REJECTION OF MR. TANEY, NOMINATED FOR SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
A presentiment of what was to happen induced the President to delay,
until near the end of the session, the nomination to the Senate
of Mr. Taney for Secretary of the Treasury. He had offended the
Bank of the United States too much to expect his confirmation in
the present temper of the Senate. He had a right to hold back the
nomination to the last day of the session, as the recess appointment
was valid to its end; and he retained it to the last week, not being
willing to lose the able and faithful services of that gentleman
during the actual session of Congress. At last, on the 23d of
June, the nomination was sent in, and immediately rejected by the
usual majority in all cases in which the bank was concerned. Mr.
Taney, the same day resigned his place; and Mr. McClintock Young,
first clerk of the treasury, remained by law acting Secretary. Mr.
Benjamin Franklin Butler, of New-York, nominated for the place of
attorney-general, was confirmed--he having done nothing since he
came into the cabinet to subject him to the fate of his predecessor,
though fully concurring with the President in all his measures in
relation to the bank.