The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-21
NEW SERIES-NO. 36l.
The Resignation Of Hon. Howell Cobb.
The following is Mr.. Cobb's letter ten.
dering bis resignation, and the Presidents

dering bis resignation, and the Presidents
reply:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1860.
My DEAR S1R:-A sense of duty to the
State of Georgia requires me to take step
which makes it proper that l should no
longer continue to be member of your
Cabinet.
In the troubles OF the country consequent
upon the late Presidential election, the hon.
Or and safety of my State are involved
Her people so regard it, and in their opinion
I fully concur. They are engaged in strug-
gle where the issue is life or death. My
friends ask for my views and counsel. Not
to respond would be degrading to myself
and unjust to them. I have accordingly
prepared, and must now issue to them, an
address which contains the calm and solemn
convictions of my heart and judgment.
The views which 1 sincerely entertain,
and which therefore I am bound to express,
differ in some respects to your own. The
existence of this difference would expose me,
if l should remain in my present place, to
unjust suspicious, and put you in false po-
sition. The first of these consequences 1
could bear well enough, but will not sub.
jject you to the last.
My withdrawal has not been occasioned
by anything you have done or said. Whilst
differing from your message upon some of its
theoretical doctrines, as we'll as from the
hope so earnestly expressed that the union
can yet be preserved, there was no practical
result likely to follow which required me to
retire from your administration. That ne
cessity is created by what l feel it my duty
to do; and the responsibility of the act,
therefore, rests alone upon myself.
To say that regret-deeply regret-this
necessity, but feebly expresses the feeling
with which l pen this communication. For
nearly tour years I have been associated
with you as one of your Cabinet officers,
and during that period. nothing has occurred
to mar, even for moment, our personal
and official relations. In the policy and
measures of your administration have
cordially concurred, and shall ever feel
proud of the humble place which my name
may occupy in its history. If your wise
counsels and patriotic warnings had been
needed by your countrymen, the 4th of
March next would have found our country
happy, prosperous and united. That it will
not be so is no fault of yours.
The evil has now passed beyond control,
and must be met by each and all of us un-
der our responsibility to God and our
country. II, as believe, history will have
to record yours as the last administration
of our present Union, it will also place it
side by side with the purest and ablest of
those that preceded it.
With the kindest regards for yourself and
the members of your Cabinet, with whom I
have been so pleasantly associated, l am
most truly and sincerely, your friend,
To the PRESIDENT. HOWELL COBB.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1860.
MY DEAR SIR-I have received your
communication of Saturday evening, re-
signing the position OF Secretary OF the
Treasury which you have held since the
commencement of my administration. Whilst
I deeply regret that you have determined to
separate yourself from us at the present
critical moment, yet admit that the ques-
tion was one for your own decision. l could
have wished you bad arrived at different
conclusion; because our relations, both off,
cial and personal, have ever been of the
most friendly and confidential character. I
may add that have been entirely satisfied
with the ability and zeal which you have
displayed in performing the duties of your
important Office.
Cordially reciprocatiDg the sentiments of
personal regard. remain, very respectfully,
your friend, -.-
. Hon. HOWELL COBB. JAS. BUCHANAN.