The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-23
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE

OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Dec 10, 1860.
Gen Cdssse Made f His Resignation by Enemies Of the
President Disdpproced BY Hm-No Reason for His Resg
ndton-7he Benefit Of IL to the Adniniss ctionls Eject
Prevent any Collision nth the Federal authority in
South Carolina for the Present, dc.
Quite undue degree of importance has been given to
the resignation ef Gen Cass not only by the partisan
press but in the political circles Of tho metropolis No
of common information, who has resided here for
the last two three sessions summers will deny that
If this venerable had thought ft, at any moment
during that period to retire from tho Department OF
State great surprise would have been felt indeed,
the announcement-whe II would very properly have
elected the encomums due to long and distinguished
public service elevated character and devoted patriot
sm-woud have been unexpected.
Occurring this juncturc has been made Of by
the enemies Of the President in way which am quite
sure Cen Cass entirely disapprove lie has indeed
more than once put on record an emphatic re-
| buke deservedy incurred by all officials who, in
| resigrag, would aim Parthian at the
administration they have left. His reply TO ex-
Cove! or j. Walker is in point His notice
Of exiiniser Forsyths publications his return from
the NJ can mission is another instance.
General Cass, | learn, is quite annoyed by the turn
which ome indscreet persons him have given to
his resi- by their talk in cotcres and about hotels
lie has real and profound respect for the President
a cordial personal attachment TO him. These sentiments
were yet are warmly reciprocated by Mr. Buchanan
Already the truest and friends of General Cass re-
gret the step he took There not the least
for it, and those who advised it have incurred
great responsibility, not only on account
of the disservicc TO himself, but also on
account OF the mischcfs which they would, possibly
have been capable Of producing at this particular
ture, their ndscretons not counteraced by the
COOL steady and prudential conduct Of the President.
Had the Secretary of War the Secretary of the Navy
resigned account OF difference with the President
about reinforcing the Notifications in Charleston
or sending naval armament thither there would have
been plausiblty in the step But Secretary OF
state has no more rational cause for separating
himself from his colleagues at such time,
on the grounds alleged, than Secretary
OF War Secretary of the Treasury would have for
quitting Cabinet because he did not entirely approve
despatch sent TO foreign nation from the Depart
ment Of state.
How could any government be carried ON II the gen
temcn entrusted with the affairs Of particular depart
ments traverse beyond the bounds of their ba
wcks and retire from the administration whenever the
orcers specially charged with the conduct Of other de
partnents and the President himself, whose respons
hilty directly and Immediately extends 10 them all, diff
Ter from them mere matter Of oxpediency-as this
proposal TO reinforce the forts In Charleston harbor
questionably IL.
Ii is understood that some Of the friends Of Gen Cass
have suggested that he wished the President also col
eci the revenues by means of ship Of This Is
anly idea which one acquainted with the consttu
on Of the United states or the distribution Of powers be
the federal and state could have
entertained for a single moment DO not believe that
oensr. c.se advanced such pr.pnsterous notion
and decisive rejection from the Executive.
The President has the fullest and most satisfactory In.
formation that attempt will be made on the fort-
acations and venture % say that this
Of the resignation of Gen Cass, brought about has
been in spite OF the wishes OF the President by under
to do good 10 the administration and the country. II
settles the whole question az 70 any assault upon the
federal property within the limits Of the saic Of South
Carolina There will be interference there with the
Qualifications the collection OF the revenue such
the influence Of wise moderate and enlightened counsels
The Presidents refusal TO take step which would lead
10 bood guiltness when there Ia not the slightest
cessy for this adherence to this pacific
and the risk of alternating other supporters cannot
fail to endear him 10 all who love the Union and the
plans that make for peace.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %, 1850
Vices ia Washinson ,cith Reodri 30 the SecessDn Of
South Carolin1-rTalar Absurduis-Braok Rep,b,icdn
Vorenoe-.s Ccerc on a Customs Boctade Fas1lcS--
Action Of ue Georgia SenUe Dsar4~vroi IF Jy tie SaaA
Union Teeling in Calornia-BIack Republican Pani--
makers dc, dc.
The hotheads and qd nunos Of the capital are In grea,
glcc over the received to-day and yesterday from
Charleston. national holiday for all busy bodies could
scarcely have created peasant state Of ccrvcs.
cencc They fiddle away tho prospective ruin
The refrain of the extremists that by the of
South Carolina tho Union Is already disintcgracdthat
the federal government has ceased to exist d. e AMI
that though may be accepted temporarily efao even
this depends only upon the voluntary act OF those who
choose TO recognise H. They proclaim that there u no
longer constitutional President Of the United states
that there constitutional Senate or House Of Repre-
scntavcs that the gamcnt Of association free by
Of the states s necessarily severed for tho whole aud
that the federal power Of the constitution returned
O'Clock yesterday by the resolution of the Charcton
Convention tho hands of the independent sovereign
states This revolution for you with vengeance and
Incredible az such nonsense may appear have heard il
echoed and re- echoed by the voices OF hundreds who
ought a. know better.
whether the withdrawal of one state or several from
the Union will release the remaining States ipso fcso
from their allegiance, question much mcoted among
our constitutional lawyers. Hon. Caleb Cushing takes
strong ground in favor of such doctrine. Attorney
General Black does not Chief Justice Taney Il sad
know how correctly, 70 maintain that secession
bc the separate explicit lcgazcd Of least Ave
separate sovereign members q the original confcdora
tion before II be supposed to cease 70 exist This
founded the seventh article of the constitution which
demands The ratinca, On of the conventions of nsc
states for it, establishment a basis of government
Others declare that the withdrawal Of third q te
present number of states required for dsntegalon
and 20 the end of the chapter " different thcoc
Bu no sensible individual magincs that can be
Officially recognized until u shall have been officially
nounccd and " not likely that this wl1 bc done ~
south Carolina itself for several days perhaps not FOR
several weeks
IN The rart N The republicans opinions are equally W.
rious The utras swell their cceks, talk ~ treason
force aws hanging, &C. though the revolt ~ state
or province " he classcd with tho treason
~ individuals This coercion talk s not confined ~
few crazy-pates. n n unfortunately believed. u
20 be trusted enormously, ~ reprcsfrt and
forCshadow the mind aud int ntions of Mr..
lincoln whose silence IN the present crisis has been
terpreted uniavorahly Even ose who ~ hot ftr
10 advocate the absolute Invasion a ~.
cedrg states talk ~ blockade ~ closing their ports ~
entry and coecng'iutcs by means u revenue caters
ard orr naval force, though this could he easily ac
couTlishef Tie President clearly shovel n hs late
MESSAGE that tho coercion ~ states could 10, be en-
forced under The constitution cly pccis N read ihc
argument q Mr. Madison % lnlersiSli Is imposs bny
That great statesman caused The clause be struck out