The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-05-19

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feel that should do the late Secretary irius.
tice were to stop here. 90 no, believe he in.
tended TO deceive nc, 10 iniure the public when
he promised me that if the Office vas created i,
should be well filed but that after i, vas created.
as II connected Itself oith oil n, ramfeqtioBs of
the Iadian Department, and the officer might hare
a Uery extensive influence, II was esteemed mat.
ter Of importance to have it filled With t. decided
| friend tn the gentleman who then looked to
by the President and many others as the person
whs ought to succeed the present Chief Mapis.
trate and that the Secretary was constrained 10
/ yield 10 an lnpJ.nce which be believed he had
not Inc power successfully 10 resist. | am the
more inclined tc adopt this opinion, because from
a very extensive intercourse with the Secretary
relative To the lBdian Affairs, | was impressed
With The belief that in all cases where he was leit
free topursue his own judgment, he was disposed
10 act with the utmost fairness, and with strict
regard 10 the public interest, and because know,
I IN manner most satisfactory to myself that, as
early 1881, az not sooner) when the frs, cabi.
net was dissolved, and new one to be created,
the President had fixed his mind upon the present
President cleo: the most suitable person 10 sue.
coed him. and thai with a view 10 procure bar
mony among the members of his political family,
it was considered important to remove from the
old cabinet three gentlemen, who, il was believed,
did not coincide 10 opinion with him upon that
subject, and form a new cabinet which would be a
unit that is, each member Of il concur!lng With
the President as to the person most proper 10 sue
coed him when his eight years Of service should
terminate.
When the old cabinet was broken NJ il wac noe
wished 10 have the services Of Ma. Eaton the
intention and wish was, to put me In his place,
and, with my aid in Tennessee, 10 have him elect.
cd TO succeed me in the Senate.
This opinion as 10 the motive for the sppoint-
ment Of Mr.. Herring is still further fortified and
confirmed in my mind, from belief that very
large portion Of all the officers appointed from that
time 10 this have been selected upon the same
principles, and with view TO the same object
Connected with this sub ect and tending to show
that am most probably correct in the view which
have bscope acquainted with, which show that
the President watched with care, and uniformly
endeavorsd to prevent, every thing which would
have the effect of enabling any other citizen TO
compete, successfully, with the gentleman who
was his fayorlts. During the same session of 1882
or 1888, when mr. Herring was appointed it will
be remembered, the United States seemed to be-
on the eve of civil war with South Carolina, on
account Of the tariff; and that a bill was sent to
Department, proposing modification and reduc-
ton OF IL that the PROVISIONS Of that bill wers so
changed in the House, that il became very unac.
ceptabe to large majority, and had DO prospec.
OF finally passing that 10 this state Of thiags, and
after what xas called the force bill had been con.
siderably discussed in the Senate, Mr Clay intro
dueed what is commonly called the ca.npromise
bill. and, upon its second reading, it had been re-
ierred 10 select committee, composed Of seven
members. This committee il was nv duty, as
presiding officer. 10 appoint. Before the members
OF II were named, received note from the Pre-
sdent, requesting me to 60 TO his house, as he
wished 10 me. returned for answer, that
while the Senate was IN session it was out Of nv
power to 60 but that as soon as il adjourned [
would call on him. | felt the high responsibility
resting on me IN appointing the committee; the
fate OF the bill IN good degree, depended m il,
ard If the bill failed, we would probably be involv.
ed in a most painful conflict, | endeavored to make
tie best selection | could By taking some tariff
men, soue aHii..sriif, one nulH6cr, and Mr.. Clay
that majority Of committee,
IN which all interests and views were represented,
could agree on any thing it was Likely it would
pass. Taxing these principles for my guide.
wrote down the names of seven members, NJ.
Clayton Of Delaware being one; ana immediate
IL before We adjourned, handed the names ts the
Secretary, with directions to put them on the
Journal, and in the course of the evening waited
on the President. Soon after We met, be men,
toned he had wished 10 Sue me on the subject Of
appointing committee on Mr.. Claws bill, to ask
thar Mr. Clayton might not be pu, on it, as he was
hostile to the Administration and un.riendly to
Mr.. McLane, he feared he would nse his eudes-
tors 10 have preference given 10 NJ. Clsy's bill
over that of tie Secretary Of the Treasury, or
words 10 that effect. ! observed, in answer that
It would always give me great pleasure 10 conform
10 the wishes OF my political friends, whenever
could do so with proprety, bat that the Treasury
bill had been SD altered and mangled; and that,
as Understood, IN good degree by the votes of
his own party, that il had but few friends; that
we seemed 10 be on the of civil war, and that
for the sake of aveg,ing such calamity, would
further all in my power any measure, come from
whom it might, which would give peace to the
country, aud that any bill, having that for its OBJ
iect, was esteemed BY me as measure ebare par.
~, and any man who was the euhor Of il was vel
come to all the credit he could gam il. Bus
at all events il was too te TO talk on the subject,
as had handed the names Of the committee to the
Secretary before We adjourned and that a; had
& very hirh opinion OF Mr. C3Iyton's talents and
liberal feelings had put him on The committee,
without knowing he was personally unkind to the
Secretary OF the Treasury, Tie then asked me il
coald not see the Secretary Of the Senate THAI
evening, and substitute some other name for Mr..
Clayton. before the journal was made up: told
him could net-in my judgment it would bo
wrong and then the interview Terminated.
Au incident occurred relative 10 aa appointment.
falns in with the business Of the Safe Depart.
neat, which feel i, my duty to state, bu: do no,
snoSs that the Secretary Of State had any partici
patton in it.
AT the session Of 1889 and 1884. lfmy memory
serves me, Nr. Stevenson, Of Virginia, was noni.
mated as minister TO Great Britain, and his nomi-
nation rejected At tho session OF 1854 and 1895,
4 Il. L