The National crisis.
The Cabinet of the Confederate States--Secretary of State.
Hon. Robert Toombs was born in
Wilkes county, Ga., July 2, 1810. Commencing his collegiate life at the University of Georgia, he subsequently went North, and graduated at Union College,
Schenectady, N. Y. In 1836, he served as a captain of volunteers in the
Creek war. In the next year he was elected to the Legislature, and since that time has been constantly in public life as Representative and
Senator.
In both branches of the Federal Congress he has always served upon important committees.
Secretary of the Treasury.
Hon. C. G.
Memminger.--There are few men in the
South who are more competent, in point of ability and business capacity, to administer the Department of the Treasury under the
Government of the
Confederate States than
Mr. Memminger.
Possessed of a high order of intellect, a student, learned and full of resources as an accomplished advocate, he is eminently a man of facts and details.
This is an essential qualification to a great financier, and combined with ability and integrity, almost insures success to one who, like
Mr. Memminger, has studied political economy by the great principle of
laisses vous falre.
The South wants an economical Government, and an adequate revenue, raised by equal taxation of citizens.
Free trade, low duties, and no discriminations, will put all on an equal footing, and saddle the burden of taxation upon the labor of none.
It will encourage none to enter upon unremunerative enterprises, at the expense of neighbors' pockets, but give all fair play and the benefit of the markets of the world.
We congratulate
Mr. Memminger upon the honor of his appointment to this responsible position in the New Confederacy, and the States upon having one so well fitted to perform its duties faithfully and upon sound principles.
Secretary of War.
Hon. Leroy Pope Walker is a lawyer of
Huntsville, Alabama, a native of that county,
Madison, and about forty-five years of age. He is the eldest son of the late
Major Walker, and one of a family distinguished for talent and influence.
Two of his brothers are
Hon. Percy Walker, who recently represented the
Mobile district in Congress, and
Hon. Judge Richard W. Walker, of
Florence,
Chairman of the
Alabama Delegation in the present Confederate Congress.
Hon. L. P. Walker at one time practised law in
South Alabama, and was for several sessions Speaker of the House of Representatives of the
State.
He has been a consistent Democrat of the
State-Rights school.
For the last ten years he has been located in
Huntsville, and has the reputation of being the leading lawyer, and, next to
Clay, the leading Democrat of
North Alabama. --Careful in the preparation of his cause, and clear, concise, logical and eloquent in presenting them before court, he is said to be an eminently successful practitioner.
For the last three years he has been conspicuous in his denunciation of squatter sovereignty.
In the
Alabama Democratic Convention which took ground against it and sent a delegation to
Charleston to carry out her instructed opposition,
Gen. Walker's influence was marked and effective.
He was one of the delegation sent here, and exerted himself ably in resisting the compromises offered.
The result all know.
He has been a leader in the cause of the
South, and deserves a place in the picture.
As a man of clear head, good judgment, systematic and laborious in his habits, with undoubted nerve, spirit, energy, and will, we cannot help thinking he is an excellent selection for the Department of War at the present juncture.
Secretary of the Navy.
Hon. John Perkins, Jr., was born in
Louisiana, July 1, 1819. In 1840 he graduated at Yale College, and subsequently at the Law School of Harvard College.
He began the practice of his profession in New Orleans.
In 1851 he was chosen a Judge of the Circuit Court of
Louisiana, which position he held until elected to Congress in 1858, where he advocated State-Rights Democratic measures.
Since 1855 he has devoted himself to planting in his native State.
The post of
Secretary of the Navy to the
Confederate States is a post requiring prompt energy and sound practical judgment.
A navy is to be organized, and, as we have recently had occasion to suggest at length, the manner of that organization is of lasting consequence.
Upon the wisdom exercised in fitting it to the wants of the
South, and that as early as practicable, much property and many lives — not to say the
Confederate character before the world — may depend.
Mr. Perkins bears a high character, and we trust will prove himself fully equal to the task.
