The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-10-02
e.ssrlI jackson Takes the he
~pOn~ibiIiGy.

IA EN- p9.thumous paper by Robert Dale
oven. I'm ~cribner for October.
rt.weIl known that jackson, on his ac-
..fsg 81, President, appointed Martin Van
,s- secretary of stare, and that Mr.
In Buren,, ju April, 1881, resi- gned that
ss THe-eupnu President Jackson APP
-pd him MiuJ-ler To EnglInd, and it
unnecessary 70 supply his place in the
sJ.1rt.
Al tEar time there was in the United
i ~, senate, from Louisiana, Edward
kingston, gentleman who had already
ssa au enviaDlr reputation as author of the
A which still bears his uame,-a work
s5tah has had iI- Influence on the iurispru-
-5et Of succeeding times. Livingston at
4 "A. 6me stood very nigh, not only as jurist.
b 4. .tate,mau; his name had come up,
,aL with many others, and lie had been
r5sen Of as one emincnuy fitted for Sec
-nry of State. II 50 happened, also, that
as Senate was tIcu nearly equally divided
ssrcH the two cXls ing parties, Wing
i Democratic; it need hardly be added
54. tIe Pr -iIeut had been elected by the
htf party.
Nos, when rumors became rife that LiV-
gtl1 might be finally selected By jackson
pcab'uel officer, a small deputation OF the
Dmoertiic leaders aud personal friends of
To-. President unwilling TO face the Gen
gl directly, called on Mr.. Trist to talk the
natter over with him They began by
.ifer.jug 10 the fact that barely a Demo
ratio majority Of Two could at that time
b. safely counted ON in the Senate that if
livingston, al influential Democrat, was
appointed Secretary OF State, one of these
V.e. would DE lost; and that il (as was
potable iu the then stale of parties in
Loa.sIaull Wing WAS appointed to take
b; place, it would result in a tie. They
rpe-enteJ tHGt such contingency would
very seriously mbarraSs the President,
Fr.ap, 100 the way OF thwarting his policy,
more certainly By eudaugering the confir-
a3Iou of his appointments. And they
iaa!.y begged Mr.. IrisJ to take an early
opportunity OF expressing to the General
W-r earnest desire, both tor his own sake
and icr THAT ot thn party, that he would
eve % such considerations their due weight
before calling Livingston from his place in
BE Senate
NEIrist at first demurred to the under
taking of this Task, alleging his belief that
UUad he truirIesS; but was finally per-
ulde4 ~ reconsider his refusal. Accord
1g.y, one evening when jackson. after a
ard d4y's work, was seated in his arm
BAR ms head sunk ou his breast and his
,tuIe befokening repose and reflection,
great reluctance, however, aud
-5r suitable apology-lad before him the
-ls aal lhe wishes OF his friends At the
rs broIchiug OF the subject $50 Trist in
ormeJ me- the old man drew himself bolt
bright, according TO his military wont,
XeI his thoroughly awakened eyes fall
q the speaker; aud. as the latter went on
With h,, report, the flash from those stern
!ts sufficiently indicated In advauce-to
ae so familiar with his manner as his Sec
eAry was-the probable result.
lie listened patiently, howe ter, until the
oucuston. Then, after pause, all he said,
aiS usual brief and uutiinching manner,
a>: "Nr. Tri.t, my friends ought to
BOW that Do considerations of that kind
az influence ms choice of Secretary of
ate. Il is my duty to select for that
Important Office the man best fitted to fill
and to leave the resi- 10 God. Tell these
AiIemeu So" And the very next day
.'mg,tou was appointed to the vacant
MIrlu the cabinet.