The Washington herald., 1913-03-12

NO. 81.
Henry Knox. that gallant officer of the
Revolution. had been already four years
Secretary Of War for the Confederation.
In appointing him to the same officc
under the new Constitution, Washington
was but retaining a man whom he loved
and to whom he had long been accus-
toned to look for friendship and coun-
sell
He chose Thomas Jefferson to handle
the delicate questions of foreign affairs
which must press upon the young state
because, John Adams being Vice Presi-
dent, there was no other man OF equal
gifts available who had had so large an
experience in the field Of diplomacy.
Again and again Jefferson had been
chosen for foreign missions under the
Confederation: he was American Min
lister to France when Washington's sum-
mons called him to the Secretaryship of
State; and he came of that race OF Nir-
ginia statesmen from whom Washington
might reasonably count upon receiving
a support touched with personal loyalty.
VIrginians in Power.
Richard Henry Lee. Patrick Henry.
and George Mason were housekeeping
spirits, and doubted Of the success Of
the new government, but jefferson,
though he had looked upon its making
from across the sea, approved. and was
ready to lend his aid to its successful
establishment.
In appointing Edmund Randolph to be
Attorney General Washington was but
choosing a brilliant young man whom
he loved out of a great family of law
yers who had held a sort OF primacy
at the bar in Virginia ever since he
could remember-almost ever since she
had been called the Old Dominion.
Knox was thirty-nine, Edmund RAN
dolph thirty-siX; but If Washington
chose young men to be his comrades and
guides in counsel. ii was but another
capital proof Of his own mastery in af-
fairs.
Himself a natural leader. he recog-
nized the like gift and capacity in others.
even when fortune had not yet disclosed
OF brought them to the test.
Relpctant to Serve.
1t was hard, in filling eyen the greater
Offices, to find men of eminence who were
willing to leave the service of their States
or the security and ease of private life
to try the untrodden paths Of federal
government
The States were old and secure-so men
thought-the federal government was new
and an experiment. The stronger sort of
men, particularly amongst those bred to
the law, showed. many of them, a great
reluctance to identify themselves with
new institutions set up but five or six
months ago; and Washington. though he
meant to make every liberal allowance
for differences of opinion, would invite
no man to stand with him in the new
service who did not thoroughly believe It.
Best Lawyers for Judges.
He was careful to seek out six of the
best lawyers to be had in the country
when he made up the Supreme Court,
and to choose them from as many States
John Jay. of New York. to be Chief
Justice; John Rutledge. of South Caro-
lima; william Gushing. of Massachusetts,:
John Blair, of Virginia; James Wilson,
of Pennsylvania, and r. H. Harrison. of
Maryland-for he knew that the govern
ment must draw its strength from the
men who administered it, and that the
common run of people must learn to re-
spect it in the persons of its officers.
But he was equally careful to find out
in advance Of every appointment what the
man whom he wished to ask thought of
the new government and wished its future
to be.
Minor Omces Go Begging.
Many to whom he offered appointment
declined minor Offices seemed almost to
go a-begging amongst men of assured
position such as 1t was his object to Sc
cure. It needed all the tact and patience
he could command to draw about him q