The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-01
ALGER'S PREDECESSORS.
Cabinet Officers Who Made Themselves 0hnox-
ous From WashIngton's Time 10 Hanson's.

Secretary Alger was far from being
the first cabinet officer who found his
pos ton embarrassing. jefferson, i'm his
diary. referring to the controversies
between himself, as secretary of state
in the cabinet of Gen. Washington, and
Alexander Hamilton. as secretary OF
the treasury, remarked that 1--WE were
| pitted against each other like two fight
| ing cocks" This condition soon con-
| strained Jefferson to resign. and Ham
| ilton did not remain long after him
| Some OF the scenes between the first
| President Adams on the one side and
| Timothy Pickering, secretary of state;
oliver Wolcott ,secretary of the treas
ury. and James McIenry, secretary OF
war, on the other, one OF which Is
given 10 the world in a letter by Me-
Henry were picturesque in their tenn
pestuousness, ana led to the retirement
OF all three OF them, says Leslies'
Weekly.
Everybody remembers the story OF
how jackson. in 1882, said he would
hang Calhoun. then vice president,
higher than Haman, If South Caro-
ina's notification in that year carried
her into rebellion. There were several
in Jackson's cabinet around the same
time for whom Jackson, for a much
=,
about the same sort of a feeling. one
of these was William j. Duane. secre-
tary OF the treasury, who refused to
obey Jackson's request 10 remove the
government deposits out OF the United
States bank. which Jackson was fight
ing at the time, and who was himself
removed by Jackson i'm consequence.
Others were Samuel j. Ingham, an
earlier secretary OF the treasury than
Duane: John branch secretary OF the
navy and John Mop. Berffen attorney
general. The wives OF these three. like
Calhoun's wife. refused 10 recognize"
Mrs. Eaton. the wife of the secretary of |
war. who was particularly close |
friend OF Jackson's.
Martin Van Buren,. the secretary OF |
srate, had no wife-she was a widower- |
and. consequently. was free TO extend |
social attentions TO Mrs. Eaton. which |
he did with h accustomed grace and 4
dolicacy. and thus won the everlasting |
friendship OF Jackson. He was subsu-
tuted for Calhoun as JacAson's politi-
cal her and went 60 the presidency
on JacksOns retirement Ingham !
Branch and Berrgen were sent out OF
the cabinet and went over TO the
Wings. The affair got into politics for
the time, and the Democratic party was
shaken to its centre. This episode
which was one OF the most absurd 'in-
cidents" in American politics. was
called by the wags OF the day the
Peggy O'Nei war" ONcill having
been Mrs. Eaton's maiden name
All OF President Tylers cabinet ex-
cept the secretary of state. Daniel
Webster. resigned in 1871 because Tyler.
as they said, betrayed his party" by
his refusal 10 sign the bin to restore the
United states bank. which Jackson had
killed. The accusation was absurd. OF
4. a.. |
harrison and Tyler. had made no |
declaration OF the bank question i'm the
campaign of 1850 or on any other issue.
The quarrel between president and cab
enet put tne country against their party !
IN the congressional elections uf 1912.
anu felped 90 defeat them IN the pres-
Dental election of 1874.
stick" was the laconlc message OF
tharles sumner 20 Edwin NJ. stanton.
secretary Of war during the contest
VelNetn stanton and President John
IN stanton stuck" aud the wrangie 4
DetNren them was ono of the causes Of |
"a "a Hllpedcn nment proceedings against |
s.. ~, lne blaine -Conkllng feud. |
| When blaine In 1881 was sacretar, of /
state. in the cabinet al prer,iept Oar. |
hell, spit the Republican party I'm tho |
! f'ite Or New York weakened IL I'm
| eNery state and was the eausa OF ps |
| ,oos - ~ the congressional election Of |
| sr, ~ we we pFtsld nflal election % 1884. |
~. ~ s,g5lupt RESIGNATION ~ NJ Blaine |
! eve ~ the Republican rsfi,r.,t ..,,,,,.c,,-
ions mcet ng az Iniianspolis vas ger.
rrahN aiifhutfd 90 Airs. Biainc's in-
nuence over her husband. rho a., ,i,o,
| very sick man. u aas The n,ost en-
El..onsl episode of General Harrison's
, aul',i ~ 'iou, i anu dit no one any
have been only zephyrs cornnared win
the cyclones IN which some preceding
cabinet officers have figured.