The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-13
THE CABINET CRISIS OF 1seO-e1
The Scene That Ensued When Judge Black
rendered His Resignation.

1.-THE most painful incident of my long as
ISOLATION with Mr.. Buchanan took place the
day after he read his answer to the South
Carolina commissioners in cabinet meeting
on the goth of December, 1860. l recall with
great distinctness the scene in the CABINET
when the paper was read. 1t fell upon me
like the kick of mule The Southern mem
bers were almost as much disturbed. None
of us said a great deal about it, because all
of us knew by experience that when Mr.. Bu-
chanan made up his mind he was lmmovaole.
No man ever filled the presidential office
who knew better than he did how to enforce
the respect due to his position, and L know
of no one more tenacious OF his opinion
when his judgment was fixed. He was alb
solute master in his own house. Therefore,
when that cabinet meeting adjourned, L did
not believa it possible that our Official rela-
lions could continue. L spent the most
miserable and FESTIVE night of my life. My
mind was 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
disappointment at the Presidents 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 opinion cross
5.
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 my
SELF Mr.. Buchanan at once requested my
presence; but | heSitated to go, for L knew
the temper and strength of the appeal he
would make to me. | felt that he would
place his demand that 1 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 a friend who
had greatly honored and trusted me, at a
time when he was under the shadow of the
greatest trouble of his life. He sent
a second time and I went. l found him
greatly disturbed, and his first words were:
us it true that you are going to desert
meT
"It is true that am going to resign was
my reply. ..,.,, .,.,., = ,-,,, .o,, b.
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. l 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 1 knew
be would when [ responded to his summons
After he was through | replied:
"'Mr. President, from the start l had de-
termined to stand by you and with you to
death and destruction. if need be. l prom
ised myself that as long as there was a button
on your coat I 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 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 upon
the Northern members of your political
household 1t forces the Southern men out,
and you cannot ask that we stay. 1 would
not leave you for any earthly consideration.
so long as 7 could stay by you with self
respect, but cannot do it if the paper you
have prepared is sent to the gentlemen from
South Carolina
1.-THE President seemed surprised that took
this document so much to heart, and I con-
fess it took all the determination had to
announce to him my decision with relation
TO it, for his manner toward me was kind,
and his appeal to me earnestness itself. To
my surprise he did not even argue the points
OF my objection, as l expected he would. He
heard me without word, and when l had
finished, said;
/ recognize the force and justice of what you
say. The letter to the South Carolina COM
mlsslonerS my tongue dictated, not my rea-
son. But l feel that we must not have an
open rupture We are not prepared for war,
and it war is 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 your judg-
ment.' He did not hesitate a minute but
turned to me and said:
Your resignation is the one thing that
e10l1 L. I
you. If you 90, Holt and Stanton will leave,
and l will be in sorry attitude before the
country. This is the greatest trouble | have
yet had to bear. Here, take this paper and
modify it to suit yourself. but do it before
the sun goes down. Before l sleep tonight
must know that this matter is arranged to
your satisfaction
Il left MIR. Buchanan and went directly to
my office | confess that even after what
the President said had not much hope that
be would adopt my radical views but sat
down and wrote memorandum giving nv
objections to the paper, and Stanton copied
il for me. / sent the original to the Presi-
dent and retained the copy.
"rhe President accepted this paper and
framed his answer to the so-called South
Carolina commissioners to avoid the points
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-called commissioners was such re-
Duke to their pretensons that they returned
an answer so insulting in terms that the
cabinet unanimously sustained the Presi-
dent in not receiving it, Very soon after
this the Southern members went out We
got General Dix and Horatio King in, and
we had comparatively plain sailing from
that time until the Lincoln administration
relieved u.s."
A Summer Campaign.