Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-05
FROnE TmE UNITED STATES.
From the Richmond Enquirer, 27th.I


As announced in our paper the 25h inst, Seward
and Chase have resumed their duties II the Depart
ments o. state and the Treasury. The Herald ssys
the latest phase OF the Cabinet mbrog 10 st Washing
ton is temporary srmstice under which things return
totne position in which they were. Mr.. Seward has
been pusaded by the President reconsider his rsEg
nation and TO resume in fu his rtes in the State De
partment Accordingly, upon his retirement the
otheF nlleated Cabinet resgnations and changes de-
pended 80, with his restoration, there will probsby be
for the present no changes whatever"
Lmeoin' on the 22d, acknowledged the reception Of
the resgnahons Of Seward and Chase and, after due
deLberaion, 70 the conclusion THAT the accept
anee Of their resgnstuns would be incompatible with
tne Pnoe welfare Of the final settlement Of the diff
| euyt tns washington correspondent Of the Herald
The three days wonder has ended The broken
Cabinet has been repaired tbs resipnnr Secretaries
have returned to their places the President has assumed
the responsibility Of thu conduct Of his political advisers
ana she meddiing senatorial has been rebuked
Inns virtual refusal Of the President submit the
attempted dctation of the senators who desire to
range cabinet for him to themselves created
no good feeling between Mr. Lincoln and the wOuld-be
oictAtofs. Although there are many here who believe
that he has missed the golden opportunity Of arranging
the whole Cabinet so that it should conform the pub
nc sentiment unmistakabiy manifested in the recent
elecoss yet the restoration of peace or at least the
return 70 the old order ia the administration has af
forded relief to those who feared that the pressure
! brought TO bear upon Mr.. Lincoln would have com
PEELED him to adopt the unity Of extreme RADICAL N In
his Cabinet which would unquesionsbly have created
dasrous commotion throughout all the loyal states,
( The rebellion itself
u
changes whatever in the Cabinet the military com
manuers and at least for the present. affairs viii be
dueted pretty much as heretofore
IEis refusal of Mr Lncola yied TO the mpertiueEt
Importantly Of the senatorial is regarded a
manifestation on his part Of mere frmness and deter
nation set the part President Of the United states
than he has exhibited at other times when the same
pressure was brought to bear upon him.
| TIE Caucus Meeting.
( The proceedings In the Republican CAUCUS meeting
are thus briefly narrated by the special OF the Hdd
Last Tuesday tha Republican members Of the senate
met m caucus and after session Of four hours duIing
which evsral senators made fierce attacks upon Secre
tary Seward making him responsible for our defea's,
aud declaring that the coduty tired Of the present
conduct IF the war resolution VIZ offered by Senator
Grimes, Of Iowa declaring want of confidence Ia Sec
TetaTy Seward and requesting the President to remove
him This vas passed by vote Of thirteen yeas 70
eleven ays. long discussion entered into, Sena
tor Sumner making lengthy speech, attacking the for
! eign diplomacy of Secretary Seward. Others were
made by Senators Sherman, Trumbui, Wade, etc. Il
was charged that Stewards policy a Fabian one
that Of delay that he had encouraged Mcclellan in his
delays; thai sos idea Of surrounding the rebels
deusion that he responsible for sending the Banks
expedition away the gulf instead of the James river
They then adjourned over to Wednesday, when, after
the adjournment Of the senate they resumed their con-
sultations.
Senator Harris amended the resolution to read
That in the Judgment of the senate, reconstruction
Of the Cabinet would increase the confidence Of the
country"
Senator Sherman objected. because this was too
broad; that Secretary Chase would resign at once if
that passed.
Senator Fessenden then amended it to read: "a par
m reconstruction, and upon that the resolution passed
and a committee Of seven formed. Afterwards
Senators Howard and Harris were added, making it
nine.
on Thursday, Senator King informed Mr.. Seward Of
the action of the Senate and he and Assistant Secretary
Seward the President their resenations
On Thursday evening the committee Of nine waited
the President and lad the matter before him. No re-
suit arrived at, but spescaes were made by the
emes OF Mr Seward, in which he was denounced in
measured terms.
The committee retired and left the matter in the
hands Of the President, believing that it all right
The committee from the senatorial caucus invited
by the President meet him at the White House on
Friday evening On their arrival they found the whole
Cabinet there, excepting Secretary Seward
The President introduced the ssbjec; and stated the
object of the committee
Secretary Chase once stated that he did not come
there to be arraigned by senators
Senator Fe senden said he lid not come thsre to
arrRlgn any one.
The President said they all there on an equality
and invited interchange Of spaion
Senator Harris stated that be mt personal
friend Of Secretary Seward, though formerly a law
partner and thought there a large number of Re
pubcans wdo would rejoice at his leaving the Cabinet
while an equally large number were in favor Of his
remaining. He thought it would be impolitic and IN
cal ed for, because ne quietly opposed any changes
Secretary Stanton said that the resolution was evi
sty af1ed ~ sons one seeretarv Seward
Il any supposed he responsible for the disaster
tn I had occurred they were mistaken; that all the
charges made aiust him false that the Presi
dent knew that the charge that be responsible for
the movement on fredericksburg was groundlsss that
neither he General Hslleek responsible
Senator Grimes made fierce onslaught upon Mr.
Sewsrs.
Mr.. Fessendsn was firm, but determined
The meeting lasted until late hour and adjourned
without any result being accomplished Secretary
Chase however tendsred his resignation to the Pres
dent in order to place him in position to use his
pleasure
Postmaster Blair who ls, next to Mr.. Seward the
most Objectionable man. refused TO resign In all the
interviews the President defended Mr. Seward warmly
denying hat be has actively nterfered with military
movements that his policy has been detrimental to
fIfn 1lero fha TTa
bounded confidence in Secretaries Stanton and Chase
and thought Secretary Weles had done all that could
be done.
He will not remove any member and unless they re.
sgn aad Insist upon their resguatOns being accepted
there viii be no change. The senator's have taken this
step considering it necessary for the successful prOsecu
ton Of the war. They still Of that belief and,
though the matter may be smothered over tomorrow
it wiu only be 70 burst forth again with renewed fury
before long
The Defeat at Fredericksburg.
Burnslde's official account of the late disaster at
Fredericksburg is pub ished in the Herald, and is char
aeterized by that paper as curious document which
more force than it does his Judgment military
msnder." We annex Burnsdes account:
Headquarters ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
FALMOUTH, December 49, 1852.
Major General r. W. Halteek, GsneraEfnC Chief United
States ATIzy, Washington
GENERAL: 1 have the honor to offer the following
reasons for removing the army OF the Potomac
the Rappahannock sooner than was anticipated by the
President, Secretary Of War yourself and for
ing point different from the indicated to you at
our last meeting at the Presidents;
During my preparations for crossing at the place had
hst selected discovered that the enemy had thrown
large portion of his force down the river and elsewhere
thus weakening his defenes in 'front.' and also thought
discovered that he did not anticipate the crossing Of
! whole force at Fredericksburg and hoped, by rap
idly throwing the whole command over at that place.
to separate, by vigorous attack the forces Of the
enemy the river below from the forces behind and
on the in the Of the town. in which case we
could fight him with great advantage in our favor.
4 To do this we had TO ga hight the extreme
right Of the est, which hight commanded road
lately made by the enemy for purposes of rapid
I communication along his lirea which point gained
his position along the crest would have scarcely been
tensble and he could have been driven from them easily
by attack on his front in connection with move
I ment in the rear Of the crest.
How near we came to accomplishing object future
reports will show. But for ths fog and unexpected and
unavoidable delay in building the bridges which gave
the enemy twentyfour hours to concentrate his
forces in his strong positions would almost certainly
have succeeded. ia which the battle would have
bsen nay opinion, far decisive than If had
crossed at the places first selected As was came
very success.
Failing to accomplish the main object we remained
in order Of battle dayB-ong enough decide that
fight with hs infantry-aftsr which we recrossed to
this side Of the river Unmoested without the less Of men
or orproperty.
As the day breke, long lines Of troops were seen
marching 80 their different positions If going on
parade Not hs least Generalization disorganizstion
existed.
To the brave officers and soldiers who accomplished
the feat Of thus recrossng the river in hs face Of the
enemy owe everything.
For the failure in the attack an responsible the
extreme galantry, courage and endurance shown by
them exceeded and would have carried the
points had it been possible.
To the famil3u and friends Of the dead can only oel
my heartfelt sympathies but for the wounded, ear
ofrar