The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-10-10
Gen. jackson Takes the Responsibility


The following anecdote is from pos
thumous paper by Robert Dale Owen,
in Scribner's Magazine:
1t is we'll known that Jackson, on his
accession as president, appointed Martin
Van Buren secretary of State, and that
Mr.. Van Buren, in April, 1881, resigned
that office. Tbereupon Jackson appoint
ed him minister to England, and it be.
came necessary to supply his place in
the cabinet.
At that time there was in the United
States Senate, from Louisiana, Edward
Livingston, gentleman who had al
ready won an enviable reputation as
author of the code which still bears his
name-a work which has had its in
fuence on the Jurisprudence of succeed
| ing times. Livingston at that time
stood very high, not only as iurist, but
as statesman; his name had come up,
along with many others, and he had
been spoken of 40 one eminently fitted
for secretary of State. It so happened,
also, that the Senate was then nearly
equally divided between the two existing
parties, Wing and Democratic; it need
hardly be added that the president had
been elected by the latter party.
| Now, when rumors became rife that
Livingston might be finally selected by
jackson as cabinet officer, a small depu-
tation of the Democratic leaders and
personal friends of the president, unwill-
ing to face the general directly, called
on Mr.. Trist to talk the matter over with
him. They began by adverting to the
fact that barely Democratic majority
of two could at that time be safely count
ed on in the Senate; that if Livingston,
an influential Democrat, was appointed
secretary of State, one of these votes
would be lost; and that if (as was prob
able in the then state of parties in
Louisiana) Wing was appointed to take
his place, it would result in tie. They
represented that such contingency
would very seriously embarrass the presi-
dent, perhaps in the way of thwarting
his policy, more certainly by endanger-
ing the confirmation of his appoint
ments. And they finally begged Mr..
Trist to take an early opportunity of
expressing to the general their earnest
desire, both for his own sake and that of
the party, that he would give to such
considerations their due weight before
calling Livingston from his place in the
Senate.
Mr.. Trist at first demurred to the I'M
dertaking of this task, alleging his belief
that it would be fruitless; but was finally
persuaded to reconsider his refusal. Ac-
cordingly one evening when jackson,
after hard days work, was seated in his
arm chair, his head sunk on his breast
and his attitude betokening repose and
reflection, Trist-with great reluctance,
however, and after suitable apology
laid before him the fears and wishes of
his friends. 1t the first broaching of
the subject ESQ Trist informed mel, the
old man drew himself bolt uprighb, ac-
cording to his military wont, fixed his
thoroughly awakened eyes full on the
speaker, and, as the latter went on with
Ms report, the fash from those stern
eyes sufficiently indicated in advance
to one so familiar with his manner as
his secretary was-the probable result.
He listened patiently, however, until
the conclusion. Then, after pause, all
he said, in his usual brief and unflinch-
ing manner, was: "Mr. Trist, my
| friends ought to know that no considera-
tions of that kind can influence my
choice of secretary of State. 1t is my
duty to select for that important Office
the man best fitted to fill it, and to leave
the rest to God. Tell these gentlemen
so." And the very next day Livingston
was appointed to the vacant chair in the
cabinet.