Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-19
The Hon. Caleb IS. smith and nis Cabinet
Hprnfufweut

-
The Hon. Caleb Is. smith and nis Cabinet
EppOintment.
TIE impression seems to have obtained
that the hon. Caleb B. Smith, once of this
city, has placed himself in such relations
with the Piesidentelect that he has it at
his option to aecept or decline q Oebihetap-
pointment, hr. Smith has seen some thing
Of official life, and has, probably, a full av-
ersee Cabinet officers measure Of ability.
He is an active partisan, and has long been
in the habit at the approach Of elections, to
put himself in condition to deserve some
thing at the hands Of his party.
In making up 8 Cabinet, it is obvious there
are two ends to be subserved: to obtain the
proper executive ability, and to inspire the
people with confidence in the collective ad-
ministration. With judicious persons, the
President elect has done credit to himseIfby
showing that no feelings Of personal jealousy
have prevented him from choosing the
stronger and abler men of the party By
which he was elected, to sit in his council.
In this respect, his policy is in marked con-
trast with that of several Of his predecessors.
Whatever party exceptions may be taken to
such nlen as Mr.. Seward, Mr.. Chase or Mr..
Bates, he country win look upon their ap-
pointment as guarantees of the faithfulness
and respcctability of the Administration of
which they will constitute part, and will
bestow its confidence accordingly.
Whether the selection of Mr.. Smith will be
taken in these parts of the Union where he
is lest known, as another testimonial to the
ssg6city of the President elect is q question,
whose discussion, in some sort, is now taking
place through the public press, and to con-
siderably creator extent in private circles
Nor can it be denied that whether Justly or
upjustly, the balance of opinion is strongly
against his appointment. Itis not necessary
perhaps, to raise the question whether the
allegations current touching the conduct of
Mr. Smith are true or false, or whether the
inferences therefrom are correct or incorrect;
the principal point being, whether such
doubts exist respecting his character, that his
appointment would detract from the moral
VI thO OuhNAhulOub. IL SuCu Is
found to be the case, whatever may be the
amount of encouragement he has received,
he should not Je appointed.
But suppose that Mr.. Smith has been
asked to accept seat in the Cabinet, and
has signifed his acceptance and that after
ward, imputations upon his integrity are
publicly made and urged as a ground of dis
qualification: suppose the President-eleet
gives no credit to the charges, looking upon
them merely as slanderous, and does not
therefore feel al liberty to withdraw his re-
quest, upon whom does the obligation to act
then devolve7 Upon Mr.. Smith, undoubt-
edly. If he is conscious that he is the VIC
tim of unfounded suspicious, it is a duty
which he owes equally to himself to his
country and to the partiality of the Presi-
dent elect to signify promptly his declina-
ton. To retain the place, and thereby en-
barrass the Administration, would be poor
return for the kindness he had received, and
would, under the circumstances be almost
equivalent to confession of his unfitness
for public trusts of any kind. In the case
we have supposed, there is but one course
open to an honorable man.