Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/101

 JOHN TYLER 73 cis Granger, postmaster-general, ^esigned^ their places.* The adjournment of congress had been fixed for Monday, the 13th, and it was hoped that, suddenly confronted by a unanimous resignation of the cabinet and confused by want of time in which to appoint a new cabinet, the president would speaking to a friend of his father s hold-over cabinet, said: &quot;When my father succeeded to the presidency he continued Harrison s cabi net in office until he found that they were working against him. His first cabinet meeting was held on the day succeeding the death of President Harrison and it was perhaps the most remarkable cabinet meeting in history. When all the members were present and the doors were closed Daniel Webster, the secretary of state, arose and addressed my father, saying: Mr. President, I suppose you intend to carry out the ideas and customs of your predecessor, and that this administration, inaugurated by President Harrison, will continue in the same line of policy on which it has begun. Am I right? &quot; My father, much astonished, nodded his head almost involuntarily and looked at Mr. Webster with wonder. Daniel Webster straight ened himself up at this and continued: &quot; Mr. President, it was the custom in our cabinet meetings of President Harrison that he should preside over them. All measures relating to the administration were to be brought before the cabinet and their settlement was to be decided by the majority of votes, each member of the cabinet and the president having but one vote. &quot; My father was always courteous, but he was also firm. He rose to his feet, and looking about the cabinet apartment he said: Gen tlemen, I am very proud to have in my cabinet such able statesmen as you have proved yourselves to be. I shall be pleased to avail my self of your counsel and advice, but I can never consent to being dictated to as to what I shall or shall not do. I am the president, and I shall be held responsible for my administration. I hope I shall have your hearty co-operation in carrying out its measures. So long as you see fit to do this I shall be glad to have you with me. When you think otherwise I will be equally glad to receive your resigna tion. This,&quot; concluded Mr. Tyler, &quot;settled the question, and there was no further trouble as to who was the head of the cabinet.&quot; A similar incident occurred in Lincoln s cabinet. EDITOR.
 * John Tyler, Jr., the son and private secretary of President Tyler,