I trust this will not be regarded as a menace, but only as a declared purpose of the Union that it will constitutionally defend and maintain itself." THE CABINET OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
Mr.Lincoln constituted his Cabinet in a manner at least unusual if not unprecedented.

It had been the general practice of Presidents, from the first organization of the government, to tender the post of Secretary of State to the man considered to be next in prominence to himself in the party to which both belonged.

In the earlier history of the country, the expected successor in the Executive office was selected.

This was indeed for a long period so uniform that the appointment to the State Department came to be regarded as a designation to the Presidency.

In political phrase, this mode of reaching the coveted place was known as the "easy accession." By its operation Madison succeeded Jefferson, Monroe succeeded Madison, John Quincy Adams succeeded Monroe.