The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-09-27
DAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 27, 1881.

lected as member OF his cabinet, was 10 be
set aside as unworthy, in tho es.imatioh of
these gentlemen, 10 associate with him, or TO
participate IN his councils. This secret caba
OF exclusive friends odvised Mr.. Berrien 10
accept seat in the cabinet, under the secret
expectation that would be driven from l..
by The same persons Judge M'Lcan was ar.
ranged to the War Department, their object.
being expressly to get rid OF me. They ad.
vised Messrs. lngham Branch. and Bcrren,
to cleave fast to their hold, which they did,
even under their alleged "indign,y and in.
suit" too, in the confident hope that the Presi
dent wonld speedily see and correct the evil I"
Without the Presidents knowledge and with.
ont mine, this cabnl of"personal, political and
long tried Friends" were thus endeavoring TO
control all the cabinet arrangements, and Sc.
cTetly to place around the President men of
their own selection and stamp. II was not
for him to decide who we're his "personal,
political, and long tried friends. men who
had supported him only when they had lost
all hope OF Mr. Calhoun-who had joined his
standard only when tho favorile candidate
had disappeared from the contest, and who
had supported him as n secondary choice
Your lnghams, Berricns, and others, were
now arrogating to become his exclusive
as unworthy Of his trust and confidence, those
who had supported him for his own sake
whose attachment was ccmented by years Of
confidential in,ercourse--whose faith and en-
ergles were pledged to his support. and
whose hopes were all concentrated in the sue
cess and prosperity of his administration.
| MIR Branch was made the instrument Of
aber heads, and attempted to become man.
nger in this business. In hs recent letter,
he mentions a call which he made on the
President previous to my nomination TO the
Senate. at which he arrogantly represented
that my selection would be improper and un.
fortunate, and gave his reasons, which appear
to have related solely to my family. lie also
states he then came to advise me against nc.
cepting place in the, cabinet, admitting that
The charges made against my family were
false, but representing "what use the opposi.
ton would make oft, ,"and Mat whc enemies
OF the President would not fail 10 make han.
die of it," lie says that he placed Mrs
Jackson and Mrs. Eaton on the same footing,
and desired to save the President "from re
collections which would be painful and dis
tressing" Mr.. Branch has cacherous re
collection. He kept no note book, or, like
his CO partner, Mr. Ingham, he has occommo
dated his notes to emergencies. | can pu
! him right in this affair, not doubling his ad
, mission OF the truth ofthe nurrasion offcr,.
honor be left him. although he may deny III,
t motive which feel persuaded influence,
him at the time.
Failing in the attempt to prevent my ap
poinimeDi, and to dlssuade or rather dete
me from accepting, Mr.. Branch was mex
made the instrument ofa piece of select man
agement, having in view the same result
it was suggested to the President, after the
first arrangement Of the Cabinet was made
that Mr.. Mclean entertained objections a
gainst remaining in the Post Office Depart
ment. Ii was known that the President was
disposed to CRAFTY him, by placing him in
another Department., lf he could do so with n
proper regard to others previously selected.
This, It seems taken in conncxion with my
known repugnance under any circumstances,
to undertake the abors Of that Department,
furnished hint to those who wished my ex
clusion from the Cabinet Of which they has
tened 20 avail themselves. Mr.. Branch dc
clared that the President might place him
phere he pleased, he should be satisfied and
proposed to me- that we should, if the Prcsi.
dent approved It, assent to the placing Of Mr..
Mclean in either of the Departments assign.
ed to us, as he might choose, to which rs.
sented. The War, Navy, and Post Office
Departments, were then considered open to
&c. assignment, according to the will of the
PresIdent--Th result was, Mr.. Mclean was
arranged TO the War Department, Mr.. Branch
to the Post Office, and myself to the Navy
Department. This did not meet Tie object.
Mr.. Branch made unexpected difficulties, and
at the desire Of those who proposed the
change, the original arrangement was re.
stored.
suspected no other than fair and honest
motive in all this but we are now informed,
through the eyposiions recently made in the
Telegraph that all AR. Branch's movements
originated In the "advice" of certain 'person.
al, political, and long tried. friends ofhe P,esi
dent" given with view, ms Is now expressly
stated, ito remore" me from The Cabinet
AT length the Cabinet was formed. Mr.
Berrien expressly says, that he entered it,
only because he expected "the President
himself would speedily see and correct tho
evll' OF my appointment; and that he clearly |
"foresnw the evils which have resulted from
the selection" His declaration is no doub,
true. No prophets forcsee future events, so
precisely and so certainly, as those who, hav.
ing the means in their own control, are deter.
mined to bring them TO pass. Forcseeing |
the evils, he must have forescen the means
through which their correction was to be |
brough, about He must have foresecn, that
no and his associate friends intended to use
the influence and consequence which Office
gave, to accomplish their expectations
prosecutions Of my famy--the attempt to lie
grade me, and all the arts which subsequently |
they have employed to procure my removal.
How could so much no foreseen, if il had
not been predetermined No prophecy could
have been so confidently relied on, if i, had
not then been resolved, by n cobal Of the
Presidents pretended "frcnds," with a view
to concentrate public opinion, that and my
familY shonld be prosc rihed from int rcoursc.