OCR Text |
Show THE C ABINET Mr. Lansing is not the first cabinet cabin-et officer to be required to resign his nosilion. In 1 833 William J. Duane I he Secretary of the Treasury, refused re-fused to obey the order of President Jackson to remove the government deposits from the United Slates Bank and after he had been forced 'to re-;;gn re-;;gn was succeeded by Roger B. Tan-y, Tan-y, who was willing to obey the order. or-der. The Senate refused to confirm Taney, and Jackson rewarded him by ippointing him chief Justice. In 1870 President Grant summarily dls missed Marshall Jewell, the Postmas-ter-Cencral, not by reason of a political poli-tical disagreement, but on account of strained personal relations. The Cabinet is regarded as the President's official family. He choos is the members of it without restraint, restra-int, the Senate almost always confirms con-firms them promptly, and they hold office during the President's pleas-ire. pleas-ire. Their duties are prescribed by the laws that created the offices they 'ill modified by later enactments. They are thus under a double responsibility, res-ponsibility, for they are independent of the President's authority in matters mat-ters wherein the law governs their actions, yet, if in excersising their dependence, they act counter to the President's wishes, he may dismiss 'hem instantly. It is clear that in taking the ac-ion ac-ion that led to Mr. Lansings forced signation ,the President did not is.ign the main reason for it. The wo men differed widely on matters of great public importance. The Sec etary of State is the agent through vhom the foreign relations of the "nited States are conducted. Under he Constitution those relations are he sole care of the President. It is herefore proper, in fact it is neces-ary, neces-ary, that the secretary shall be, if ot in full sympathy with the Presi-ent's Presi-ent's policy, at least willing to car-y car-y it out faithfully. Mr. Lansing as not in complete agreement with lis chief. His course may perhaps :e described as loyally but reluctant-!y reluctant-!y acquiescent. His dismissal has caused wide dis-uission. dis-uission. No one who is acquainted vith the theories and principles of mr government can doubt that the 'resident had the right to dismiss nm, or.that, if he felt that Mr. Lan-ing's Lan-ing's continuance in office was hammering ham-mering him in performing his duties, ae was bound to dismiss him. It is natural, nevertheless, that he should 5e criticized for assigning another ban the controlling reason, and one hat' to most persons, even of his own arty, seems not merely trivial but msound. However, we are discuss-ng discuss-ng the rights of the President of the 'nited States; the justice and wis-'om wis-'om of his course is not our topic. The laws do not recognize a cabi-let. cabi-let. Collectively the secretaries lave no function. They advise the President if he asks them to do so, Hit they cannot enforce their advice pon him or upon one another, be- ase each of them is independent i his own department. The Presi- '.ent may do as he pleases not only ibout taking their advice but even about constituting the Cabinet; he may invite whom he pleases and omit to invite others. Although the office of Postmaster-General had been created in Washington's time, the Postmaster-General was not a member of the Cabinet until 1829, when President Jackson asked Mr. Brrry to join it. It seems to follow that when the President is not on hand to preside pre-side over the members of the cabi- net. there is no reason why they hould not consult together. As alters have stood the past few vomits, it appears to be common sense that during the illness of the President they should act as a temporary tem-porary committee to consider questions ques-tions before them, rather than that ; each should decide the questions without help. So it seemed to the secretaries themselves. Mr. Lansing Lans-ing was not especially an offender. : The whole question was one of ex-' ex-' pediency. and in no respect a party matter. Youth's Companion. |