The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-26


( perfectly clezr. 4 presentation Of L
le facts is all that Is necessary. Every dz
g the faithful record of those times Is b
i coming clearer and clearer. The test
nony npon which acts must be Judge
Is coming gradually. ! am willing /
stand By the record. After twent
years Of reflection upon my conduct
can say that it meets the cordial Apr,
val Of my conscience
THE MOST PAINFUL IScIpgST Oh Jupa
BLACKS CAREER.
: The conversation then drifted int
! some minor details of his early assOcis
: tion with Mr.. Stanton, and how he 20
: both Stanton and Holt into the Cabine
70 aid him in his conflict with the Seees
r sionists, who were enveloping Buchanan
} as with a cloud He spoke pointedl'
| and characteristically Of the events 0
those days, but did not dwell with par
! tlenlar emphasis upon any Of them IN
! tll he introduced the story Of the Cabi
net crisis that took place on Decembe.
%, 1860, when Mr.. Buchanan had pre-
pared his answer to the so-called Soutl
Carolina Commissioners. When the
Judge began upon this important part d
his public career he again spoke witl
great deiiberation and carnestness, say
! ing:
Il The most painful incident Of my long
associatiation with Mr.. Buchanan took
place the day after he had read his
answer to the South Carolina Commis-
sioners in Cabinet meetin,-, on the 29th
OF December, 1860. | recall with great
dlstinctness the scene in the Cabinet
when that paper was read. Ii fell upon
me like the kick of mule. The South
ern members were almost as much dis
turbed. None of US said great deal
about it, because all of us knew by ex-
perience that when Mr.. Buchanan made
up his mind he was immovable. No
man ever filled the Presidential Office
who knew better than he did how to en-
force the respect due to his position,
and know of no one more tenacious of
his opinion when his judgment was FIX
ed. He was absolute master in his own
house. Therefore, when that Cabinet
/ meeting adjourned, | did not believe il
/ possible that our official relations could
continue. Ispent the most miserable and
restive night of my life. Ny mind was
in wild tumult, and l arose the next
morning determined to resign before
| night. l called on Stanton, Holt and
Ioncey, and expressed to them my ex-
eeedlng disappointment at the Presi.
dents letter, and announced to them
that should that day leave the Cabinet.
stanton said he also should go, and Holt
would have gone, although he did not
say so. What Toucey would have done
do not know When he entered the
Cabinet, and through his entire service.
he seemed determined to have no opin-
lon crosswise from the Presidents. He
might have stayed. As soon as parted
with Toucey he went to the White
House, and informed the President of
my intentions, and of what had taken
place between Stanton, Holt and myself.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN BUCHANAN AND
BLACK ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA
PAPER.
MIR. Buchanan at once requested nv
presence; but | hesitated to 90. for i
knew the temper and strength of the
appeal he would make to me. | felt
that he would place his demand that
remain by his side upon such grounds
of personal friendship that it would
make it almost impossible for me to
leave him without laying myself open
to the charge of having deserted friend
who had greatly honored and trusted
me, at time when he was under the
shadow OF the greatest trouble of his
NE. lie sent second time, and went.
l found him greatly distressed, and his
first words were:
L. -
meP
+" 1t is true that lam going -tc-rcsi,sr,,
was my reply.
am overwhelmed to know said
he, that you, of all other men, are go
ing to leave me in this crisis. You are
from my own State, my closest political
and personal friend. | have leaned
upon you in these troubles as upon none
other, and insist that you shall stand
by me to the end
HE then reviewed our association
and made such personal appeal to me as
| knew he would when / responded 10
his summons. After he was through. II
replied:
p" Mr.. President, from the first | had
determined to stand by you and with YOU
to death and destruction, if need be. Il
promised myself that as long as there
was button on your coat would cling
TO 1t. But your action has taken every
button off and driven ME awav from
you.' ''O-
" What do you refer to? said he.
Your reply to the South Carolina
Commissioners That documenr i the
powder that has blown your Cabinet to
the tour winds. The Southern members
VIII leave because you do not concede
what they ask, and your conclusions
make 1t impossible for them TO stay.
lhe paper is even harder upon the
Northern members of your political
households 1t forces the Southern men
out, and you cannot ask that we stav.
would not leave you for any earthly
consideration, so long as l could stay by
you with self-respect, but | cannot do IL
the paper you have prepared is sent 10
the gentlemen from South Carolina
ne PRESIDENT seemed surprised that
l took this document so much to heart
and confess it took all the determina.
tlon had to announce to him nv de-
clslon with relation to it, for his manner
toward me was kind, and his appeaI tn
me earnestness itself. To my surprise.
ne did not even argue the points Of NV
objection, as Iexpected he would. He
heard me without a word, and when /
had finished, said:
Judge, you speak the words of nv
heart: l recognize the force and Justice
OIL what you say. The letter to the
South Carolina commissioner my tongue
dictated not my reason. But feel that
We must not have an open rupture. We
are not prepared for war. and if war i
provoked Congress cannot be relied upon
to strengthen my arm, and the Union
must utterly perish
'But. Mr.. President, YOU must stand
by your position, and boldly, with vour
Judgment He did not hesitate a
moment, but turned to me, and said:
our resignation is the one thing
that shall not be. I will not. /. cannot
part with you- If you 90. Holt and
stanton viii leave and will be in a
sorry attitude before the country. This
IS the greatest trouble have vet had 70
bear. Here, take this paper and modify
II 10 suit yourself; but do it before the
snn goes down. Before sleep tonight
| must know that this matter Is ARRANGED
to your satisfaction
left Mr.. Buchanan and went direct
iy to my Office | confess that even
after what the President said l had not
much hope that he would adopt nv raIi-
cal views; but / sat down and wrote
memorandum; giving my objection to
the paper, and Stanton copied it for me.
sent the original to the President. and
retained the copy"
TEXT OF Mr. BLACKS OBJECTIONS TO
BUcHAHAS's 5 AEgwER TO THEsoUrH
CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS.
This important paper Is now of pecu-
Lar historical article that has called out
slr- Davis's response 1t Is endorsed on
the back in Mr Stanfon's own handwrit-
ing; =.
observation on correspondence Pres;-
dent, south CoroIina commissioner bv
J. s b.
AS the words of Judge Black above
quoted were called out in this. our last
interview by recent criticism on Mr..
Curtis Life Of Buchanan. ii is neces-
sary to complete understanding Of the
subject that this memorandum shouId
appear With this record, the more % Be-
cause Mr. Curtis fails to give Il IN his