Mr.Randall was promptly nominated as Mr.Dennison's successor and proved, in all respects, a faithful follower of his chief.
A week later Mr.James Speed resigned his post as Attorney-general.

He had been regarded as very conservative on all pending issues relating to Reconstruction, but he now saw plainly that the President was inevitably drifting, not only to extreme views on the issue presented, but to an evident alliance with the Democratic party and perhaps a return to its ranks.

Against this course Mr.Speed revolted.

His inheritance of Whig principles, his anti-slavery convictions, his personal associations, all forbade his following the President in his desertion of the Republican party.

He saw his duty, and promptly retired from a position which he felt that he could not hold with personal consistency and honor.