March 3, 1861; The New York Herald
Washington, March 2, 186l.
The Cabinet vexation has at last come to an end, to the great relief of all concerned. This morning Mr. Cameron got over his squeamishness, and signified his readiness to serve, when it at once became settled that Seward, Bates, Smith, Chase, Cameron, Blair and Welles would constitute the personnel of the Cabinet. A definite assignment of departments to the last two was postponed, owing to the absence of Mr. Welles. His arrival this evening, by special train from Baltimore, E. S. Cleveland, of Connecticut and G. M. R. Pauleson, of New Jersey, and the irrepressible W. S. Wood, enabled the President elect to close up matters.
The Cabinet now stands, definitely and positively, as follows:
Secretary of State……… Wm. H. Seward, of New York.
Secretary of the Treasury.. Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio.
Secretary of the Interior.. Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana.
Secretary of War……….. Simon Cameron, of Pa.
Secretary of the Navy…… Montgomery Blair, of Md.
Postmaster General……… Gideon Welles, of Conn.
Attorney General……….. Edward Bates, of Missouri.
Thus the Cabinet squabble, unparalleled in intensity in the annals of the country, is terminated. The leaders of all factions and parties that directly and indirectly engaged in the struggle are all taking a deep breath.
Few, however, believe that the completion of the Cabinet will be the last of the troubles in connection with it. The almost universal impression is that its efficiency will be paralyzed by an internal contention, expected to break out as soon as executive acts, bearing upon the secession question, will be required, and the distribution of the spoils among the factions represented by the members commenced.
The composition of the Cabinet virtually leaves the South without representation. Mr. Blairwell-known radicalism and coercive propensities will render him more obnoxious to the border States than a Northerner. The fight between Blair and Winter Davis was very close and hotly contested, but a coup de main was achieved today in favor of Blair by the arrival of a delegation of about forty Marylanders, including all the republican electors of the State. The delegation waited on Mr. Lincoln, and a formidable and formal declaration was made that Blair, and not Davis, was the true representative republican of the State. The representations made to Mr. Lincoln about Davis, through the chairman of the delegation, Mr. Corkran, were to the effect that if Mr. Davis should be selected as a Cabinet councillor, it would revive the spirit of uglyism in Baltimore, and destroy forever the republican movement in the State. Mr. Lincoln on this stamped his foot and declared that his mind was now made up, and that he would not be further influenced by the people who were endeavoring to force Davis into his Cabinet. But Winter Davis has a strong position in Mr. Lincoln’s regard, nevertheless, and will doubtless be offered some honorable place.
The conservative element was fully aroused, and made a last desperate effort today against the appointment of Gov. Chase to a place in Mr. Lincoln’s Cabinet, but without success. The border State men, South and North made a powerful appeal to President Lincoln not to appoint him. Chase’s views, they say, upon the subject of slavery, are as radical as Sumner, and the Southern States will regard his appointment as a declaration of war. Several conservative Virginians called upon President Lincoln today and appealed to him not to appoint Chase. Already, they informed him, the border slave States were undecided as to what course they would pursue. If they could be assured that his Cabinet would be conservative, it would aid them in making a stand against the secessionists; but if not, then the border slave States would be united, and would join the cotton States in less than sixty days. President Lincoln appeared fully impressed with the importance of the suggestions, but gave them no intimation as to the course he intended to pursue.
The New York free traders, headed by George Opdyke, are in high glee over the success of Chase, for whom they labored so faithfully all winter. They consider themselves fully consoled for the passage of the Tariff bill. A clash of the free trade and protective interests in the Cabinet is sure to come in due season.
I have it from good authority that both Gilmer and Etheridge could have gone into the Cabinet had they not required positive assurances as to the policy of the administration in reference to Southern matters. Those they demanded in order not to run the risk of an early resignation, but could not obtain them.
During the entire contest for the Cabinet, Mr. Lincoln showed much more coolness and discretion than those that endeavored to influence his action, yet the result shows that their demonstrations were, after all, not without effect.
Col. Ward Hill Lamon, of Illinois, has been offered the position of Private Secretary to the President elect, and is urged to accept it by nearly all of Mr. Lincoln’s friends. His eminent qualification for that important position, and his warm attachment to Mr. Lincoln, render his acceptance especially desirable to them. Should he decline, he will undoubtedly be made Secretary to a first class foreign mission. Washington, March 2, 1861.
Mr. Lincoln is a Gibraltar, and the terrific waves of politicians cannot move him. The Cabinet originally published in the HERALD, and repeated yesterday and today, is the Cabinet of Abraham Lincoln. Every effort has been made by opposing interests to throw Blair and Chase and Cameron out, but today has settled the matter. Those gentlemen have accepted the places assigned to them.
The Interior Department was offered to Mr. Cameron, but he declined it. The War Department was then offered him, which, after consultation with his friends, he decided to accept. Mr. Cameron has been severely and unjustly pursued, and Mr. Lincoln is highly complimented for resisting all opposition and retaining Mr. Cameron in his Cabinet.
Mr. Chase was also hotly pursued, but Mr. Lincoln has resisted his opponents, and made a Cabinet for himself.
This evening Mr. Lincoln dined with the Bremen Minister. Between nine and ten in the evening Mrs. Lincoln received a few of her friends, but the crowd was so great that it was impossible to open the Presidential reception rooms to all who paid their respects.