The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-04-27
D1ssoLUTIoN OF THE CABINET,

"a
The four Secretaries have resie'
owing order - secretary of War;
On the 7th April. Mr.. Eaton @ Of State 10Th
1lth, Mr. Van Buren,, Secrsp Treasury, and Mr.
Mr. Inpham, Secretary OF "
Of SE rs So IKE Atto,sey General, mas since
resigned. as we learn gsrH7s5eraI has .Is0 II Is
Mr. Barry, tEe .es President the keys of the Post
SAD, tenoeIeu earnest request of the President
Cnee o ussf to retain them. 1t is understood (
.L, .hn he ministers VIII continue to discharge
tnat me Of their situations, until their successors
are elEbom, Branch and Berrien are understood to
Is; The Calhoun interest, and the Telegraph says
*. ,Iter the resignation of Eaton and Van Buren,
Co jackson requested lngham and Branch also to
rrsign.
Various coujectures are made as to the forma-
tion of the new Cabinet, none Of which, probably,
rest on any very satisfactory authority. The one
most current is as follows:
Edward Livingston OF Louisiana, Secretary of
Louis McLane of Delaware, Secretary of the
Treasury.
Hugh [. White of Tennessee, Secretary of War;
Levi Woodbury. of New Hampshire, Secretary OF
the Navy.
The letters given below passed between Van Bn-
rem and Gen Jackson. IF any of our readers can
gather from them Van Buren's motives in resgning
they have more discernment than We lay claim to-
DEAR SIR feel it to be my duty to retire from
the Office to which your confidence and partaiity
called me. The delicaey Of this step, under the
circumstances in which tits taken, Wills trust, he
deemed an ample apology for stating more at large,
than might otherwise have been necessary, the
reasons by which am influenced.
From the moment of taking my seat IN your Cab
met it has been my anxi Gus wish and jealous en-
deavor to prevent q premature agitation OF the
question Of your successor; and, at all events TO
discountenance, and if possible repress the dlspo-
sition at an early day manifested, to connect my
name with that disturbing topic Of the sincerity
and the constancy Of this disposition, no one mas
had better opportunity TO judge than yourself II
has however, been unavailing Circumstances
not of nv creation and altogether beyond my con-
troll have given to this subject turn when can
not now be remeded, except by selt-disranch MISE
ment which, even if dictated by my individual
wishes could hardly be reconclleable with propri-
ETY. or solfrespect.
Concerning the injurious effects which the CIR
cumstance of a member of the Cabinets occupying
the relation towards the country to which have
adverted is calculated to have upon the conduct
of public affairs there cannot, think, at this time
be room for two opinions. Diversitles OF Interior
preference among the friends Of an Administration
are unavoidable, and even II She respective adVo-
Gates Of those thus placed in ryalshlP be patfotIc
enough 10 resist the temptation OF creating oosta-
cles to the advancement Of him to whose elevation
they are opposed, by embarrassing the ofaheh 81
public service committed to bis charge, they are,
nevertheless then poSilloh cApoSctl ~ tue SuS-
picon of entertaining and encouraging such views !;
a susniciou which can seldom fail in the end, to
agrravate into present alienation and hostility the
prospective differences which first gave rise to IT.
Thus under the east uniayorabIe consequences,
individual injustice is suffered, and the Administra-
ton embarrassed and weakened. Whatever may
have been the course of things under the peculiar
circumstances of the earlier stage of the Republic,
my experience has fully satisfied me that, at this
dav, when the field of selection has become SO eX-
tended the circumstance referred to, by augment
ing the motives and sources of opposition to the
measures of the Executive, must unavodably prove
the cause of injury to the public service, for a
counterpoise to which we may IN vain look to the
peculiar Qualifications of any individual and even
IT, should in this be mistaken, still cannot far
deceive myself as to believe for moment that
am included in the exceptions
These distractions TO the successful prosecution
of public affairs, when superadded to that oppos-
tion which is nseparable from our free institutions
sent mass 10 which the operations OF tie govern
ment should at time be voluntarily exposed -
the more especially should this be avoided at so
eventful period in the affairs of the world, when
our country may particularly need the utmost har-
nony in her councils.
Such being my Impressions the path of duty is
plain: and | not only submit with cheelfulness to
whatever personal sacrifices may be involved in the
surrender of the station | occupy ; but make il
my ambition to set an example which, should it in
the progress of the Government be deemed not
withstanding the humility Of its origin, worthy Of
respect and observance, cannot, | think fail to
prove essentially and permanently beneficial.
Allow me, sir, to present one more view of the
subject You have consented to stand before your
constituents for reelection. OF their decision
resting as it does upon the unbought SURFACES of a
free, numerous, and widely extended people il
becomes no man to speak with certainty. Judging
however, from the past, and making a reasonable
allowance for the fair exercise of the intelligence
and public spirit of your fellow citizens. cannot
hesitate in adopting the belief that the confidence
as we'll in your capacity for civil duties as in your
civic virtues, already spontaneously and strik-
lngy displayed, will be manifested with increased
energy, now, that all candid observers must admit
their utmost expectations to have been more than
realized.
If this promise so suspicious to the best inter.
esis OF our common country, be fulfilled the con-
GLIDING term of your administration will in the
absence of any prominent cause of discord among
Its supporters afford most favorable opportunity
for the full accomplishment of those iuporant nub
lie objects, in the prosecution of which have wit
messed on your part such steady vigilance and un-
nrlng devotion. To the unfavorable influence
which my continuance in your Cabinet, under ex-
lsting circumstances, may exercise upon this fat
Ierng prospect cannot, sir, without total disre-
gard OF the lights Of experience and without shut
tihg my eyes to the obvious tendency of things for
the future, be insensibe. Having moreover from
deep conviction of its importance to the country
been among the most urgent of your advisers 10
yield yourselfto the obvious wishes of the people
and knowing the sacrifice of personal feeling which
was involved in your acquiescence, cannot rec
once II to myself to be in any degree the cause of
embarrassment to you during the period which as
It certainly will be Of deep Interest to your COM
sy y %o[s2yeE dsstged to bring
Ps1Tlotle, 1ollsome and eventful public life.
FROM these considerations, ] feel it to be doublv
my duty to resign post the retention of which y
so to attract assaults upon your admins
traton, to which there might otherwise be no in
oacemene-assaults of which, whatever be their
am, the most important as well as most injurious
erect is upon those public interests which deserve
and should command the support of ali good citi.
zens This duty should have DISCHARGED AZ W.
e saaa period ps, but for considerations partly Of
circumstances which were calculated 10 eynose ;t
sentation. -1 'iePle-
Having explained the motives which govern me
mus severng, and with seeming abruptness the
oinclal ties by which we have been associateJ