Evening star., 1909-03-04
NOT RECOGNIZED BY LAW
Washington Opposed Making Ap'
pointments on Party Grounds.
MANY VARIED EXPERIENCES
Few Executives Have Named List
That Held Intact Four Years.
Historical Review.


the thirteen states. North Carolina rati-
fed the Constitution November. 11S?. and
Rhode Island the following June: thus
the thirteen were not banded until the
latter date The establishment OF depart
ments engaged the attention of Congress
and in May, 1889, the House OF Represent
atives adopted report of the committee
on the state of the Union recommending
the departments of foreign affairs. Treas
ury and War; and directed that Chair
man Jonathan Trumbull should bring in
bills for that purpose. Acts approved
July -, August and September q fol-
lowing established the three depart
ments. The post office, which came over
from the federation. temporarily es-
fablished under the act Of September -.
and the act of September "a establishing
the United States court, authorized an
Attorney General to conduct suits OF the
government and to give advice and opn
ions on questions of law to the President
and heads of departments. Thus the
cabinet brought into being. the
Secretaries OF State, War and Treasury
and the Attorney General being regarded
as members. The post office being tenn
porary. its head was not regarded as
cabinet officer until long after the per-
manent establishment in 1892. 1t was in
Gen. Jacksons time that the President
first invited the Postmaster General to
seat at the cabinet table.
There specific law recognizing
these officers as the cabinet for d century.
but in the course of d few years the
Presidents advisers were popularity re-
garded as the cabinet Rich. Rush. the
Secretary of the Treasury and Attorney
General in the days of Madison and Mon
roe, said of the cabinet that WasninSton's
idea was that it should not be a unit and
members should not be appointed on
party grounds; that Washington had
Jefferson and Hamilton, representing both
parties. in his cabinet. Mr.. Monroe was
advised by Gen. Jackson to call two of
Mr.. Rush adds that Washingtons prac
tice was right and expresses regret at
the departure therefrom.
Experiences in Cabinet Making.
The experience of the Presidents in
cabinet-mak king has been varied. Few OF
them have made job which has held
together for four years; and. indeed, in
some cabinets many changes have taken
place during the term. Down to the
middle of the last century from seat
2 the cabinet table the presidential chair
was only step for some. but others
sspired thereto unsuccessfully, and in
deed, after John Adams was raised to
the executive position from the vice pres
idency. the State Department seemed for
several terms to be direct stepping
stone. From the cabinet table, too. 4
number have reached the bench of the
Supreme Court have entered the dip
lomatic service.
Washington. in his first term, found
John Jay of New York and Henry Knox
of Massachusetts, in charge of foreign and
military affairs. respectively. The first
served til the arrival of Mr.. Jefferson.
who had been appointed Secretary of
State in September, 1IS9. serving until
1vr Iof in PYlf
in the meantime he had become Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court. Mr.. Knox
became the Secretary of War. Alexander
Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury and
Samuel Osgood OF Connecticut Postmaster
General. the latter resisning in 1871. Tim
"thy Pickering was appointed, making
the only change. Edmund Randolph of
Virginia was appointed Attorney General.
In the second term some changes took
place. for on questions of policy there
Was not unanimity. Mr. Jefferson re-
signed at the end of 1893, and Mr.. Ham
ilton and Mr.. Knox at the close of 1905.
Mr. Randolph. in 1894. took the place
nj Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Pickering took
the place of Mr.. Knox in 1875 and Oliver
Walcott that of Mr.. Hamilton in 1895
Mr.. Randolph vacated the State Depart
ment in 1876, and Mr.. Pickering was
transferred to the State Department.
James McHenry of Maryland was ap
pointed to the War Department William
Bradford of Pennsylvania, Attorney Cen
era. and Joseph Haversham Of Georgia
appointed to be Postmaster General.
Mr. Bradford died within a year and
Charles Lee of Virginia succeeded to his
place.
Action by President Adams.
Mr. Adams continued Mr.. Pickering in
the State Department dismissng him
and appointing John Marshall. and
naming oliver Walcott of Connecticut
Secretary of the Treasury. Samuel Dex-
nf ~ g.flY &c Inc vnvr,
McHenry, Secretary of War, and Charles
Lee oil Virginia, Attorney General, and
in 119S made Benjamin Stoddert of Mary
land Secretary of the Navy.
Mr.. Madison, Gen. Dearborn and Gen.
Lincoln were called the day after the in
auguration of Mr.. Jefferson. Albert
Galatin of Pennsylvania. May Il. in
place of Mr.. Dexter; Robert Smith of
Maryland succeeding Mr.. Stoddert July
II: Gideon Granger of Connecticut, In
place of Mr.. Haversham, November q
John Breckinridse of Kentucky in 1905
succeeded Gen. Lincoln, and at his death
{. A. Rodney of Pennsylvania was ap-
pointed.
MIR Madison succeeded to the presi-
dency. Gen. Dearborn became the senior
major general of the army, Gen. Lin
coin went to the Supreme bench and
Messrs. Galatin and Granger served
through Mr.. Madison's term. He also
retained Messrs. Smith and Rodney, the
hrst as Secretary OF State until April
ISL. Mr. Monroe succeeding him. Mr.
Rodney was Attorney General until the
md of the year. William Pinkney sue
Ceeding him. William Eustis of Massa-
Chusetts became Secretary of War but
resigned III 1912. and Gen. Armstrong
Of New York was appointed. Mr.. Eustis
was afterward ambassador to Holland
Paul Hamilton of South Carolina sue
ceeded To the Navy Department, serving
To the end of 1872. when William Jones
ot Pennsylvania took charge.
Madison's Second Term.
In Mr.. Madison's second term all were
retained Tor d time. but some changes
took place Mr.. Monroe served until
called to- the presidential chair. Mr.
,ialatin served until 1914, when he became
AN envoy TO Great Britain. George W.
and served a few months. The latter
after serving a few years In tho Senate
was sent TO Russia minister. Alex
auder j. Dallas of Pennsylvania took
charge Of the Treasury. He resigned in
lSlG William II. Crawford of Georgia
succeeded him. coming from the War
Department There were several Secre-
tsries Of War. Gen. John Armstrong.
atter the sacAing OF Washington by the
British. in 1874 vacating. Mr.. Monroe
took charge until March following. Mr..
Crawford then served year before
going 10 the Treasury. Attorney Cen
cral Pinkney resigned in 1914. and was
captain at the battle of BladensburG.
arrd I..te mil, 10 pY1cc ~