The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-14
GARFIELD AND BLAINE.
The Secretary's Letter Accepting tho
Tender of the State Department.

The Secretary's Letter Accepting tho
Tender of the State Department.
The Philadelphia Press publishes the letter
of Secretary Blaine accepting the tender Of the
State Department, made him by the late PreS-
dent Garfield. II is as follows:
WASHINGTON D. c., Dec. 20, 1880.
Ny DEAR GARFIELD: Your generous invita-
ton to enter your Cabinet AZ Secretary of State
has been under consideration for more than
three weeks The thought had really never
occurred to my mind until at our late con-
ference you presented II with such cogent ar
guments ia - favor, and with such warmth Of
personal friendship in aid Of your kind
offer. 1 aL1w that an early answer Is
desirable, and l have waited only long
enough to consider tho subject in all
its bearings, and 10 make up my mind definite
ly and concluslvely. l now say to you, in the
same cordial spirit in which you have invited
me, that accept the position. Ii ID no afiecta-
ton TOR me to add that make this decision
not for the honor of the promotion it gives me
in tho public service, but because /
think can be useful to the country and to the
party, useful to you as the responsible
leader of the party and the great head
of the Government. 1 am influenced
somewhat, perhaps, by the shower of letters
have received urging me TO accept, written
me in consequence Of the mere unauthorized
new paper report that you had been pleased to
off me the place. While 1 have received
these letters from all sections of this Union,
have been especially pleased and even sur
pr1sed at the cordial and widely-extended feel
ing in my favor throughout New England,
where / had expected TO encounter local jeal-
ousy, and, perhaps. rival aspiration.
Ia our new yelaton L shall give all that am
and ali that can hope to be freely and joyful
" TO your service. You need no pledge Of my
loyalty in heart and in act. l should be false
to myself did not prove true both to the great
trust YOU cOniide TO me and to your own person
al and political fortunes III present and in
future. Your administration must be made
emineutlv successful and strong in the CONT
dence and pride of the people, not at all direct
ing It's energies for reelection, and yet COM
yelling that result by the logic OF events
and by the imperious necessities
of the situation. To that most desirable con-
summation l feel that, next to yourself, can
possibly contribute as much influence as any
other man. l say this, not from egotism or
vain-glory, but merely as the deduction from
plain analysis OF the political forces which
have been at work in the country Tor i've years
past, and which have been significantly shown
in two great national conventions. accept it
as one of the happiest circumstances
ing my political for unes with yours
or, rather, for the time merging
mine Ia yours, my heart goes with my head,
and that l carry to you not only political sup
port, but personal and political. friendship. l
can but regard it as somewhat remarkable that
two men OF the same age entering Congress at
the same time, influenced by the same aims and
oherishing the same ambitions, should never for
a single moment in eighteen years of close in
tmacy have had Misunderstanding or cool
ness, and that our friendship has steadily
grown with our growth and strengthened with
our strength.
1t is this fact which has led me to the con-
clusion embodied in this letter, for, however
much, my dear Garfield, / might admire you
~ a statesman, would not enter your Cabinet
il did not believe in you as a man and love
you as friend. Always faithfully yours,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.