The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1831-04-30
RESERVATIONS IN THE CABI
NET. rlrih

RESERVATIONS IN THE CABI-
NET.
a From The Globe.
It will appear, by the publication in our
columns Of to-day, that the Secretary Of
State has rendered bic resignation to the
President, who has accepted It. The
grounds upon which this step was taken,
are % fully and distinctly stated in the
correspondence, that comment on our part
il unnecessary. On the 18th the Secre-
tary Of War rendered his resignation to
the President; and yesterday, the Secre-
tary ofthe Treasury and Secretary ofthe
Navy handed theirs; all Of which have
been accepted. From this il is inferred
that new organization Of the Cabinet 10
to take place.
WASHINGTON, April l 1th, 1881.
DEAR SlR: ] feel il to be my duty to
retire from tho Office to which your conf
dence and partially called me. The DEL
icacy ofthis step, under the circumstances
in which it is taken, will, ! trust, be deem
ed an ample apology for stating more at
large, than might otherwise have been
necessary, the reasons by which am in
fluenced.
From the moment Of taking my seat in
your Cabinet, it has been my anxious
wish and jealous endeavour to prevent a
premature agitation Of the question oi
your successor; and, at all events, to dis
countenance, and ifpossible rcpress the
disposition, At an early day manifested, to
connect my name with that disturbing top
ic. OF the sincerity and the constancy of
this disposition, no one has had a better
opportunity ia judge than yourself. 1t
has, however been unavaiIing.- -Circum-
stances, not Of my creation, and altogcth-
er beyond my control, have given. to this
subject turn which cannot now be reni-
ded, except by a self disfranchisement,
which, event If dictated by my individual
wishes, could hardly be reconcilable with
propriety or self respect.
Concerning the injurious efforts which
the circumstances ofa member ofthe Cab
inets occupying the relaxations towards
the country to which have ndverted, is
calculated to have upon the conduct Of
public affairs, there cannot, l think, at
this time, be room for two opinions. Di-
versitics Of ulterior preference among the
friends Of an Administration are unavoid-
able; and even if the respective advocates
ofthoso thus placed in the rivalship be
patriotic enough to resist the temptation
Of creating obstacles to the advancement
Of him to whose elevation they are oppos-
ed, by embarrassing the branch of public
service committed to his charge, they are,
nevertheless, By their position, exposed
TO the suspicion Of entertaining and en-
such views: suspicion which
can seldom fail in the end, to aggravate
into present alienation and hostility the
differences which first gave
rise to it.-Thus, under the least unfav-
,rable consequences, indi, idual injustice
ID suffered, and the administration embar-
rassed and weakened. Whatever may
nave been the course Of things under the !
peculiar circumstances ofthe earliest stage
,f the Republic, my experience has fully |
'ntisiied me, that, at this day, when the
ield Of selection has become 30 extended,
he circumstance referred to, by augu-
the motives and sources Of oppo-
,ition to the mensures Of the Executive,
must unavoidably prove the cause Of in
ury to the public service, for counter
,oise to which We may in vain look TO the
peculiar qualifications Of any individual;
md even if / should in this bs mistaken,
all cannot 90 far deceive myself A. to
,elievs for Z. moment that / am included
n The exceptions. 9a
These obssruc,ions 70 the succcssfsl
prosecution Of public affairs, when super
'ddcd to that opposition which b insepa-l
able from our free institutions. and which