Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-07

7.
SAID the President, al have fault 10 find with
YOU" "With this assurance" said the Secretary,
u am contcntcd; but allow INC to inquire who is
to be your Secretary of State" "Mr Living.
ston," was tho reply. ''Who is to take tho Urea
sury Department." "Mr. McLanc, now Minis
ter in England" "Who will occupy the Navy
Department." "Mr. Woodbury." And pray, sir
who is to replace Mr. McLanc in England7" '"Nr
NAr buren," And so tho conversation ended
The Inference, which is iuscparablo from those
disclosures, must be obvious to every man whose
mind is in search OF truth, and whose Judgment is
free from the 'naign influence" of prejudice
Tho finger of disciplined intriguer is yisibla
IN all the various efforts made To dismiss partcu.
lar members of the cabinet, from an orly period af
ter the inauguration OF Gen. Jackson until il was
effected in 1881 The object cannot he mistaken;
ana at this day the managers scarcely alton ut TO
conceal their fixed purpose of designating Mr.
Van BurGn - the successor of the present Chief
Magistrate "aciens roi.ns," as they are pleased
TO express 1t. Sir, what data can We recon.
clio the prompt and unhcsitatng answer given by
tina President so each inquiry relating to tho
indy du Is who were TO compose the new cabinet,
other than precorccrlcd and explicit arrange
mcnt, formed on mature delibcration, and frec
and full consultation with those who's. political
opinions he accustomed to take en- all sub.
Icsts OF great and absorbing interest to tho coun
tryl
is not tho fact distnc,y known to cvc.y one
acquainted with the political movements at the
scat etthe National Government, as any on re-
cord, that for more than year preceding
tie rapture of tho .ato cabinet no consultations
were held, and but formal intercourse kept up
between the President and three of his coasttu
Nonal advisors! III cannot, and presume, will
not be denied, that tho Secretary of State had so
managed as 10 occupy the first place III the conf
dence and affections of the. Chief Magistrate
The only rational conclusion, therefore, to which
can bring my mind, after careful and impair
tial examination OF this whole subject tina. The
Secretary OF state, prior to his own voluntary
signation, had not only aScertainSd that general
| II a.
he dreaded, and who could not he induced ''to bend
the knee 10 Baal," but had organized new cab-
not and Though last not least" had takon especial
care 10 opcR an avenue, thro' whiGh he might with
safety rctroa', and plant himself ir u situation
still more comuaa ndng in tho public cvo & bette,
calculated 10 accelerate the consummaton OF his ul
terrier purposes "Who is o re- lace Mr.. McLane in
Engand!' ''Mr. Van Barren" Sir the time at " ich
this declaration was made is very remarkable; it
preceded the publication of the nodes d iDlomaf-
&c letter of resignation, in which the Secretary of
State attempts to mystiiy the which had ope.
rated on his mind in surrondsring tho high trust
| to which he had been called by the President. He
arttully seeks in that anomalous communications TO
excite the sympathies Of the American People bv
| pretended SeU-immOidtion, at the shrine of pure
disnercs,cd patriotism. lie retired TO the shndcs
81 pirate life, TO discnangle the Admin istration of
PRESIDENT Jackson, and to restore harmony in his
counclls No sinister motives fingered on the mind
OF the unbought patriot-no mission to London in
the vista-but the noble sacrifice is magnaniinourlv
offered up on the altar OF public good, with the re-
servatlon of such future rewards as a grateful Peo
pie might bcstow, on one whose merits could ONLY
be cNcclcd by the purity of his intentions! Sir
would it be credited by a vrtnous and enlirhienes
People, that, at the very moment when these high
souled sentiments and patriotic Professions were nm
b!ushlngly thrown before the world, the individual
who appropriated them 10 himself held the puar
antee, that, in lieu of the Office which he resigned
nc should forthwith be created Envoy Extraordina.
ry and Minister Plenipotcntiary 10 the Court of ST.
I1a ANIN tlo SO. Ill hal I
vorsation have quoted, and strongly corroborated
by the letter of the President, in which ho reluc
family accepts the resignation.
MIR. PRESIDENT, can view this nomination in
no other light, than the result Of systematic
course of political gambling and intrigue, orlgi
mating IN personal ambition, and prosecuted with
unrelening oetracism and prescription, on every
hlgh-mndcd Statesman in the Nation who refus.
ed 10 subscribe to the articles of faitl dictated
by this nominee, and prescribed as a test by which
the patronage of the Government should be dis.
Pcnsed throughout this widely extended country.
The succession TO the Presidential Chair must be
secured 20 this Court favore, and the means to
accomplish this end, placed at his disposal.
Under these impressions, / should be gui ty of
gross dcreicton OF duty TO tho Prcsden MT and NV
own conscience, by advising and conserving 10
this nomination. / beg TO be informed of the ne
cessity of so much haste in despatching 4 minister
to London. No negotiations were pending which
required the presence of minister, with full now
ers, at that court. England was represented here
q a alBlOmatle
gent there of equal srade and surely tho relations
between the two Nations might have been suffered
to remain in this equitable condition III til the annu
al meeting of Congress, when the advice and con.
sent of the Senate could have been asked, before
the public chest had been opened for the outfit and
salary of minister.
The circumstances connected with this unneces
sary prccipitancy renders it obnoxious to the
strongest objections, and warrants the conclusion
ta2t it was designed to operate on the action of
the Senate, in their deliberations on this nomina.
lion. | cannot subject my opinions to the control
OF premature movement on the part ofthe Exec
u,ivc. Sir, | am aware, that for this independent
exercise of my best Judgment, | shall be denounced
by tho press, as the partisan of a competitor for
the Presidential chair. / spurn the imputation
At my time of life, | havo nothing TO hope from
the smiles, still less toiear, from the frowns of any
man III power. | honor the whose heart is
pure, whose actions through life exhibit lucid proof
that he is honest in the cause human liberty but
when am invoked to give my sanction to dark
intrigue, political management and corruption, at
tho hazard Of mourning the displeasure of "thoso
who feel power and forget right" will fearlcssly
AID faithfully discharge the trust rcposed in me
by my country, by firm vindicaion of tho moral
feeling Of the poodle who compose this young ard
gigantic republic. l will roprove and correct the
influence of vice, by nhicting merited chasliso.
mcnt on all who Perpctratc it.
The following is the letter referred to by Mr..
Z -
WAsmNGroN Cry, Jan "a 1892
Sir-t have the honor acknowledge the receipt Of
y"ur note, bearing date this mornrg. 1t This moment
handed me. and Ghnugh Nv no me aus esirac IN
stand in the attitude OF puhc accu. cr of sny man
holding high and responsible station the government,
YET, nasmuch con'IdCr tic su!jcct matter OF you
inquiry as berg oae Of small degree Of i'uror:aucc
dD feel myself liberty shrink from he DISCHARGE
Of my duty, WITHHOLD from an honorable Senator |
approaching me IN MS senatorial capacity ang mform1
lion which may in possession Of touching the uaccl
OF Nevertheless | rec | nm i,-,'