, 1865-02-23

Virginia were considered. In the same meet
| ing, after frank interchange Of views, 1t WI:
resolved that the opinion Of the delegation
| respecting change Of the Cabinet should bt
made known to tie President as the advice o.
] friends.
| 4 Amember (he Speaker OF the House) was
| deputed to communicate the advice In tue
most friendly, respectful and confidential
manner to the President, with suitable ex.
plantations Of the motives and views of the
delegation. He was authorized to communi
cate also with any Of tte heads Of depart
mente, but Otherwise theprocecdings we're to
be regarded Us confidential. The communi-
cation was accordingly made to the President,
we supposed, In the same spirit Of patriotism,
candor and friendship which had prompted
the action Of the Delegation.
The advice thus rendered By the delegation
Tas that general reconstruction Of the Eubinet
sod, dt1nanded BY public sentiment, and tnas NC
e*sary for the restoration Of the public conf
d<nce. 1t WAS given as an opinion off delega-
tion friendly to the Administration. The de-
cisitn Of the matter was Of course left to the
President, with whom 1t coustltutionally
rested -
When the President had previously invited
this delegation to consult with him, We re-
ceiyed with satisfaction his advice respecting
suppose that whenever re should deem 1t our
duty to otIer him counsel respecting impor-
tant affairs in the Executive Department, our
advice would be resented ds o0ictous.
If We had intended to embarrass the Pres
ident OF the hcads Of departments by an ap-
pearance Of ccnstraint ne might bayc In
yited members Of other delegations. known
to concur with lis in opinion respecting the
Cabinet, to unite with rs in action. We pre-
fcr1cd to avoid such an appearance, even at
the hazard Of rendering our advice less inlu-
ential and Of subjecting ourselves to miscon.
struction.
It can scarcely be necessary to state that
the members OF this delegation did not u.s.
sumo for themselves, or for;thc House Of
Representatives, or for Congress, power to
compel the resignation of heads OF depart
ments by any expression Of opinion. They
would be made In Congress which might
bring on collision between the Legislative
aud Executive departments, or constrain the
Executive to make concessions. We desired
to prevent such movement when We advised
the President to conform the composition Of
Congress an1 the country. We confidently
hoped that such change would, by its effects
upon Ccngrt IS as well as the Executive De-
lartmcnt, make the action Of the govern
1nent ut critical period more efficient for
tLe pnbllc safety.
The delegation, in advising the President;
did not discriminate among the heads Of de-
partmcnts, wha1cycr were our individual
Judgments Of particular officers, This course
appeared to be the best suited to nll the cir
cumstances, and especially to the state Of
public sentiment, II not required BY sound
$ political principle. We chose to regard the
Cabinet US body Of counscllo1s hc}d respon-
general coursc Of tho entire administration,
besides having each separate responsibility
as head Of his own department. Whatever
may be the theory Of our government, It lad
not occurred to us before the publication of
the correspondence now under Consideration
IN our political system could, through
dependence on the pleasure Of the
President, become 50 insignificant that
change Of the heads Of departments could not
alter the administrative policy Of the govern:
mcnt in anE degree. 1t could not be presum-
filing these high places. would contribute no
independent advice, information or influence
to the policy Of the administration, or that
they would long continue to hold office either
In complete subse1yiency to single mind or
in defiance Of the general sense Of their couu-
President has power to dismiss thcm-a pow
cr ft to be exercised for the public welfare In
q great cr1sis-apl that TO him belongs O con-
trolling authority and the chief honor as well
as the responsibility OF the administration.
We did not design either to abatc the consti-
to take from our country the guiding intiu-
ence ofn President In whom We greatly con-
tlde and whom We hare firmly supported.
It is obvious that the general advice sug-
gested By this delegation to the President
based on general reason, alleging no fault
and arrnigning no individual mere advice to
be adopted. applied or rejected By the Presi-
dent--might have been substantially accept
I'd without excluding every particular head of
department from neW Arrangement. We
expected and desired that at least one ex-
cepslon would be made. It would not have
betn proper for this delegation to Indicate to
the President. when theyl volunteered coun-
least Of all, would it have been proper for us
as a delegation, to single out Secretary
from our own State for partial action, highly
as we esteemed the Virginiau then In oiiice,
and as much us VIC desired our State to be re-
presented IN tic Cabinet. Misconceiying the
fellow citizen, Mr.. secdon, without q general
reconstruction of the Cabinet, resigned the
office Of Secretary Of War. II ne hayo un-
Intentionally wounded his sensibilitSes, VIC
deeply regret that such q consequence result
cd from our action or from bis construction
Of 1t.
In letter accepting his resignation thePre.
his decision to resign, because, he adds, II
cannot admit the existence Of power or
right iii the legislative derc:::-:tment Of the
Government, or IN nny branch OF 1t, 10 con
tIol the continuance In office Of those *prin-
clral officers III each Of the executive depart
ments," whose choice the Constitution has
vested in tue Chief Magistrate &c. He OBJ
to Mr.. Scddon's resignation are without pre-
cedent. In conceding just nnd legitimate
influence to enlightened public opinion, he
dtnics "that the declaration Of q State dele
CATION, or even Of one or both Houses Is en-
TITLED to be considered Us the authentic ex-
precision Of such opinion OF as requiring con
eession from coordinate department Of the
Government"
The public can now Judge how far the dis
cussion Of such topics was relevant to our
action, and how justly Or wisely the publica-
ton Of such correspondence, Or the spirit
which pervades 1t, responds to thc proceed
ings and purposes of ibis delegation. That
more authentic counsel of Congress, should
be repclled in such manner, with such
claims and at such time, is q Circumstance
which We deplore for the sake Of the coun-
try. and, Jet US add, for the sake Of the Pre-
sident., 1t will not provoke us to respect
tul cont oyeI6y- It cannot abate our dero-
tion to the public cause. It does not alter
our principles of action. But since, By the
publication of this correspondence, members
Of the Cabinet hare (probably with their con-
scnt) been placed before the tribunal of pub
Tic opinion at issue with the Virginia defega-
ton upon the question whether they should
have 1cmained or been retained In Office not
wt,hs anding the condition. Of our country
and all the Indications Of public sentiment,
this delegation does not rccoll from that Is
sue. Lei it be decided By the country to
which We are responsible, and to which high
executive officers ought 10 acknowledge their
responsibility. - Whatever else cnsues may
oui country he saYed.
By order Of the delegation.
THohAs S. BococK,
February II, 1865. Chairman.
pe*r61an.n.