Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-01
Resignation of Seward and Chase-AI
Important Weeks History.

Washington, Dec. 21-hpeciaz to the
Chicago 1ribune.-SiDce the 18th inst,
tie government censorship has been tight
ened, so as to prevent the Geographic
transmission of the important changes
and complications which have convulse
political circles at the Capital. This cen.
sorship having again been relaxed, it may
| be we'll to give an outline of recent events.
] On the 10th inst, the Republican Sem
/ atOrs had a caucus to consider what was
| necessary in view of eighteen months
management and of recent examinations.
to restore public confidence in the Admin
istration. A general feeling of hostility
to theaCabinet as at present organized was
developed.
On tie 18th inst, another caucus was
held, and a resolution was offered, and
came near being adopted, declaring a
want of confidence in Mr.. Seward, and
asking the President to put some more
earnest and reliable man in his place. -
They finally agreed, however, on another
resolution, calling on the President to re-
organize his Cabinet, which was presented
to the President next day by committee
of nine Senators.
Meantime Mr.. Seward heard of the pro.
ceedings, and seeing that the resolution
finally passed, really referred TO him, has
tened to tender his resignation. Assistant
Secretary Fred. Seward did the same
Their private papers at the State Depart
nent were packed up, and they proposed
to return to New York as soon as their
successors should be appointed
MIR. Stewards resignation seemed neces-
sarly to require that of several others. if
not the whole Cabinet, that the President
might determine upon what policy should
mark the future conduct of his Admiuis-
tration, and then organize Cabinet with
reference to that policy.
On Friday when Stewards resignation
became generally known it was at once
supposed that the resignation of all the
Cabinet, unless, perhaps, Chase, would
speedily follow. 1t was reported that
Montgomery Blair who was only less OBJ.
noxious than Sewardihad resignee, but the
report proved unfounded, and, finally, on
Saturday, Chase himself resigned, as there
had been general concurrence in opinion
that under the circumstances he ought to
leave the Cabinet. His resignation was
interpreted as strong hint to the rest
that when he resigned there could be no
possible excuse for their failing to do the
same.
Rumors Of Montgomery Blair's resigna-
tlon were now received, but still they
could not be well founded. Meantime
Stanton and others who did not wish to
reslga, and who saw that Stewards retire.
ment compelled reconstruction of the
Caolnet IN which he might be possibly
LETT out, had been busy trying to bring
Stewards return, and several weak .kneei
Senators had been helping in the same
work. Ihey were materially aided in the
difficulty of filling Stewards place. Sena.
tor Fessenden seemed to be pointed out by
common assent as the proper man to take
charge of the State Department., but Fes
sender was understood to positively re.
fuse, unless the reorganization was thor.
ough and made complete. Mr.. Chase was
talked Of as a good man for Premier. but
then who could lake the Treasury? The
further difficulties were in getting other
members to resign so that re-organiza.
ton could be effected.
Stanton was understood to have de-
clared he could not be forced ont, and
Blair appeared to act, if not to talk, in
the same way. The President seemed
unwilling to displace these gentlemen,
unless they indicated disposition to re-
lieve Linn of his embarrassment by volun-
tarily retiring.
Thus matters came to dead lock, and
the Cabinet complications appeared worse
entaDgled than ever. Affairs still remaiA |
uncertain. Some Senators are said to |
have backed down from their position, |
and every effort is said to be making to |
get Chaso and Seward to come back and |
have things 60 along in the old way
Many we'll informed persons insist to-
night that this will be the result, while |
others maintain that Chase, at least, can
not be coaxed back, and most probably |
Seward cannot either, and that, therefore, |
a Cabinet revelation is inevitable.