Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-14
GARFIELD'S CABINET.
ONE ADVICE THAT WAS NOT HEEDEu

GARFlELUS CABINET.
sO"E ADVICE THAT WAS NOT HEEDED.
Do. 5. Us compilation Of ..Froxen racss"-An
Historic and Interesting bit Of PoIit-
cal Correspondence.
Ex- Senator Dorsey has consented to the |
to General Garfield, in January, 1881,
member Of the cabinet. This letter has |
been resurrected by gentleman now cou-
nccted with the Republican congressional |
committee, who in some manner became
possessed of it, and secured DOrsey's con.
sent to its publication. 1t is an exceed
ingly pert communication, and shows the
writer's strong bias in favor of the Stalwart
leaders Of the party. Mr.. Dorsey's ex-
plaDatiOn Of the circumstances that called
it forth throws SONS light on the myster-
ious movements that preceded Garfield s
final aud open rupture with ex-senator
Conkling. 1t is matter of political his
tory that the present secretary-then
Judge FOlger-was strongly urged for a
cabinet position under the new admins.
tration prior to its Inauguration, and that
at one time it appeared to be almost GER
tain he was to be given the place Of secre
tary Of tho treasury. But for some reason
he was dropped, aud Representa- i've Nor
ton, of New York, now United States
minister to France, was made the candi-
date of tho Stalwarts. though even in
this second choice they were doomed to
disappointment. Mr.. Dorsey's letter is us
follows:
No. 241 FIFTH AVENUE, ,
New YORK, Feb. z, 1881.
NY DEAR GENERAL: Colonel George
Bliss called on me recently and introduced
:. MIR. Knox, who said he was 4 classnlatc
Of yours at Williams college, and further
stated that he was about leaving for Men
tor 10 visit you, at urrequcst, to discuss
the question OF the proper person to place
in your cabinet from New York 1t can
not bc possible that you would call upon
George Bliss, much less Mr.. Knox, to give
advice respecting SO important aquestion
to you and to the people Of tii:; state
Both Of these gentlemen may bo honest,
true and respectable 50 far as know
they arc, but Messrs Bliss and Knox do
not represent the people. or tue leaders of
the people of New York, no more than l
represent the King of Siam. All such ad-
vice as this is pretcntiOus idiOcy and if
you arc occupying your time in listening
to men like these, wish to express in the
most emphatic way that you and your adj
ministratiOn will prove lamentab!e fail
ure. You should take tho bits in your
teeth and decide for yourself whom you
want in your cabinet. What do you want
the advice Of men for, every one of whom
has IN axe to grind or scheme TO push
IL you want advice in New York why
don't you send for Coakling or Arthur,
the two men who elected you, with the
aid 0f Grant? Why don't you consult
with somebody who has a status, a name
and a following in New York? Now |
tell You, ard tell you without grain of
sellishness, that you cannot afford to have
any friction arise between yourself and
Mr.. Conkling and General Arthur. When
ever you determine to assail these men
yOl drive the last nail ir your political
cUffiu. You can't ignore them to make
peace with Nlr. Curtis, Wayne MacVeagh
and others of that class. You can't dis
band an army to get recruits.
We now have a great, well organized.
active and aggressive army. II You want
to muster out that army, In order to pick
up the sneaks, bummers aud desertcrs in
the rear, go ahead, and predict you will
land in Il surrendered camp. am tired
cf this Elathering talk about NIacVeagi, to
20 int" the cabinet from Pennsylvania,
aud James, from New York. Suc, de-
tes.abc rot should 10 smoked Out at once
and you ought to do it in some public
way. AS | have repeatedly urged upon
you, there is but one appointment yOn
ought to make from New York, and that
is Chief Judge Folger TO be secretary of
the treasury. You don't need any EIiss or
Knox to ascertain or prove his character,
cap icity and standing in New York. Run
ming for chief judge on the same ticket with
you he received more than double the majo-
rity you did. Now take my advice about
this and I ask you to do that because you
know | have no earthly interest except to
successful and honorable administration
and my advice is this: &: When you get
ready to select = citizen of New York for
your cabinet, send for Senator Conkling,
General Arthur. Governor Cornell, J. ID.
Warren, of Buffalo, Ex-Governor Morgan.
Thomas &. Platt, and men of that class,
and get their best Judgment. Bliss and
knOx--wl,at nOnScnSe. | beg of you not
to permit Mr.. Knox to run around this
state inquiriDg about men tho iittest for
cabiuet and pretending to represent you.
by acts of ,l,is kind you injurc yourself
and cast an objectionable reflection upon
tho men who can aud ought to be tho best
judges, and who represent the Republicans
of this state. don't wish to be put in !,
position of being obliged to lecture tho
president-e elect, aud especially in regard
to the formation of his cabinet. You have
repeatedly urged mo to toll you whenever
should think you were going wrong.
write you when think you are about to
make a mistake, and have not and shall
not mince words in pointing out your errors
You drop all this stuff about COnklinS.
lIc don't want to fight you Or any one
else. He is not prancing around with
chip on his shoulder, challenging all man.
kind to battle. All that Mr.. COnkling
wants, and ali that General Arthur de
sires, is a fair show, and an honest deal.
These two men, with their friends, repre-
sent the intelligence, the progressive aud
the aggressive elements of New York Re-
publicanism. They possess that wisdom,
force aud courage that tho people Of this
country and all countries always admire.
You know my interests and purposes arc
solely to see successful cOnsllmmation of
our great work. L have presented to you
some frozen facts, and l sincerely hope
yOu will give them your candid aud care
full attention. Your friend,
S. w. DORSEY.
To General James A. Garfield.
MIR. Dorsey says further that General
Garfield replied to this letter but he will
not make public tho response, or any por.
tion of it, al this time.
Points In Politics.
The Republican convention of the First
district of North Carolina has nominated