The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-05-16
sL.I,gA AND GARFIELD.

rhe Maine s,ntesmnur letter nccsptirg
aUIg tho Portfolio OF state.
The following letter, now nearly iour
years old, bas much praaent interest, and
Is worth reproducing:. ~
WASHINGTON, December 20, 1880.
MIR DEAR GARFIELD: Your generous In
vta,ion 10 enter your Cabinet as Secretary
of Slate has been under consideration ior
more than three weeks. Tho thought had
really never occurred 10 my mind until at
our late conference you presented 1t with
such copent arguments In It's favor and with
such warmth OF personal friendship In aid
Of your kind offer.
know that IN early answer Is desirable,
and l hive waited only long enough 70
consider tho subject In all its bearings, ana
make up my mind, definitely and conclu'
siyely, I now Say to you, In the same
cordial spirit in which you have invited
me, that accept the position.
Il Is no ALLEGATION for me 10 add that !
make this decision, not for the honor Of
the promotion II gives mo in the phblic
service, but because think can be useful
to the country and to the party; uae'ul 10
YOU as tho responsible leader Of the party
and the great head Of the Government.
| I am influenced somewhat, perhaps, by
the shower OF letters have received urg-
| inp mo 10 accept, written 10 mo In conHe.
uuence OF the mere unauthorized newspa.
per report that you had been pleased TO
oiIer me the place. While have received
these letters from ail sections OF the Union,
| haze been especially pleased and even
surprised at tho cordial and widely, ex.
tended feeling In my favor throughout
New England, where l had expected TO
encounter local jealousy and perhaps rival
aspiration.
In our new relation shall give all that l
nm and all that / can hope 10 be, freely
and joyiully, to your service. You need
no pledge Of my loyalty in heart and in act.
should be false to myself did not prove
true both 10 the great trust you contide 10
me and to your own personal and political
fortunes in the present and in the future.
Your administration must be made bril-
|liantly successful and strong in the con.
hdenco and pride Of tho people, not at all
directing its energies for reelection, and
yct compelling that result by tho logic oil
events and by the impsrious necessities Of
!, tllC Elluhtluls
TO that most desirable contamination !
feel that, next to yourself, l can possibly
, contribute IS much influence as any other
one man. | say this not from egotism or
vaingory, but merely rs deduction from
a plain analysis OF the political forces
which have been at work in the country
for five years past and which have been
significantly shown in two great National
Conventions. accept it as ono OF the
hsppiest circumstances connected with this
affair that in allying my political fortunes
with yours-or rather for the time merging
mine in yours-my heart goes with my
head, and TIN. carry to you not only po.
liticsl support but personal and devoted
friendship. can but regard it as some.
what remarkable that two men OF the same
age, entering Congress at the same time,
influenced by tho same aims and cherish.
ing the same ambitions, should never, for
q single moment in eighteen years Of close
intimacy, have had a Misunderstanding or
q coolnees, and tina! our friendship has
steadily grown with our growth, and
strengthened with our strength.
1t is this fact which has led me to the
conclusion embodied in this letter; for how.
ever much, my dear Garfield, might adj.
mire you a5 a statesman, would not enter
your Cabinet if l did not believe in you as
a man and love you as friend.
Always faithfully yours,
JAMES G. RrAJNp