Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-30
Resignation OF Secretary Of the
~ @ss Navy B0fie. ba52o
Great Excitement Among the
4sa Politicians. 1e7sa ~
The Presidents advisers not
baa . gaaa Consulted. IN "a
Effect Of the Change Upon
Pennsylvania Elections. Us


integration of President Grants
cabinet, which was predicted by
Mr. Seward, commenced to day, AT
an early hour, this morning a, E.
Borie, Secretary of the Navy, sent
the following letter of resignation
to the President: 4al r8u e 60
Navy DEPARTMENT Washington, ID. c.,
June IS, 1869 TO the President-Sir:
Owing to continued i'll health and the
demands Of my private business upon
me, / regret that am compelled to ten
der you my resignation as Secretary of
the Navy. In doing so, permit me to
express my thanks for the uniform cour-
tesy and kindness with which you have
honored me during the brief period Of
our official intercourse. With earnest
hopes and wishes for the entire success
Of your admistratioD, have the honor
to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, A. f. BeRIE,
Secretary of the Navy.
The matter seems either to have
been understood between them or
the President was no way loathsto
part with his Secretary of Marine,
for in a short time he returned
the following note, signifying his
acceptance of the resignation !: = 80 20.
Executive MANSION, Washington, ID.
c., June %, l869-Hon. A. E Borie,
Secretary of tbs Nayy-SiFs Your note
Of this date, rendering your resignation
as Secretary of the Navy, is received and
your resignation is accepted. = Very
respectfully, U. s. GRANT
This business disposed of, the
President Immediately directed a
commission to bemade out for Geo.
M Robson, of New Jersey, as
Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Robe
son, who arrived here this morning
in company with Senator Cattell,
Of New Jersey, made his appear
ance at the Navy Department about
eleven o'clock. He found Mr.. Bo-
rie awaiting him, and after short
interview between the outgoing and
incoming Secretaries and Admiral
Porter, the heads of bureaus in the
department were summoned to the
Secretary's room, where they were
severally introduced to their new
chief. With the single exception
of Admiral Porter, this was the
first intimation any one in the
department had of the appoint
ment of Mr.. Robson After the
ceremony Of introduction the heads
of bureaus retired, and Mr.. Borie,
Mr.. Robson and Admiral Porter
were again alone. Mr.. Borie made
some general observations about the
work of the department and the
duties and labors Of the Secretary,
adding that he had been greatly
aided by Admiral Porter. The Ad-
miral, he said, understood every
thing about the department and
was a most efficient worker.
81 want it understood that you
are to remain here" said the new
Secretary, addressing Admiral
Porter.
"That depends altogether upon
the President" replied the modest
Admiral. LED rFrC1I-
"Well,7 said Secretary Robson,
with a knowing smile, 81 think
there will be no difficulty about
that" g.
About twelve o'clock Mr.. Borie
accompanied Secretary Robson to
the White House, where the oath
was administered by Judge Fisher,
of the Supreme Court of the Dis~
trict of Columbia, and Mr.. Robson
went into the cabinet council for
the first time The President and
Secretary of the Navy have man
aged this business with the utmost
secrecy. 1t appears that not a sim
gle member Of the cabinet was
aware of the change until the new
Secretary made his appearance to-
day at the cabinet meeting. 81
wondered what we were waiting
for" Secretary Rawlins remarked
afterwards, to a friend. Secretary
Boutwell,, on his way from the
Treasury Department to the White
House to attend the cabinet meet
ing, met your correspondent, who
gave him the news. "First / heard
of it." said the Secretary, as he
hurried along. 1t appears that
Borie has been anxious for some
time past to lay down the robes of
office. He was not over anxious to
work himself, and it is whispered
that while he was perfectly
willing that Admiral Porter
should run the department, he was
not altogether pleased that the
public press should give Porter the
credit for it. Borie, though not re-
garded here as a man of much
force or ability, was nevertheless
considered a good fellow, and had
made many friends. He was ia
nous for his good dinners, the rare
quality of his wines and cigars,
both of which he imports for his
own private use. The President,
it seems, met Mr.. Robson, the
new Secretary, for the first
time at West Point during
his recent visit there. At that
time he was on the lookout for
q new Secretary of the Navy, and
took a fancy to Mr.. Robson. On
Wednesday, week ago, the Presi-
dent wrote to Mr.. Robson, offer
ing him Borie's place. Mr.. Robe
| son took a week to consider the
matter, and finally signifed his ac-
ceptance in letter received by the
President last Wednesday. The
new Secretary is the best looking
man in the Cabinet. He is quite
large, with fiorid complexion, and
about forty five years of age. UP
to the time of his appointment he
was Attorney General of New Jer-
sey, and is said to be a lawyer OF
considerable ability.
The effect that this change has
already had upon the public here
is to make people think that Grant
is about to make pretty general
reorganization. He has given his
first selections trial, say some,