Year: 1869




The Reconstructed Cabines-whas Nexts


The ship Of state under the new administra


ton is now in full sail the Cabinet difficulty
has been overcome and every department hai
Its chief and is in working order. Still there
seem to be some incongruities that may
require rectifying hereafter, as two Cabinet
officers from one State (Massachusetts) and
the mixed character Of the Cabinet, which has
In 1t various political shades, from the ultra
radical and New England protectionist to the
Western free trade war democrat. Then the
President has promised that he will make
changes If necessary till he and the country
are satisfied with the Cabinet; SO that,
although the machinery is in perfect working
order, It is possible discoveries may be
made to make it go better and more salts
factory to both himself and the people. In
politics, as in war, plans Of action have to be
modified and commands to be reorganized to
suit circumstances. Hence, though the Cabi-
net Is reconstructed, we must walt to see how
1t acts before passing judgment upon IT,


The original draft Of the Cabinet was, per-
haps, the best, and the leading thought Of the
President in it's construction was good. He
preferred taking practical business men Of
sound sense and conservative views to active
partisan politicians. He did not hesitate to
avow this, and more than once declared that
he was not elected by nor was he the repre-
sentative Of politicians. His sentiments and
purpose were unmistakable. While he intended
to pay proper respect to the will Of the party
that nominated him for the Presidency, par
ticularly as to the distribution of patronage, he
evidently wished to look more to the interests
OF the country than to those Of q party. In
this view he started on more Independent
course than his predecessors usually had. His
Cabinet was composed at first with that view.
But he met with check at the commence
ment; for though the Senate confirmed his
nominations at the spur Of the moment 1t did
not like his policy. That body is the centre
and nucleus Of the political rings, and 1t looked
with disfavor upon the attempt to ignore the
politicians. The difficulty about Mr.. Stew
oAs SoFO tuO 0CuotOAo al OPpOAsu
to show their hands, and they did
not fail to seize it. We have seen the
result. General Grant wanted peace-wanted
to avoid the conflict and difficulties which
Mr.. johnson plunged into, and. desired to
work in harmony with the Senate. Under
these circumstances and the pressure brought
to bear upon him he has reconstructed his
Cabinet, and while carrying out to some extent
his original plan he has modified it so far as
to take for the most important post-that Of
the Treasury-one Of the leading radical poll
ticians in Congress. Shall we have peace and
harmony now? Or what next?


Looking at the reconstructed Cabinet. the
appointment of Hamilton Fish as Secretary of
State, as New York was cut out Of the Trea-
sury Department. seems unobjectonable
enough. The Secretary Of the Treasury ought
to have been from this great financial centre !;
but the President having taken Mr.. Boutwell,,
Of Massachusetts,, for that post, it was well to
give the State Department to New York. Mr..
Fish is gentleman Of ability, conservative
and dignifed, and will, we suppose, Gil the
Office creditably. General Rawlins, the new
Secretary of War, is adapted for the position,
and, as the friend and old companion Of Gene
raj Grant in the war, will work harmoniously
with his chief. But what Of Mr.. Boutwell,
He holds the most important position
in the government; for everything de-
pends upon the proper management of
the Treasury and placing the finances Of the
country on . sound basis. From the course Of
this gentleman in Congress and from his
speeches with regard to the currency, specie
payments and faithful collection Of the reve-
nue., he stands on the same ground as Presi-
dent Grant. The expressions Of the inaugural
address and those of Mr.. Boutwell, on different
occasions upon these questions are identical. In
a speech before the Republican State Conven-
ton Of Massachusetts, last fall he said :-ssWe
do not propose to tolerate, sanction or permit
an issue Of demand notes payable In coin, to
be exchanged for the time bonds Of the United
States. We intend to limit, and, II necessary,
to diminish gradually the volume Of paper
money until 1t approximates in value to the
standard of coin. When this is done the public
debt viii be paid as the resources Of the coun-
try viii permit" He thinks that we can then
issue bonds, payable after ten or twenty years,
bearing lower rate Of interest, and thus save
annually twenty or thirty millions Of dollars.
He il for paying the debt at all hazards
and maintaining the public honor. He
has been opposed to the contraction
Of the currency heretofore, as cal
culated to bring disaster upon the country,
and has favored limiting the power Of the Sec
retary Of the Treasury over the currency and
sales of gold. So far, then, he is in accord
with the President and probably with the ma
jority in Congress. His reputation stands
high for integrity, and II is believed he will,
to the utmost Of his ability, purify the Trea-
sury Department Of corruption and inefiiciency.
1t remains to be seen whether he can for the
public good emancipate himself from the poll