The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-01
Gntelti9enGe1::
CORREsPONDENCE.
Between President Buchanan ana
Lewis CaSs.
On MIR. Cass' withdrawal from tho
Cabinet.

The following interesting and now
historical Correspondence was trans
mitted to the Senate. Tuesday, in obe-
dience to a resolution of that body:
MIR. CAss TO PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.
"DEPARTMEST OF STATE,
December IL, 1860.
"SIR-The alarming crisis in our ma
tiOnal affairs has engaged your serious
consideration, and in your recent mes
sage you have expressed to Congress,
and through Congress to the country,
the views fraught with the most mo-
mentOus consequences which are now
presented to the American people for
solution. With the general principles
laid down in that message fully con-
cur, and ! appreciate with warm SYM
pathy its patriotic appeals and suEges-
tiOns. What measures it ia competent
and proper for the Executive.tO adopt
under existing circumstances is a sub
iect which has received your most
careful uttUUt,G.c, and with the anxious
hope, as l WJl! know from having par
tranquility and good feeling may
he speedily restored to this agi-
tated and divided COnfederacy. In
ono points, which 1 deem of
vital importance, ii has been my mis-
fortune TO differ from you. 1t has been
my decided opinion, which for some
time past ! have urged at various meet
ings of the Cabinet, that additional
troops should be sent to reinforce the
forts IN the harbor of Charleston, with
a view to their better defense should
they Ice attacked, and that an armed
vessel should likewise be ordered there
TO aid, If necessary, in the defense, and
also, should it be required, in the col
lection of the revenue; and 1t is yet my
adopted without delay. I have likewise
urged the expediency of Immediately
removing the custom-hOuse at Charles
ton to one of the forts in the port, and
also of making arrangements for the
collection of duties, thereby having a
collector and other officers to act when
ever necessary, so that when the office
may become vacant the proper author
ity may be there to collect the duties on
the part ofthe United States. l continue
to think that these arrangements should
be Immediately made. While the right
and responsibility of deciding belong
to you, it is very desirable, at this pres
ent juncture, that there should be, as
far as possible, unanimity in your
councils, with view to safe and etti-
cient action. l have, therefore, felt 1t
my duty 10 tender my resignation of
the Office of Secretary of State, and to
ask your permission TO retire from that
OInclaI aSSOclaLlOu Win yOuISeIl anu
the members of your Cabinet which
have enjoyed during almost three years,
without the occurrence of q single Incl
dent to interrupt the personal inter
course which has so happily existed. 1
can not close this letter without bearing
my testimony to the Jealous and earn
est devotion to the best interests of the
country with which, during n term of
unexampled trials and troubles, you
have sought to discharge the duties OF
your high station. Thanking you for
the kindness and confidence you have
not ceased to manifest toward me, and
with the expression of my warmest re-
CARDS, both for yourself and the gen
tlemen of your Cabinet, am, sir, with
great respect, your Obedient servant,
"LEwIs CAsS.
"Io The President Of the United States"