The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-08-26
Secretary seward.

fLrGispatrhcS to the Associated Press
have during the past few days, con-
aimed various intimatiOns of the proba-
Die retirement of Secretary SEWARD
irom President JOHNSON's cabinet. We
presume that most of these surmises
aI,r been founded upon the well-knOwn
frt that SEWARD has been the friend of
STANTON. aud that the latter's retention
m the cabinet during the past year has
l-ru mainly owing to the influence
II the iurmrr. The right aud duty of
f.r President to surround himself with
Heads of Departments who are willing
T., cooperate with him in the line of
policy he deems best for the interests
o.! the nation, has never, before the
present time, been disputed OF denied.
Men of honorable impulses have always
deemed it incumbent upon them to
resign their seats in the cabinet when
ever their convictions of duty and right
seriously cUutiicted with those of the
President, or whenever they failed to
heartily second and endorse the princi-
pai measures of his administration.
>r,XroN. who, whatever his abilities as
a War Minister may have been, is GER
tanly no gentleman, held on to his office
long after he knew that his presence in
the cabinet was not desired, and even
refused 10 vacate when ordered to
do 80. Hut SEwAaD, who was edu-
Gated in difierent and better school
aud who knows better than the
clustering bear of the War Office, the
courtesy that i due TO his official chief,
and tie Importance of perfect harmony
in the conncils of the nation, is not ex-
pectcd 20 wait for such n summary
election as that which was found neces-
>ary in STANroN'S case. To him, q
mere hint is all that will probably he
necessary. and il ia likely that that hint
Nill be afforded by the following eX-
tract from q recent article in the Nation
a iStlligfnccr, which, whether prop
frly not, is generally supposed by
The country ~ /, tlect the Presidents
personal and private opinions. After
commenting at some length, with some
severity aud no less justice, upon STAN
Ions career III an ignominions election
from the War Department, the Inteiit-
.'s''' says:
There il ont gentleman Of distln-
Enishcd ability and eminent public SER
,lc-s whose name has been unfortunate
iy more or less identified with the OBJ
Hoxious Secretary of War. To his in
ruence with Mr. Lincoln, whether un-
inStly or not, the public largely astrib-
l'ed Mr. StantOu's retention in office.
Ia most of the struggles which took
place IN that Cabinet they heartily Co
oFerated. Public rumor has attributed
10 them greater closeness OF relation
snip in the present Administration
whether Justly or unjustly does not al
iect the real merits of the question:.
Unfortunately, too, several circum-
stances have strongly corroboratsd that
suspicion, for several of the strongest
trends of the distinguished Secretary
OF State have been the sturdy cham
pons of the Secretary of War. The
Adhs ichdtcs of the former, who con-
troiled the political fortunes of the En-
flre State for years, and has displayed a
political sagaeity, varied ability,
and cOnsummate tact that has
not, perhaps, been surpassed IN
ne history of that State, has on
oil occasions defended the defunct
Cabinet minister. His echo--who fol-
lows afar off his great exemplar-the
trimming editor of the Times, has also
energetically come to the rescue. To
The exertons of these three gentlemen,
more than to any and all other causes,
ls the fact due that Mr.. johnson so long
delayed netting out jRstice to his refrac-
tory subOrdinate. The association has
damaged Mr.. Stewards usefulness. We
are certainly not among those who deny
his exalted ability, his unfiinching pa
tnotism, or his great services to his
country. We think that he will live in
The future pages OF its history long after
the petty crowd of his detraetors shall
have sunk ont Of sight aud be utterly
forgotten. But there are times when
the only question patriotic man should
ask Is, How eau / best advance the in
terests of my country by harmonizing
all the friends of constitutional govern
ment. The associations Of which we
have spoken will prevent that unity of
support among the friends of the Ad-
ministration, which, in our Judgment,
are Indispensable to its success.. Under
such circumstances it 10 believed that
no true friend Of the Secretary conld
object to his refinement from the offace
he has fIled with 30 much ability and
with SO much honor to himself and the
country. o ,-ss79 o. -sF4'sA