Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-02-19
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1s, 1868.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE

what the journals called ministerial Crisis,
superinduced in consequence Of political demon
stration made on the President by a committee of
Republican Senators.
It subsequently appeared that the "demonstra-
tion" had been concerted by party "caucus"
called for the purpose, and that in this conference
resolution was proposed which, as first prepared,
declared want of confidence on the part of tie
Senators present in the Secretary Of State. This
resolution, after discussion, was SO modified as to
express to the President a unanimous recommen-
dation in favor of partial reconstruction of the
Cabinet, without designating any individual mem
ber On being informed of the fact, the Secretary
OF State Immediately sent to the President his
signation, and requested that it might be imue-
diately accepted The Assistant Secretary of State
sent in his resignation at the same time and in tie
same manner.
On the following day Mr.. CHASE likewise ten
dered to the President his resignation of the Office
of Secretary of the Treasury. This unexpected
step on his part was caused by his desire to leave
the President untrammellcd, should he in view of
recent political occurrences, desire to remodel the
Cabinet according to the literal demand of the Re-
publican caucus.
These proceedings naturally produced profound
sensation, well by of the political situa
tim which they created as because of the anoma-
lous circumstances under which this "Minsterial
Crisis was precipitated on the President and the
country. 1t was every where felt that such de-
mopstration, however pacific in the agencies it
employed, was essentially revolutionary in the
theory on which it was founded, involving, as it
did, direct encroachment on the legitimate pre-.
negatives Of the Executive branch of the Govern
ment. And, as if to heightcn the popular sense of
the anomaly Involved in this transaction, it was
portion of single body Of Congress, and that the
farthest removed from the people, which assumed
to dictate to the President this reconstruction of
his Cabinet.
When, therefore, in response to the invitation Of
the President, both Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase re-
sumed their functions in. their respective Depart
ments, it was generally felt in view Of the eminent
ability with which they ha each discharged their
important duties in the present critical state of
public affairs that the Senators who had taken the
initiative in this demonstration might well feel
grateful to the country if it would forget the part
they had borne in such an irregular proceeding
It may therefore justly create surprise to it
stated, we doc authority usually well informed,
that still another " demonstration is proposed to
be made on the President by portion Of his po-
ltcal friends in favor Of the removal of Mr. Seward
For instance, the intelligent correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, who writes from this city under
the signature of "Aga,' in his letter which ap-
pears in that Journal of yesterdays date, refers to
this subject as follows:
14Thlngs have TO sharp point between the Pres
dent and The Republican Senators about Mr. Seward They
eli gle him out and insist that be shall be removed"
1t is intimated that some # the Presidents
"freuds" have gone SO far as to threaten him with
their determined opposition hereafter in case he
refuses comp plance with their wishes. This state
ment derives confirmation from the suggestion
made by Mr.. Wendell Phillips in his bitter and
vituperative attack on the President, when speak
ing in Brooklyn few days age. On that occa-
sion, it will be remembered, he held the following
language:
Prcss forward with the bayonet Of Republican demand
This Administration which does little enough With the
bryonet behind II will do nothing at all with Democratic
drsg under is feet No guess any thing Of the
nscrutable purposes Of Providence the Immediate f
ture We only arrange ourfeves around the leader
and endeavor t. make him breast the You and are
comparatively powerless. 1t 10 Of public opinion that
tpeak That Senate and that House enough
the nanp and they will not tell it. They stand able 10
pssh this Administration from their stools and they dare
not take the risk They say, We put perl the nation
reply {, them, Yes you do but ,oen the patient is dy
ixg HE MUST re TREATED SOMEHOW OTHER"
We cannot, Of course, entertain an opinion SO
derogatory to the President as to suppose that he
will allow himself to be pushed from his STOOL"
in the eyes Of the nation, by any outside influences
like those which have once been brought unsucccss-
fully to bear on him, and repetition of which is
now foreshadowcd We hope, for the honor Of MI
concerned, that this renewed atcmpt to "prcss"
the Executive in a direction contrary to his con-
victions Of public duty may be abandoned. If the
President should yield to such extrancou, pressure,
in matier so intimately concerning his own logiti-
mate functions, what vcstge Of respect for his Office
could be retained either by himself or the people
And when, as Of present. the Office of the President
j. magni6ed by the tremendous responsibilities of
which hc is the dcposiary, it is surely no time to
break down the mpniments with which that Office
is hedged about in the organic Law Of the land and