Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-13
The Cabinet Crisis Of I SGO-61 :.

The Cabinet Crisis Of I S6O-61.
from the late Judge Blacks Reply to Jeffer-
son Davis. Reported in the Philadelphia
Press
THE most painful incident of my long
sociation with Mr.. Buchanan took place the
day after he had read his answer to the South
Carolina Commissioners in cabinet meeting
on the 10Th Of December, 1860. ! recall
with great distinctness the scene in the Cabi-
net when that paper was read 1t fell upon
me like the kick of a mule. The Southern
members were almost much disturbed.
None of said a great deal about it, be-
cause all of us knew by experience that when
Mr. Buchanan made up his mind he was i'm
movable. No man ever filled the Presiden-
tial office who knew better than he did how
to enforce the respect due 10 his position, and
know of no one more tenacious of his opn-
ion when his judgment fixed. He
absolute master of his own house. There
fore, vixen that Cabinet meeting adjourned,
/ did not believe il possible that our official
relations could continue. ! spent the most
miserable and FESTIVE night of my life. My
mind in wild tumult and | arose the
next morning determined to resign before
night. | called on Stanton, Holt and Toucey
and expressed to them my exceeding dIsap-
pointment at the Presidents letter and an
n0uuceu 10 them ibat l shbulu tnat Jay ieaFe
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 to
have opinion cross wise from the Presi-
dents. He might have stayed. As IA |
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 my
self. Mr.. Buchanan at once requested my
presence; but | hesitated to 60. for 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 FREUD who
had greatly honOred and trusted me, at time
when he was under the greatest shallow of
his life. He sent a second time. aud went.
found him greatly disturbed, and his first
words were
as it true you are going to desert me-
at ia true that am going to resign" was
the reply.
II am overwhelmed to know" said he.
THAT you, of all other men, are going 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
Ale then reviewed our association and
made such personal appeal to me as knew
he would when | responded to his summons
After he was through replied
mir President, from the start had de
termined to stand by you and with you to
death and destruction if need be. promised
hat hos
your coat would cling to it. But your ac-
ton has taken every button of and driven
me away from you.
"What do YOU refer to?" said he
Your reply to the South Carolina Com
missioners. That document is the powder
that has blown YOUR Cabinet to the four
winds. The Southern members will leave
because you do not concede what they ask
and your conclusions make it impossible for
them to stay. The paper is even harder up
on the Northern members of your political
household. IL forces the Southern men ont
and you cannot ask that we stay would
not leave you for any earthly consideration,
so long as couli stay by YOU with self-rr.
spcct, but | cannot do it il the paper YOU
have prepared is sent to the gentlemen from
South Carolina"
"The President seemed surprised that
took this document SO much to heart. aud
confess II took all the determination had to
announce to him NV decision with relation to
IT, for his manner toward me was kind, and
his appeal to me earnestness itself. To NV
surprise, he did not even argue the points of
my objections. as expected he would. He
heard me without word, and when had
finished said;
Judge, you speak the words of NV heart
recognize the force and justice of what You
say. The letter to the South Carolina Com
missioners INV tongue dictated, not NV rea-
son. Blu; feel that we must not have an
open rupture. We are not prepared for war.
and if war is provoked Congress cannot be
relied upon 10 strengthen nv arm, aud the
Union must utterly PERISH
"But, Mr.. President, you must stand by
your position, and boldly, with your iudC
ment." He did not hesitate a moment but
turned to me and said
"Iour resignation is the one thing thai
shall not be. will not, l cannot part with
you. Ifyou go, Holt and Stanton will leave
and will be in sorry attitude before the
country. This is the greatest trouble have
yet had to bear. Here, take this paper and
modify 1t to suit yourself, but do il before the
sun goes down. Before | sleep tonight
must know that this matter is arranged TO
your satisfaction"
II left Mr.. Buchanan and went directly TO
my office. ] confess that even after what the
President said had not much hope that he
would adopt my radical views; and | sat
down and wrote a memorandum giving NV
objections to the paper, and Stanton copied il,
for me. sent the original to the President
and retained the COPY
1.-The President accepted this paper and
framed his answer TO the called South
Carolina Commissioners to avoid the no;p,s
had raised against it. Thus the crisis, the
greatest in all my public service, was safely
passed. The reply that Mr.. Buchanan made
to the so-calied Commissioners was such a
reboke to their pretensions that they returned
an answer so insulting in terms that the Cab
met unanimously sustained the President in
not receiving it. Very soon after this the
Southern members went out. We got Gen.
DIX and horatio King in, and we had COM
rafanveiy plain sailing from that time until
The Lincoln Administration relieved ne