The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-10-11

Sompllshet, 10 dfSnles lHc "isnneS.S" Po'"'"
il. Having accepted. reluctantly pace
Ia the Cabinet, ! concluded no longer to sac
rince my private comfort, or be The occasion
of embarrassment 10 the ffesiueh' Larry
in April. communicated TO hlm' (wnn' ~ the
previous month ! had written 10 ir'enu III
Phiiadelphis,J my wish anc intention 10 re-
sign, which shortly after executed. my
letter vf resignation, II was not necessary or
proper that should 90 into history of e.
vcnta. such AZ are now presented. confined
nv remarks solely 10 that which concerned
myself without atverting 10, or touching on,
The conduct of others. | felt not that any
deSenee. or yndica,ion, for voluntarily yield.
inc INV Office, was necessary and feeling no
disposition 10 iniure or assail others, fore bore
20 enter into details. The same determine
ton would have been persevered IN, had not
,he illiberal conduct Oh my colleagues made
dffere mt course necessary.
Mr.. Van Buren, taking a similar view Of
the condition of The Cabinet, and The situation
of the President, connected with the peculiar
circumstances in which he had been placed
by his opponents, thought proper also to re-
sign. Without going into full explanation
in his letter of resignation, or naming any Of
his colleagues, he presented briefly the result
Of the political intrigues, which were dividing
the Cabinet, dis,racting the party, aud which
pointed to a change IN the councils OF the
President as necessary and indispensable.
The secret feelings aud designs with which
my colleagues entered the Cabinet, and which
while there, they continued to cherish-their
"notes" of private conversations, treasured
up for future and concerted e,-the advice
ofh certain cabal, and an acGnlescence in The
counsel given, 10 enter the Cabinet, and con
tinue there for special purposes, ,no,wthstsnd
ing "the insuperablo bar" which conscience
suggested, and the "indigniiy and outrage"
which had been offered and borne for fifteen
months were all unknown 10 me. These
were secrets worth preserving, and they were
kept closely. Yet entire confidence wos re-
posed, that on being informed that Mr.. Van
Buren, and myself had retired, the others
would appreciate the motives which had oc.
casioned it, and place their Offices again at
the disposition of the President, that he might
organize q new Cabinet Of homogeneous ma.
terials, which would not be obnoxious 10 the
attacks OF any Of his protesting friends, and
would suffer the affairs ofthe country quietly
to be transacted. But these gentlemen, al
though now they pretend that they had been
grievously "insulted," and were constantly
liable TO a repetition of the COURAGE" could
see no cause why they should resign, either
as il regarded their own honor, the quiet of
the President, or the harmony of his nd
ministratioD. Having gone into the Cabinet
to produce diseord, they could perceive no
reason why they should retire from it, to re.
store harmony. What they had so long and
so ardently desired, being attained, lthe ex
ciusion Vt Mr.. Van Buren, and myseIf] they
were more than ever disposed to continue.
Besides, they could not see how the Govern
,nent could well move on without them, and
they were sollcitous TO procure some justin
cation. which they could plead to the people,
for the injury which was about to result to
tha cnnnirp at hs,nU denr'"na of'hai- '"'r".
tant services! Their honor, and the harmo-
Wy Of the administration, was quite ins.liiic
lent! They must need place their resigna
tions solely on the will and the request ofthe
President, that on his shoulders might rest
the undivided responsibility OF the awful de.
privation which the Government and the
country were to suffer from their retirement.
Their wishes were gratified, and a desire
commune aied that they should resign. Thus
was the Cabinet dissolved and thus far the
country, evidently, has sustained no injury,
save in the disturbances and interruptions TO
the public which the complaints and mur.
murs Of this dismissed and disbanded corps
have occasoned. II, as has been stated, the
President offered to two of hem, Mr.. Ingham
and Mr.. Branch, after their removal, places
OF trust and honor, let it be set down TO his
kindness, not to their merits. He did not
then know these men. lie dil not know
how incapable they we're Of properly appre-
cisting acts Of kindness. He was ignorant
that they had entered his Cabinet, all smiles
and fair professions, with daggers concealed
in their bosoms. IIe little knew that these
persons, who wero admitted to his familiar
intercourse, had been taking notes Of hls pri-
vste conversation and free expressions,
which had been conned over between them,
and prepared and carefully laid away for fut
ure use. He did not in fact know, they had
been spies upon him from the beginning Of
his administration; and that, finding them
selves deprived OF tho means Of longer steal.
ing into his bosom, to hunt out, aud note
down his thoughts, they were now ready for
open, implacable and extermina,iDg war.
These things he did not then know. Recent
events have disclosed them.
Nor did comprehend the depth oftbe de-
signs Of these three gentlemen. Having
resigned my seat in the Cabinet, and being
about to retire 10 my residence in Tennessee,
did not calcnlate that should be detained
here from my home and business, 10 defend
myself against their unprovokcd attacks. 10
this was mistaken, My pursuers were re.
solved tha, should not escape the sweet re
venge, which their deep modification at The
loss Of Office had aroused. could not bear
il longer. Messrs. Ingham and Berrien, who
were here, were in habits Of daily intercourse
with the editor Of the Telegraph, and their
names being used in connection with the q.
buse which was propag ated through that prin,
against me, conceived had a right to en-.
quire, whether their names had been used
and references 10 them made, with their
sanction.
readily admit. that no imperative oblioa.