Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-04

US and Tyler at an end" By Nav. 1S43, the
Ashburton treaty had been completed and the
political pressure brought to bear upon Web
ster was SO great that he also resigned and was
succeeded In the State Department by Legare
who in few months was succeeded by Upshur
July "a, 1913, who in February Of the follow
ing year was killed by the explosion of a cam
non on board the war steamer Princeton, and
was succeeded by Calhoun. who held the posi-
ton OF Secretary of State to the end of Tylers
term. Thomas w. Giimer. Secretary of the
Navy, who had held that position Just thirteen
DAVIS, was also killed by the explosion on the
Princeton. This disaster, though sad event. gave
to the President wife, the first bride of the
White House, Mr.. Gardiner of Long Island
who wasspending the winter in Washington with
his daughter. was also killed by this EXPLOSION,
and his body, with that of Upshur, was taken to
the White House, and Miss Gardiner being thus
brought into the society Of the President who was
a widower. became later the object of his atten-
tions and they were married in New York June
26, 1Sif Calhoun, who succeeded Upshur
as Secretary of State, distinguished him
self during the Tyler administration by the
treaty which admitted Texas to the Union
though the treaty thus framed was rejected by
the Senate, and it was not until the closing days
OF Tylers term tina: joint resolution for the
annexation OF Texas was passed by both Houses
of his term, March 8, 1845
Polk.
President Folks cabinet was looked upon a
astrong and wisely selected one Buchanan,
who had had long experience as minister to
Russia and in the Senate, became his Secretary
of State; Robert J. Walker, an ex-Secretary and
one OF the best authorities on national finance,
was Secretary Of the Treasury; Marcy, Secre-
tary Of War; George Bancroft, Secretary of the
Navy; Cave Johnson, Postmaster General, and
John Y. Mason, who had been a member Of
Tyler's cabinet was first Attorney General and
afterward was transferred to the Navy Depart
ment. The admission of Texas was completed
in the following December, and under this cab
met was carried forward the war with Mexico
which followed, during which Abraham Lincoln
first became prominent by his resolution intro
ducsd in the House of Representatives after
ward known as the "spot resolution" calling
upon the President to designate the spot Of
American territory where Mexican troops ha
last spilled the blood of American citizens.
The wings. however although the spot was not
named, fought for the bill appropriating $l0,-
600 900 for the prosecution Of the war; IL was
toward the close Of Folks administration that
the bitter struggles between Congress and the
President over river and harbor appropria-
tions and the slavery question arose. but this
did not apparently produce any friction in the
cabinet, for four Of the six cabinet officers held
their positions from the beginning to the end
OF their terms, while Bancroft, who resigned
from the head Of the Navy Department, did 90
for the purpose Of accepting the more congenial
position Of minister to Great Britain. In this
connection it is interesting to quote from Mr..
Bancroft's own words regarding President
Polk, Of whom he said: "Of all our public men
Polk was the most thoroughly consistent repre-
sentative Of his party. His administration,
viewed from the standpoint of results, was
perhaps the greatest in our national history,
mi nj u. AaA
because he insisted on doing justice to Ill and
in overriding and guiding his secretaries to
act SO as to produce perfect unity and bar
mony."
Gen. Taylor, whose prominence In the
Mexican war brought him the presidency, was
sufficiently conscious of his want Of knowledge
Of the machinery of the civil administration to
form cabinet able to supplement his own in
formation ON this subject They were men
prominent in the public eye snd mind through
valuable services already rendered. Clayton
Of Delaware was Secretary Of State, Meridsth,
Of War; Preston, Secretary Of the Navy;
Reverdy johnson, Attorney General; Ewing,
the first Secretary Of the Interior, and Csllamer,
Postmaster General. All Of these men had
served in the Senate and House. and al were
lawyers: Hin VIEW, nsturee under former
confidential advisers, bat before his admins
tration reached . stage TO mark its character
upon the history Of the country his death oc-
CURED One feature, however, IVES evident,
and that was that no law for civil service re-
form was needful, for with him and his cabinet
the bsst0wal d ofaess wss trust held for the
people.
r1llmore.
Fillmore, who became Presidsnt BY Taylor's
death, received the designations Of ell Of TAy-
lor's cabinet - soon - ~ bad taksu he oath