This is question which
comes naturally as we look at the past
through these novel glasses. Inasmuch
as it is matter of opinion and not of
fact, shall not presume to decide. More
than a hundred Smiths have won men
ton in the ten thousand list, but in the
opinion of some of my readers all the
Smiths, none of whom ever reached the
highest offices, may be outranked by the
name of Webster, which was borne by
but one man of genuine fame, or by that
of Blaine, which stands alone.
The Washingtons, who were not nu-
our list of a hundred great names,
unquestionably exerted more influence
upon the affairs of the nation than the
seventy-fve Williamses. Still, if one
were to try to reach conclusion on this
subject, he would have to take under
consideration such names as Adams,
Harrison, Bayard, Sherman, Davis,
Blair, Breckenridge, Livingston, Jack
son. Clayton. Butler. CLAW.
Speaking of there now being two Eos
tiers in the cabinet reminds me of
somewhat remarkable fact Though
nearly $50 men have occupied seats in
the cabinet council in the history of the
government, in only seven instances has
a name been repeated in the list. There
were two Smiths-Robert, as secretary
of state under Madison, and Caleb B.,
as secretary of the interior under Lin
coin. There were two Porters-Peter
B., as secretary of war under j. Q.
Adams, and James NJ, in the same po-
sition under Tyler. John Marshall was
secretary of state under John Adams
and James W. Marshall was postmaster
general under Grant.
John Sherman was secretary OF the
treasury under Hayes, and Tecumseh
Sherman was for short time secretary
of war under Grant. Jacob Thompson
was secretary of the interior under Bu-
chanan, ard R. w. Thompson and Smith
secretaries of the navy under
HAYES and Monroe, respectively. Rev
erdv johnson was attorney general I'M
Ter TAYLOR, and Cave johnson postmaster
general under Polk. Two men of the