Year: 1870

WASHINGTON, Dec. IG, 1870.


The Reported Changes i'm The Cnbinet.


The fumored impending changes IN the Cabinet
still creste some sensation here, and together with
the conyroversy between Shurz and Drake in the
Senate CONCERNING the political situation in Mis-
Bouri, constitute the principal topics OF con-
yersasi on IN Washington tonight. The con-
temphted resignation OF Secretary Boutwell,
has been reiterated to-day, and received consid-
cradle credence In Congressional and diplomatic
circles. The President and the members Of his
Cabinet including the Secretary Of the Treasury
himself, are avowedly profoundly ignorant OF any
intended cnange any substantial reasons for any
change in the Cabinet it is at present constituted
The President has the fullest confidence In all
Of his constitutional advisers, and they have
she fullest confidence IN him, according
TO what must be REGARDED as competent
authority upon the subject and yet while this per-
Hona admiration Of each other ana this oicia har-
mony are stated to prevail, there appears to be
settled sentiment In the public mind that If some
changes are not immediate they not far remote.
There was q meeting OF the Cabinet to-day, and
some people assume TO say that MIR. Boutwell,
then and there resigned The fact is however, that
Notwithstanding all that has been said in contradc-
tiOn OF the rumored changes, the announcement OF
the resignation of secretary Boutwell, is only prema-
ture In this connection it Is proper to that
there the highest authority for stating that il any
member of the Cabinet withdraws it Will not
be because any differences OF opinion on
questions OF policy has arisen in Cabinet councils
between The President and him. Seeking the secret
cause for the sensation about BOutwell's intended
resignation 1t would seem to be found in an intend
ed movement to make the Secretary OF the Treasury
q competitor for the republican Presidential success
sion In 1872


Senator CamerOn's Views ON Cabinet Omcers.


Much has been said about the complaints OF Penn
gylvanians because their State has now repre-
sentative In the Cabinet. Looking over the whole
field OF Pennsylvania politics, there perhaps,
two men who represent In a greater degree the po-
ntica views OF that State than Senator Simon Uam-
eron and Colonel John W. Forney. They have fig.
ured in national as well as State politics for over
q quarter of century. No man Is more
familiar with the old Keystone State. and few are
more deeply interested In her material and political
success than Senator Cameron. In conversation
This evening he spoke freely the question OF Penn
sylvania and the Cabinet. There was, he said, q
great deal Of noise and talk about this subject,
which amounted TO nothing No responsible repub-
hcan, certainly no man who had any claim to speak
for the republican party OF Pennsylvania, had ever
asked General Grant for place in the Cabinet either
for himself for the State Cameron was surprised
TO hear 80 much said about it in the newspapers.
According to them. 1t looked verv much as II the
Pennsylvania delegation did nothing but besege the
White House to get some Pennsylvania put In the
Presidents Cabinet SO far Cameron was con-
cerned, this was not true. The substantial
German and the Scotch-Irish element OF
Pennsylvania were too proud TO ask
any President to recognize their state If he did
see proper TO do so. The people or Pennsylvania
would be glad to one of their representative men
in the Cabinet; but they not uneasy about 1t,
and they were not going to beg Tor it, They did not
even demand the appointment OF Mr.. Douglass as
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue. They con-
sidered HIM a very fit man for the place,
but they never made it a point with the Presi-
dent that Douglass should be appointed When
Pennsylvania made points OF that kind she gene
rally carried them. There had been great deal
said Of the Pennsylvania politicians, and people
who did not know better would suppose that there
was little else in The State besides politicians This
was mistake. Few men in Pennsylvania 1T for
the place would take position In the Cabinet, for
the that the wealth OF the mines, railroads
and manufactures oil the State had attracted nearly
all Its talent. Men VINO sought political posi-
tton were the men who as general
rule, could not succeed in the regular business OF
lie. The able men Of Pennsylvania mad enough to
occupy tier minds at home without coming here
TO beg for positions the salaries of which were not
adequate to their support.


Here we interrupted the veteran Senator to in
quire II he would accept position in the Presi.
dents Cabinet IL it were offered HIM by Grant2


General Cameron replied that he would not, under
any circumstances. He had once accepted such a
place against his own better judgment, bur he
would lot do SO again. He would not take any
place in the gift Of the administration. When his
term in che Senate expired he would be seventyfour
years of age He wanted ii understood that he
woulG never again be candidate for the Senate.


This las. sentence the Senator repeated two
three times. That one thing. he said. ne
had made up his mind to, and he intended to adj
here to it. inquired what he thought Of Colonel
Forney, In connection with the CabinetS
He SAID he had noticed Colonel Forney's
name useG in that connection, and
although he had not talked with Forney on the
subject he had no doubt all that was said about
1t was without Forney's consent or appreciation.
Forney, said Nj Cameron, has newspaper In
PENNSYLVANIA, which, if he VIII devete his time
TO it. will give him more power than any place in the
Cabinet. We want, he continued, great journal
ltst in Pennsylvania, and are OF opinion
that Forney fills that place. He (Forneyl
has wasted his time here in serving the
republican marty, and have eften said to
MIN II be would take my advice he would allow the
politicians to get paper OF their here and pay


or the luxury; they would then find out what For
ncy has been doing for them. II Fcrney will pursue
the same course as Mr. Bennett has adhered to dur
ing his long Journalistic career he will with all his
experience and advantages, be the ruling power In
pennsylvania.


asked the Senator at this point what he thought
OF Pennsylvania in connection with the next presi.
dental election2 In reply he said it was well
established fact 10 his mind that no republican Pre-
sdent could be elected next time without the vote OF
Pennsylvania. The people OF Pennsylvania felt
s,lls and they were conscious Of the commanding
position which they held. He believed the people of
his State would support the administration OF Presi
Sent Grant, because 1t harmonzes with their notions
OF right IL was peculiar characteristic of the peo-
ple OF PennsyIvania to pay their debts No man or