The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-29

HUOaANAN's CABINET.

=
The CRISIS Of 1850 61--The Late
Judge Blaox's Reply TO
. Jefferson DAVIS.
} ""The most painful incident Of my
long association with Mr.. Buchanan
took place the day after he had read
hts answer to the South Carolina
! Commissioners. in Cabinet meeting,
on the Goth of september. 1860. [ re-
cali with great distinctness the
scene In the Cabinet when that pa
per was read. 1t fell upon me like
the kick of q mule. The Southern
members were almost AS much dis
turbed. None Of US said much
about 1t, because we all knew by ex-
perience that when Mr.. Buchanan
made up his mind he was immov-
able. No man ever filled the Presi-
dental office who knew better than
he did how to enforce the respect due
to his position, and I know OF no
ore more tenacious of his opinion
when his judgment was fixed. He
was absolute master in his W
house. Therefore, when the CAbi-
net meeting adjourned, 1 did not be-
lieve it possible that our official re-
lations could continue. I spent the
most miserable and FESTIVE night Of
nv life. Ny mind was in wild tu-
multi, and I arose the next morning
determined to resign before night. 1
called on Stanton, Holt and Toucey
and expressed to them my exceeding
disap. Uintment at the Presidents
letter and announced to them that l
should that day leave the Cabinet.
stanton said he also would 60, and
Holt would have gone, though he
did not a so. What Toucey
ould have done I do not know.
| When he entered the Cabinet, and
| through his entire service be seemed
to have no opinion crosswi.e from
| the Presidents. He might have
stayed. As o Al I parted with
Toucey, he went to the White House
| and informed the Pie >ident of my in
tentions, aud OF what had taken
place between Stanton, Holt and
myself. MI. Buchanan at .nce re-
quested nv presence; but l hesitated
to 20, for I knew the temper and
strength of the appeal be would
make to me. I felt he would place
his demand that I remain by his side
upon such grounds of personal
friendship that it would make it I'M
possible for me to leave him without
laying my self open to the charge of
having deserted q friend who had
greatly nonored and trusted me. at
The time when he was under the |
shadow of the greatest trouble of hi
life. He sent q secoLd time, and l
went. I found him greatly disturbed,
and his first words " re:
"'Is it true that you are going to
desert me"?
"'It is true that l am going to re-
sign,' was my reply.
"'I am overwhelmed to know
said he, that you, of all other mel.
are going to leave me in this crisis.
You are from my own State, my
closest political and personal friend.
I have leaned upon you in these
troubles as upon none other, and I
insist that you shall stand by me to
the end,'
HE then reviewed our association
and made such personal appeal to
me a. I knew he would when l re-
spOnded to his summons. After he
was through 1 replied:
MI. President, from the start I
had determined to stand by you and
with you to death and destruction, if
need be. I promised myself that as
long as there was a button on your
coat 1 would cling to it. But your
action has taken every button off
and driven me away from you.'
"'What do you refer tO?' said he.
"'YOur reply to the South Caro-
lima Commissioners. That docu.
ment is the powder that has blown
your Cabinet to the four winds. The
Southern members leave because you
do not concede what they ask, and
your conclusions make it impossi-
BILE for them to stay. The paper is
even harder upon the Northern men,
hers of your political househ' Id. It
cannot ash that we stay. I would
not leave for any earthly considera
ton, so ling as [ could stay ~ you
with self respect, but I cannot do it
if the Paper you have prepared is
sent to the gentlemen from South
Carolina
1.-THE President seemed surprised
that I took this document so much
to heart. and I confess that it took
all the determination I had to an
nounce to him my decision with re-
lation to it, for his manner toward
me was kind. and his appeal to me
earnestness itself. Tony sur rise he
did not even argue the points of my
as I expected he would.
heard me without a word, and
when l had finished, said:
"'Judge, you speak the words of
my heart. I recognize the force and
justice of what you say. The letter
to the South Carolina Commission
ers my tongue dictated, not my rea-
son. But 1 feel that we must not
have an open rupture. We are not
prepared for war, and if war is pro-
voked Congress can not be relied up
on to strengthen my arm, and the
Union must utterly PERISH
"'Rut, Mr.. President, you must
stand by your position, boldly, with
your Judgment He did not hest
tate a moment, but turned to me and
"'Your resignation is the one
thing that shall not be. I will not, !
part with you, If you go,
Holt and Stanton will leave. and I
will be in a sorry attitude before the
country. This is the greatest trouble
l have yet had to bear. Here, take
this paper and modify it to suit your
self, but do it before the sun goes .
Before 1 sleep tonight I
must know that this matter is ar
to YOUR satisfaction