The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-10-15
SOUTH SHOULD HAVE A
STATESMAN IN CABINET
BY j. M. BISHOP.

New York. October 1.-THE United
States republic has now reached the age
of one century and quarter. During
the first half of this period the affairs
of the republic were largely dominated
by Southern influences. Only four of the
fifteen presidents chosen previous to the
civil war were born north of Mason &
Dixon's line, namely, the two Adams
who were both born in the town of
Braintree, Mass; Willard Fillmore. born
in Cayuga county. New York, and James
Pennsylvania.
Southern men largely predominated in
every cabinet formed during the first
seventy years of the republic. In Wash
ingtons cabinet during the first admin
istration the following names appear:
Secretaries of State-Thomas Jefferson
Virginia; Edmund Randolph, Virginia;
T. Pickering, Massachusetts,.
Secretaries of the Treasury-Alexander
Hamilton. New York; oliver Woicott'
Connecticut.
Secretaries of War and Navy-Henry
Knox. Massachusetts; T. Pickering, Mas
sachusetts; James McHenry, Maryland
Postmasters General-Samuel Osgood,
Massachusetts; I. Pickering, Massachu-
setts; Joseph Habersham, Georgia.
Attorneys General-Edmund Randolph
Virginia.; William Bradford, Pennsylva-
MIA; Charles Lee Virginia
In the second administration John Mar
shall of Virginia was placed at the head
of the state department, and, with NC
Henry and Stoddert of Maryland, Haoer-
sham of Georgia and Charles Lee OF VIZ
ginia this administration was distinctly
southern During the fourth adminstra-
ton, under Madison every cabinet port
folio was graced by southern name.
Secretaries of State-Robert smith,
MARYLAND: James Monroe. Virginia.
Secretary of the Treasury-George W..
Campbell, Tennessee.
Secretary of War-James Monroe, Vir-
ginia William II. Crawford, Georgia.
Secretary of the Navy-Paul Hamilton,
South Carolina.
Attorney General-William Pinckney,
Maryland.
John C. Calhoun of South Carolina and
William Writ of Virginia entered the
cabinet of the fifth administration, and
in the sixth came Henry Clay of Ken
lucky; Jefferson Davis of Mississippi
entered the cabinet of the twelfth ad-
ministration as secretary of war.
Southern statesmen took the lead in
most of the great national movements up
to the civil war period. Southern leaders
are entitled to share largely in any credit
attaching to the basic plans OF our gov
eminent and the subsequent labor OF
rearing the superstructure. The Virginia
Land company to which the King of
England originally conceded the right OF
raising its own necessary revenues, was
the starting point of our republic. George
Mason of Virginia wrote the golden text
of free government in the language:
''All men are born free and equal
| with certain inalienable rights, the
| right to life, liberty and pursuit of
| happiness"
| Thomas jefferson wrote the Declaration
of Independence. John Marshall of Vir-
ginia placed the imprint of almost d.
vine wisdom on the constitutional frame
work of the republic, as Hamilton did on
| its fiscal system. The wise measures lead
| ing to the acquisition of domain neces-
sary to the symmetrical and logical ter
ritorial completion of the God-fashioned
Land of the Free and Home of the
| Brave originated almost entirely in
| southern brains. 1t was a southern cab
| met which COPIED with the Seminole
problem and brought about quiet in that
| den of disorder and laid the groundwork
| for subsequent annexation, OF that terri
| tory. The far-sightedness OF Jefferson in
making the Louisian Purchase stands out
| as a famous stroke in public policy. As
contributing to the grandeur and pres
| t.ge of the republic. the fixture of the
Monroe doctrine by President Monroe was
equal in Importance to the act of Jeffer-