Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-04-28
POLITICAL.

POLITICAL
RESIGNATION OF THE CABINET.
Correspondence beiveen the I'readent aud Mr.
PSn Bs,en. On tAe haiier resigning sAe Office
IF Secretary Of Ssuse.
from the Washington Globe, Apr, 81.
It will appear. by the publication in our
columns OF to-day, that the Secretary ors,.te
has rendered his resignation Co the Preside nj,
who has accepted Il. The grounds upon
which this step ~as taken arc 30 fully and
distinctly stated in the CORES pondence, ths,
comment on our part IS unnecessary. On
the 7,h the Secretary OF War rendered his re
sgns''on tothe President; and yesterday, the
Secretary OF the Treasury and Secretary of
the Navy handed in theirs, ell Of which have
been accepted. Prom this il is inferred tina,
. new organization OF the Cabinet 10 TO take
place.
wAsHIScroS, APRIL 18th, 1891.
Dear Sir IL feel il to be my dutv 10
retire from the Office 10 which your con.
hdence and partialitv called me. The
delicacy Of this step, under the cireum-
stances in which it is taken, will I
trust, be deemed an ample apology
for stating more at large, than might
otherwise have been necessary, the
reasons by which l am influenced.
From the moment Of taking my seat
IN your Cabinet,it has been my anxious
wish and jealous endeavor 10 prevent
premature agitation Of the question
OF your successor; aud, at all events
10 siiscountenance, and if possible re-
press the disposition, at an early day
manifested, to connect my name with
that disturbing topic. or the sinceri-
~ and the consistency Of this disposition.
no one has had better opportunity 10
judge than yourself 1t has, however.
been unavailing. Circumstances, not
Of my creation, and altogether beyond
my control, have given TO this subject
. turn which cannot now be remedl.
ed. except by self disfranc ise ment
which, even If dictated by nv indi.
vidual wishes, could hardly be recon
cileable with propriety or self respect.
Concerning the injurious effect.
which the circumstance of member Of
the Cabinets occupying the relation
towards the country tn which I have
adverted, is calculated to have upon
the conduct Of public affairs. there
cannot, l think, at this time. be room
for two opinions. Diversities Of ul.
terror preference among the friends of
an Administration are unavoidable !;
and even IL the respective advocates
OF Those thus placed In rivalship be
patriotic enough to resist the ,empta-
ton Of creating obstacles to the sd-
vancement Of him to whose elevation
they are opposed, by embarrassing
the branch Of public service commit.
ted 10 bis charge, they are. neverthe-
les, by their position, xposed to the sus-
picion of entertaining and encourag.
ing such views: suspicion which can
seldom TAIL IN the end, to aggravate
into present alienation and hostility
the prospective differences which first
gave rise to il. Thus, under the least
unfavorabie consequences, individual
injustice Is suffered, and the Admins.
ton embarrassed and weakened.-
Whatever may have been the course
OF things under the peculiar circum-
stances of the earlier stage Of the Re.
public, nv experience has fully salts
ned me that at this day, when the field
og selection has become 80 extended,
the circumstances referred 10, by aug.
menting the motives and sources of
opposition TO the measures Of the Ex-
ecutive. must unavoidabIy prove the
cause Of injury TO the public service,
for a cOu0terpoise TO which we may
IN vain look to the peculiar qualifica-
tIons Of any Individual and even if
should IN this be mistaken, still I can.
not So fer deceive myself as Co believe
for moment that I am included in
the exceptions.
These obstructi ons to- the successful
prosecution Of public affairs, when
suPeradded to that opposition which is
iuseparabie from our free institutions
and which every administration must
expect, present q mass tO which the
operations Of the government should
1T no time be voluntarily exposed:-
the more especially should this be j..
VoIded at so eycniful a period in
the affairs Of the wOfiL, when our coun
try may particularly need the utmost
harmony in her councils.
Such being my impressions, the path
of duty 10 plain: aud not only sub
NIT with cheerfulness TO whatever per.
sonai sacrifices may be involved 10 the
surrender Of the station occupy.
but ] make u nv ambition TO set an
example which, should IL in the progress
OF the Government be deemed, rot.
withdrawing the humility Of i,s orr.
gin, worthy of respect and observance,
cannot, think, fail to prove essential.
ly and permanently beneficial.
Allow me, Sir. TO present one more