Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-29
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
RESIGNATION OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.

found in another part Of to-days paper the reaoer
will learn that the President has asked to be re-
ieved from the services of Postmaster denersi
BLAIR, and that the latter has accordingly tender
ed his re,ignstion. which the President has ac-
ceptcd.
The reader will perceive from Mr. Lincoln
letter to Mr. Blair that the President bases his
wish for the resignation of the Postmaster General
solely on the ground that it would at the present
time be "a relief" to him. at proceeds" says
the President, "from no dissatisfaction of mine
with you, personally or officially" Your amt
form Kindness" adds the President, "has been
unsurpassed BY that Of any friend" and ~ can
most truly say that in the three years and half
during which you have administered the General
Post Office Iremember no single complaint against
you in connection hereUih."
When the President by his own express language,
thus publicly excludes all legitimate grounds for the
removal of Mr. Blair from the Cabinet he leaves
the country to guess at the illegitimate consdera
tons which have prompted the step We say
"the removal " of Mr.. Blair, for we have reason to
believe that the determination of the President in
this matter took Mr. Blair much by surprise as it
hiss surprised the country Mr.. Blair, it is true,
as appears from his note to the President, had
more than once offered to resign whenever the
President should deem it advisable for the public
Interests that he should do So" But it will be
observed that the President does not ask for his
resignation on this ground So far is it from
being SO, that the President says he /" can remem-
Der no single complaint" against Mr.. Blair's ad-
ministration of the Post Office Department, and
he therefore seeks the resignation of an unsur-
passed personal friend and Of faultess public
officer for the simple reason, as he says, that it
would, at the present time be "a relief" TO him.
Was there ever before such confession as this
made by the Chief Magistrate Of the country?
The only worthy motives which are conceivable
for the removal Of public functionary are
excluded by the President, as if for the purpose
of fastening upon himself the imputation of being
Influenced by unworthy motives What these
unworthy motives are we shall not undertake at
present to surmise, though We have received init
nations on the subject which we believe are emit
tied to credence. As the President has not left
himself any tenable ground on which to stand in
taking the step he has just taken, it only remain,
for him or his friend, to assign the particular
selfish consideration which has moved him to seek
"relcf" in the sacrifice of an unsurpassed person
al friend and of public officer whom, in the act of
the sacrifice, he admits to be without reproach in
the faithful and capable performance Of his duties.
The immediate cause of the resignation of Mr..
CHASE, as the whole country knows, was diff
ference between him and the President with regard
to the considerations that should prevail in the
appointment of public officer to responsible
post in the city of New York. Mr.. Chase thought
that primary regard should be had to the public
interests as involved in the character of the ap-
pointee The President dissented from this view
on grounds of political advantage. And now, in
the resignation Of Mr. BLAIR, We have still another
case in which such partisan considerations have
prevailed the obligations of private friendship
and the interests Of the public welfare. It is in
such instances as these that all good citizens who
believe that it is the duty Of the Administration
"to assume a position wholly Independent Of
party" in the present crisis, can very clearly read
the duty they owe to the country. How this
matter strikes honest friends Of the Administration
may be seen in such comments as the following, in
the New York Commercial Advertiser
"The Republican Convention 10 june last made de
mand on the President for the heads of such Of bis
officers and indeed Of oil office holders did not cor
daily endorse the principles proposed 10 the resolutions
Of the Convention. Mr. Lincoln gave the cold shoulder
the Monroe doctrine resolution and, the WHOLE failed
to cordially endorse the principles therein enuncised
4. ILL Al
thing not advised But the slip in his has been
overlooked.
1T seems that Mr. Blair regarded the resolution from
which We have quoted aimed at himself and 90 ten
dered his resignation verbally. Mr. Lincoln did not &C
cept Il II the time but has finally yielded to the pres
sure, and asks Mr. Blair to pack mp relief to
him lie inform. Mr. Blair that he has been faithful
oesr, and that complaint has been made against his
management Of the Post Office Department He does
not remind him 81 little story about swapping horses
when crossing stream, but to regard advan.
tageoU, trade under such circumstances,
thing q ehcb be may avail himself so he requests his
friend whose kindness has been unsurpassed to make
vacant place,
No consideration Of honesty, capacity, or fidelity il
showed 10 weigh against political considerations and
party necessities require victim, is selected These
ars " Pso facts 81 the and they suggest that other
changes may made 10 perfect that homogenety Of
. desrsss % Mr.. Lincoln and hi. friends, with whom