New York Herald, “More Trouble About Old Abe’s Cabinet,” February 10, 1861

MORE TROUBLE ABOUT OLD ABE’S CABINET. – Mr. Lincoln’s aid-de-camp, or Grand Chamberlain, has had no difficulty about arranging the programme for the journey of the Presidential party from Springfield to Washington; but Abraham himself is sorely perplexed as to what he will do when he arrives at the federal capital and enters upon his duties. Cabinet making he finds a much more difficult job than rail splitting. The radical republicans in the West are bitterly opposed to his Premier, Mr. Seward, but seem at a loss for some valid reason for their hostility. Cameron was set aside, we are told, on the ground that he had been mixed up with some rather high flavored jobs; and if such is really the case, why should not the enemies of Seward open a similar battery upon him? Seward has always been the friend and apologist of Matteson & Co.; and Weed, the Wellington of the lobby, is the right bower of the New York Senator, who has not scrupled to lend his influence in aid of Lord Thurlow’s schemes. It would be easy enough to make out a case against Mr. Seward, or, indeed, almost any other prominent politician who is eligible to an appointment in Lincoln’s cabinet. The new President has our sincere sympathy. Not one name, except that of old Mr. Bates, whom nobody objects to, because nobody knows anything about him, of all those proposed for his Cabinet, has been well received by the republican leaders. He must make a coup d’état and insist upon having his own way in the appointment of his constitutional advisers, turning them out afterwards in case they do not fill their positions acceptably to the people. As for the politicians, a cabinet of angels would not satisfy them.