The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-11

esteemed the greatest. He was only a
little over thirty years of age when Wash
ihgton called him into the first cabinet as
secretary of the treasury. Others quite as
young as that may possibly have served
In some of the succeeding cabinets, al
though the records do not indicate such a
maturity.
As Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton
created the treasury department prac-
tically as it exists today. In one of his
orations Mr.. Depew has referred to this
extraordinary evidence of Hamilton's
capacity. The system of bookkeeping
which he devised. the methods OF checks
and counter checks, and in general the
mechanism of the treasury department is
practically today what it was when Mr..
Hamilton retired from that office.
In the early days the secretary of state
was regarded as in line of promotion to
the presidency. Jefferson. Madison, Mon
roe and Martin Van Buren, all served in
that office, but since that time with the
single exception of James Buchanan. no
man who has served as secretary of state
has been chosen to the presidency, and
only two who have held that Office have
been nominated, Mr.. Blaine and Lewis
Cass.
Until the time of John Quincy Adams
the choice of cabinet officers was a COM
parativeiy easy one, but with Mr.. Adams
accession 10 the presidency there was
developed scandal which, in the opinion
Of historians as we'll as many politicians
Of that day, prevented Henry Clay from
reaching the presidency. The election of
ls34 was thrown into the house of repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Adams, Gen. Jackson,
Henry Clay and William III. Crawford had
been the leading presidential candidates.
The friends of Clay decided to cast the
votes of the states which they controlled
In collation. with the votes of the states
that Mr.. Adams friends controlled, and
thereby Mr.. Adams was elected. he ap-
pointed Clay his secretary of state. ana il
vas charged that he did so in fulfillment
OF bargain. The accusation raised
violent passions; it was vehemently de-
nounced and as violently maintained. The
opinions of historians is that no actual
bargain was made. but that tacit under
standing at least was reached which car
ned Mr.. Clay into Mr.. Adams cabinet.
| The first violent contention in a cabinet
occurred during Gen. Jackson's first ad
ministration, and it all arose over Peggy
6aton. Mrs. Eaton was a very beautiful
| woman, who had married one of Gen.
/ 'Acksons warmest supporters, and when
| ehe became cabinet lady society turned
| us back upon her. Mrs. Eaton had been
| oy Hi accounts as lively as she was charm
sns and some things were said about her
when caused other ladies of the cabinet TO
| hook upon her with averted giances. A
shgnty tempest In teapot was developed.
aau zen. Jackson, being q man who chung
i W MS friends with tenacity, stood by
/ ,esgy Eaton ana her husband and recast
MS cabinet. Martin Van Buren,, with that
'uek which attended him until iSi0 es-
capped this trouble, although he WAS secre-
sAfy OF state. II Van Buren, had not been
asiaower, and his wife had been of the
sAhe disposition rs some OF the other la
eiee OF the cabinet. the chances are he
roQid never have been president of the
United States. for Jackson would have
'S,hed him. as he did others. adriit.
a dreadful calamity beiell President
Eyer cabinet. The navy department had
1Vled the president and some other
eaests 10 take sail upon the new vessel,
.he Princeton, and to witness the expert
sh'ai hrlnG OF new cannon. On the
seohd discharge the gun exploded, kill
mg Two memb ers Of the cabinet and seri-
asly Moundlng some of the guests. Presi-
gent Tyler would himself undoubtedly
save been Killed had he not been delayed
rue CABIN. and has absence was not no.
eesS when the gun was Tired.
tne most tragic experience OF any cabl-
80 officer was that which Secretary
speacer, who was At the head of the war
apartment IN Mr.. Tyler's cabinet. was
ssed uron 10 face. His son Philip,
sdshlpman, was hanged g; sea for mu-
lie was mere hoy. A dare devil sort
sieilow, and the tragedy very greatly