Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-10-02
WHOLE No. 1883
General Jackson takes tho Respon.
sIbIllty.

| Dhlt OWcii, w S'TfpVe' ip' Oot"po''l
II Ia well known that jackson, on
his accession as President, appointed
Martin Van Huren Secretary Of State,
and that Mr., Van Buren,, 10 April,
1881, resigned that office, Thereupon
President Jackson appointed him min
isier to England, aad II became neces'
sary TO supply his place in the cabinet
AT that time there was N the Unit
ted States Senate, from Louisiana,
Edward Livingston, n gentleman who
had alread, won an enviable rcputa'
ton ~ author Of tho code which still
bears his name,-a work which has
had its influence on thej Jurisprudence
Of succeeding times, Livingston at
that time stood very high, not only as
uris,, but as statesman his name
had come up, along with many others,
ana no had been spoken OF as one
eminently fitted for Secretary ofSlate'
1t so happened, also, that the Senate
was then nearly equally divided be-
tween the two existing parties, Wing
aud Democratic IL need hardly bc
added that the President had been
elected by the latter party.
Now, when rumors became rife that
Livingston nigh, be finally selected
by Jackson as cabinet officer, small
deputation Of the Democratic leaders
and personal friends OF the President,
unwilling to face the General directly,
called on Mr.. T,ist TO talk the matter
over with him. They began by ad-
ver,iug to the fact that barely n Dem
ocratic majority Of two could at that
time be safely counted on IN the Sen.
ate that If Livingston, nm influential
Democrat, was appointed Secretary of
State, one Of these votes would be
lost and that il (as was probable in
the then state OF parties in Louisiana)
q Wing was appointed to take his
place, it would result in a tie. They
represented that such contingency
would very seriously embarrass The
President, perhaps in the way Of
thwariug his policy, more certainly by
endangering the confirmation of his
appointments. And they finally beg
gcd Mr.. Trist to take an early OPP
porlunity ofexpresslng to the General
their earnest desire, both for his own
sake and for that of the party, that he
would give to such considerations =
their due weight before calling Liv-
ingston from his place in the Senate.
Mr.. Trist at first demurred to the
undertaking OF this task, alleging MS
belief that it would be irultless but
was finally persuaded to reconsider
his refusal. Accordingly, one even
ing when Jackson, after Il hard days
work, was seated in his armchair, his
head sunk on his breast and his at
titude betokening repose and rehec-
tion, Trist--with great reluctance,
however, and after suitable apology
laid before him the fears and the
wishes of his friends. At the first
broachiug Of the subject ESQ Trist in
formed me), the old man drew himself
bolt upright, according to his military
wont, fixed his thoroughly awakened
eyes full on the speaker and, as the
latter went on with his report, the
flash from those stern eyes sufficiently
indicated in advance-to one 50
familiar with his manner as his secre.
tary was-the probable result.
He listened patiently. however, un.
til the conclusion Then, after
pause, all he said, in his usual bret
and unhinching msnne'; was: '"Mr'
Trist, my friends ought to know that
no considerations OF that kind can in
huence my choice of Secretary OF
State. 1t is my duty to select for that
important office the man best fitted to
fill it. and 10 leave the rest to Cod
Tell these gentlemeo So" Aud the
very next day Livingston was appoint
ed to the vacant char in the cabinet.