Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-15
rnom rnE BALTIMORE TELEGRAPH.


We present our readers to day with a
most rare and curious specimen of cabinent
policy. The President waits on the Secre-
tary of War and tells him that he comes
on delicate business, which is nothing more
nor less than to inform him that he IS a sus-
pected man. He candidly confesses to the
Secretary that he has a slight touch of this
malady himself, and confesses that he is not
perfectly exempt from suspicion. The
President therefore makes a modest propo-
sal to Secretary Armstrong, that be should
tor a season only, appoint some individual
partially to do the duties of his Office
THIS appearances Of political reforma-
ton and o~nsemJment he thought would
quie. the minds of the people, and whether
1t did or did not, appearances of reformation
only, were all that the people from long
experience, had a right to expect. No, no,
replies the intrepid Secretary, a uhoie loaf
or no bread is my maxim either suffer me
TO remain in Office, or accept of my resig-
nation. The President unfortunately dit
tered from the Secretary on this important
point, and thought it far better to conform
to the urgency of the case and to make
Armstrong half a Secretary of War. He
desired Armstrong to take time to consider
I. his proposition whether it was not bet
ter to become half a Sec rotary, than to be
q whole Secretary and labour under suspi-
cion. In the mean time, both of these pat
riots agreed that it would be most desirable
for Armstrong to decamp. They were com
pIetely unanimous on this point, and the
Secretary, although he demurred an accep-
lance Of one proposition made by the Pfesi-
dent, most heartily complied with the other.
Armstrong decamps. and finds by the pages
of the National l~ntelligencer that Mr.. Sc
cretary Munroe is appointed to do the du.
ties Of his office during the recess. This
was political vinegar, gall and NORWOOD
to the retreating Secretary of war: feelings
which he describes by the more courtly
phrase of reluctance. The cause of this
reluctance is this, Armstrong is fully per-
suaded that there is not a man in the whole
U. States so well calculated to succeed the
President in his Office, and to become the
political heir of all his glory, as his own
personal, natural and individual self. Mr..
Munroe believes likewise, that he of all o.
Their men on the political demiese of the
PRESIDENT. has the best claim to that Office.
1t is a difficult point, it must be confessed to
ADJUST the merits of this controversy. Mr..
Munroe would rest his claim on the ability
with which the affairs in the department of
state had been conducted, and Mr.. Arm
strong the affairs in the department of war.
The former would praduce his precious do
cGment called his report on the question,
whether our government had any know.
ledge of B~onaparte's repeal of the Berlin
and Milan DEGREES. The other. in opposi-
Non to this document, would produce the
campaigns of Wilkinson, and Dearborn,
ana hull, against Canada-and if this fail
e. ne might boldly advance 10 aid of his
TI1ain, the conf1agration at Washington
4ne question then would resolve itself in
70 TINS, whether the war had been declared
me most suspicious season, or conduct
e4 with the most success. In fact, from an
impartial consideration of the case, we
.l'hK that we can pronounce the merits of
'ngse TWO candidates equi- ponderGnt.
Dq'' leaving these high matters, we would
leg leave to ask Dir. Secretary Armstrong,