Year: 1870

The Interference with his Reform Policy


The circumstances OF hts Rea,gnation.
The Washington correspondent OF the Boston Ad-
uertiser, in forwarding the correspondence which led
to the resignation of Secretary Cox, wrote as fol-
lows:


this step the part OF the Secretary, and also of
the reasons which he assigned in the resignation
have been authorized at the White House. The let
ters themselves now set at rest all controversy Ia
regard to their real contents and charaeter. The
following may be relied upon as correct statement
Of some Of the causes which forced the present alton
OF the issues set before the President by the Secre
tary.


aware Of vigorous efforts, on the part or politicians
and many whose schemes he would not forward in
his department, 90 induce the President TO remove
him. Previous to leaving in September for q short
vacation, there were uDmistakabe signs that the
President was yielding to the concerted attack upon
General Cox. Shortly after the latter left the city
order, TO which he had called the attention OF the
clerks in his department, regulating the absences for
voting, was peremptOrily revoked by the President,
at the instance Of Senators chandler and Cameron,
without any consultation whatever with the Secre-
taTy or any subsequent communication with him on
tiOn The order thus set aside not a new one,
and has been already referred TO in these dispatches
but its history should be briefly given here.


"a year ago the Secretary, In his Efforts TO render
his department efficient was greatly embarrassed
by the long absence OF the clerks. Most OF them
the usua vacation OF one month, and subsequently,,
ten days, and more frequently two weeks In addi-
notice that in future clerks must so arrange their
vacations as TO include the time OF election,
serve serve enough from the month allowed to enable





extra time given for election, and have IL deducted
from their pay.


''This year at the proper time it was formally
brought TO the attention of the clerks. The Penn
syIyania politicians and others Immediately carried
the matter before the President, and he, with no
other word to the Secretary, revoked his order.
Meantime the boasts and threats OF leading party
managers, openly made in the department, showed
that they were confident OF complete victory upon
the question at issue between themselves and the
Secretary, and their defiant conduct, both in pr-
vate and in public, was such that no Cabinet orn-
Ger having any self respect could longer delay pac
ing the issue of full support against them, or the
acceptance Of his resignation, squarely before the
President.


There had also been attempts from the same
sources TO change the Indian policy far, at least
allow ing the selections TO be made by benevolent
President had directed correspondence TO be opened
with various missionary societies, asking them TO
recommend proper persons for agents. The Secre-
fully committed himself and the department
TO make such appointments as these soce-
ties should agree upon. As the recon-
were accordingly made out and signed. Imme
scene, one OF these commissions was suspended aud
commissioned, the latter assigning, as cover fOT
the transaction the false reason that the Methodsts
wanted this man for an agent The society 70
which the Secretary had committed himself at once
wrote 70 know why faith mad not been kept, and the