The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-02


Amid the conflicting accounts of the last
Cabinet crisis, that which seemed to us
most reliable, is furnished in letter from
Washington, written by Henry j. Raymond
to his own paper, the N. Y. Times, the fol-
lowing synopsis ofwhich we find in the Mil
waukee Sentinel. The movement for a
Cabinet change, seems to have been sud
denly sprung on portion Of the Republi-
can Senators, by those who are most hos
tile to Mr., Seward, and, at the first session
of the Republican Caucus, MIR. Seward S
removal was the only object aimed at. The
tardy prosecution Of the war, the sending
of Banks to the Cult, and opposition to the
Emancipation Proclamation imputed
to Mr.. Seward. ~.
At this session of the Caucus, no rusult
was arrived at, the conservatives demand
ing and obtaining delay.
AT the next session twenty-nine Sena-
tors were present. Mr.. Harris proposed
that reconstruction Of the Cabinet be in
sisted on, SO that the movement might not
appear solely as an attack on Mr.. Sew
ard. Senator Wilson cleared Seward from
any responsibility as to the Banks Expe-
dition, and it was stated that $50 far from
opposing the Emancipation Proclamation,
Mr.. Seward not only gave it his support at
the time it was issued, but suggested and
caused to be inserted one of the most i'm
portant of the provisions which it en-
bOdies.''
Mr.. Harris substitute of reconstruc-
ton" was amended, on motion of Mr.. Fes-
sender, to read "pagtial reconstruction, p"
when, after considerable debate, it passed,
all present, save Mr.. King, voting aye.
A committee of nine then waited on the
President-viz: Collamer, Sumner, Fes-
sender, Harris, Howard, Wade, Trumbull,
Grimes and Browning.
Mr.. Seward got the start of the Com
mittee, and before the caucus had adj
journed, he and his son had handed in their
designations, to take immediate effect.
He declined to converse with the Presi-
dent on the subject Of his resignation, and
performed none of the duties of his office
except the necessary routine business.
On the evening of Thursday, the 18th,
the Committee read brief paper contain
ing their views, urging more vigorous
prosecution of the war, but free from any
personal illusions.
The President replied, in effect, that
" U7lat lie country wante0 ras military
success. Without that nothing could go
right-with that nothing could go wrong.
1.-The had cabinet of Angels, they
could not give the country military sue
cess, and that was what was wanted, and
must be had" He then asked the COM
lnittee, individually, to express his opinion
as to Mr.. Stewards withdrawal.
Messrs. Fessenden and Grimes declined
for different reasons. Messrs Wade,
Turnbull and Sumner were unequivocally
for the acceptance of Mr.. Stewards resig-
nation. Messrs. Collamer and Harris were
against ton account of its probable dis
tracing effect.
Mr.. Raymond thinks that if Mr.. Seward
goes out an entire reconstruction will be
Notwithstanding Mr.. Chase-whose
continuance in office seems demanded by
common consent.
The melting and Immediate cause of the
movement against Mr.. Seward was the
Fredericksburg disaster, connected as it
seems to be with the sending of Banks to
the Gulf, which was attributed to Mr..
Seward.
This statement we have digested from
the very lengthy letter of Mr.. Raymond
above alluded to. 1t bears the indications
of reliability, and the facts stated were
undoubtedly derived from ''good author
ity." We have no space for comments.