The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1849-04-13
VI AsuINGroS, HousE or REP, 2
March 2. ISs9. 6

=
March 2, 1879.
Deer Sri receive, with profound
sensibility, the offer Of seat in your Ca
binet as Secretary Of the Home Depart
ment. Should the bill now pending in the
Senate become law, which you do ne
the honor to tender to me BY your note Of
this DAYS date. For this distinguished
expression of your confidence be pleased
10 accept my heartfelt thanks. assure
you that nothing could Be to me a source
Of more pride than to be associated with
you in the administration Of our Govern
mcnt, or to have imposed on me the duty
Of scconding your efforts to promote the
happiness and prosperity Of the American
people; but many considerations would
call on me to pause before ! could assume
such high responsibilities. 4ou are, sir,
not unaware Of the part which, as dele
gate to the Philadelphia Convention, | fell
il my duty 10 partake in promoting your
nomination to the Presidency, after giving
fuil expression to the respect and confidence
which the people Of Connecticut have long
cherished for the distinguished statesman
Of Kentucky, nor Of the labors and respon-
sbilities which were deyolYed on me as
the organ Of tie Nhie Executive Commit
Ire Of the two Houses Of Congress during
the subsequent canvass; end can say with
truth. that in performing that duty, and
in undertaking those labors and responsible
lities, did not for moment harhor the
thought Of deriving any ether advantage
from your success than such as would re-
dound to the country al large. Were |
now TO ACCEPT office al your hands, | should,
fear. lay myself open 10 the ilnrutation
of having been actuated by other than
patriotic motives. | turn. therefore, from
the .aliugcments Of place ana power, under
your bcni9nant auspices, to the high du-
ties to which [ have been called BY the
people Of my native State, to whose gene
rous confidence | am indebted for ali that
am and all that | expect to be. As
member Ct the Senate Of the United States,
however humble may be my position IN
that august body,) ! flatter myself that |
can contribute something to tie success Of
your Administration and 10 the welfare Of
the Republic.
And, furthermore, deem il best not 10
/ renounce my seat in that body, as | am by
no means satisfied with the spirit Of alien
alton which seems 10 be srringing up be-
tween different sections of our beloved
country. While il will be ny purpose 10
i represent faithfully the pred9nlinatine fee
! Ing and sentiment Of my own section. |
do not intend 70 be put on extreme courses
! and hope, by concurrence III wise and mo-
/ derate counsels, TO aid in allaying the rri-
tation now existing, to sonae. extent, in the
public mind, and in adjusting pending
questions in such manner as to satisfy
good men in all parts Of the Union.
cannot conclude this response without
profiering my sympathies on account Of
the unexamplcd difficulties and embarrass-
mentwhich have attended the discharge
by you, Of one Of the most delicate duties
which can deyolve on one about to become
the Chief Magistrate Of the Republic.
Having spent a large portion Of your life
on the frontiers, far removed from the
abodes Of civilized men, and much Of the
residue in the tented field, amidst the din
OF war, and the clangor Of arms, YOU have
not enjoyed the usual opportunities 10 OBJ
tain, by personal observation and inter-
course, a thorough knowledge Of our pub
lie men; and having postponed your arrival
at the seat Of Government until late day,
you have beensplunged into the midst Of
the raging political elements of this metro
polls, and are obliged TO group your way
through all sorts of Representations, rehe-
mently urged to safe and proper organi-
cation of your Cabinet. | think, sir, you
must be something more than human II
you do not make, under such irving cir
cumstances, some mistakes; and, in consi-
deratlon OF these circumstances, Your ulti.
mate arrangements should, in nv iudp.
ment, be received with great INDULGENCE bv
your friends throughout the country. j
can now bear testimony to the profound
anxiety which you have manifested to dc
justice IN the selection of your confden.
tlal advisers TO all the great interests of the
country, and all sections of the Renublic
and being assured of the purity Of your
motives, and of the generous patriotism bv
which you are actuated, you have nv IN.
reserved confidence, in advance with . do.
termination, on my part, to stand by Won
Through evil report and through GOOD re.
port, and to consecrate all my faculties to
render your Administration as successful
$50 lar as proper discharge of legislative
duties can contribute to that end rs yo,,r
career IN another department of Tie pnblic
service has been illustrious. | have,
therefore, to request you to make other ar.
rangemenls, for the Home Department.
snouid The bill pass the Senate, and, in the
mean time, to accept assurances of the
respect with which | am, truly and faith
1ully, your friend.
TRUMAN SMITH