New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-13
Disssusious in the Rebel Congress.
G,,cu Tss Erfcknssad Ens ss!rsS Of FEB o.

The correspOndence between President DAVIS
and the Hon James A. Seldom presents an Argument
upon the powers ard duties OF the Legislative and TX
>cpTe Departments Oi tie Government peculiarly in.
portrait at this time. While our President presents
mort ofcby tie Argument that our theory OF Govern
rneuf unlike at OF Great Britain, eoufeIs power on
the Congress 70 compel Executive compliance with it,
wishes ard demonstrates tie complete independence Of
the President, yet IN Government founded on the
popnaI WILL aud sustained by public opinion. a. oldu
rae Noncompliance with tie viii and " Shes OF tie
popular branch Of the Govern meht must be aecompa-
sied With mach embarrassment. While the Congress
have constitutional right 10 Pat ia or turn ont Cab
tret Minister yet tie organization Of Tie Executive
Department being entirety within tie power of Con.
gToss, may, by repeating The laws WHICH established
those Departments leave the Executive stripped Of al
capacity TO execute the laws, or force hiD 10 comply
with The Wil II The people expressed by COIRTcs
That ans such action tic part Congress would be
facsols and Improper We 90 not hesate TO declare,
but that it is nevertheless within thcTower Of Congress
canuOt be denied end that 4 may 10 within their IL
tention IS rot improbable.
Public opinion is tie life and scul Of popular govern
ne: its channels Of expression arc The Press and tie
voice of TIE representatives I the people ~ WIZ not
DO to qualify public opinion by the term enlightened
for all wclCefued and explicitly expressed public sem
tlmelt must be accepted rs enlightened. IL Only ~
"en!ighened public opinion is 10 be respected, aud
Che authorities 10 b. the judges whether not II Is
"enghtcned the question OF obedience 10 public SEN
timcEt is narrowed down 20 The VIII Of te authorizes.
Wien they Choose 10 obey tic opinion is "eIlight-
eGed 3" when they desire disregard Is Got "enhght
eDed" And, applying tins - tie question of Teorgan-
tzng the Cabinet No man no 1ss watched The course
of public opinion deny that the present Cabinet
Longer retains thc cDLuGkCo OF TIE country AT one
time the Press aud Congress we're each divided upon
ahe Cabinet. The first Congress. which made every
excuse that possible could lot stem tic carrert u
popular sentiment Which setting against TIE Cab
met The present Congress. fresh from the people
PONIES OGt more strongly than the Old for new men.
Tie Press, once divided is nov almost unanimous lot
change o. Cabinet Unless the Press 10 seDd and cor
rupt and the Congress tacous ead unpatTlotic, the
expression Of public sentiment now with unexanpled
ansnniry, demands OF tie President change Of
Nc do t near to inply fiat any want Of confidence
exsts toward tho Prcsid0ht but his fellow citizens be
heye that his own usefulness - impaired by tie voice
snd advice Of meu rot equal tG the occasion. Whether
either men could bare done tiny better or given any
greater satisfaction. Cabot fay bat thar the pes
Cabinet - wholly failed o. secure the confdepce
u The country cal deny. hr. MeTnmnger recoe
rzcd tie aQd retired. Mr. seddoD now Tctres be-
the Virginia Delegation has expressed the opinion
Of tie people vi Virginia. as they Understand IT. against
lhc Cabinet.
Certainly the layy Del artnent has not given ssts
fsction Whether could have dom BET or we DO not
fncan to Intimate; noccd are Of shc opinion ttat
Mr.. Mallory has done sbcat "a well ~ col.d have be-
expected. lie has no nsvy-oeciuse be had TO nayg
yards no slips. 10 men. and Because foreign Govern
zeHts would not pcTWi bin TO bay lie h lost nearly
AL bis gunboaisbesease they Sid not b. built, with
tie diminished TcSOlrcos Of this country If strength
snheisht to encounter me ;Ssses O. me e2sny But
strong desire on The part Of tue peono i)r canse III
thc Navy Department.
The State Department has not secured jas recognition,
but ihet was more its icaiortGne than - fault MI
Benjamin. has not lott unyiod any expedleN that would
tayo ilueaced foreign governments 10 give US justice
and rigAt. But he could not make them aea hence pc
has fcd and any Othei statesman would PROBABLY have
IucceOde1 no better One great cause Of Mr. Bt Hanihs
has been the fgct that IN no proea nation
grod by him. as Secretary OF state has ever Tie exist
.nce OF lriune God been admitted. lie has confined
us State paper Dcistca belief and stamped npOn
he religious faith OF the country practical denial OF
he Tfinitarian Jehovah. This was his filth bat not
be faith Cf tie widespread religious sentiment that
reyails throughout this country lie people 90 not
he ~ DO made 20 choose between Jesus Christ ana
udah H. Benjamin. AID 70 lake tie latter In preference
wiC. tie COngross has eBdeayored 10 hange This and
- sdc9sea regulations de-isped % preclude TIE eAea'