The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-15

such action. Of the Legislature, or its
members. 81
Special considerations, involving both
sentiments and convictions of duty, yet
in entire consistency with the constitu-
tional views so ably presented by you,
governed my course. While reluctant,
as still am, to believe that the advice
of the delegation in Congress from viz
ginia embodied the "enlightened public
opinion" of the State, yet it necessarily
had an imposing appearance of express
ing the present feeling OF tho State, at
least in relation to the member of your
Cabinet who was her citizen. A Virgi-
nian, have ever cherished peculiar pride
in my State, and have felt tho obliga-
tons to honor and heed her lightest
voice. l deemed myself, therefore,
bound to defer to what had the plausi
BILE semblmcc Of her will. Besides,
as have in my letter of resignation in
timated, the expression of opinion from
so influential body as the delegation
Of my State. even though mistaken,
could not fail to impair the confidence
and capacity for usefulness which,
in the present exigencies, the Sc
cretary Of War should possess in the
fullest possible measure In this point
of view my retirement was due to the
Confederacy and its cause. To yourself
l conceived it no less due. 1t was pro-
fessed, and l had no reason to doubt,
that the action of the Virginia dclega~
ton was taken in no factious or hostile
spirit towards you, but, on the contrary,
was induced by friendly, not less than
patriotic feelings, and the desire to i'm
part additional strength and confidence
to your administration. Whatever little
influence might be attached to the opin~
ions Of the delegation as to the members
of the Cabinet from other States, it
might naturally be expected not to be
without weight as a manifestation of
public opinion in reference to the member
from their own State. 1t was therefore
incumbent on me to disembarrass you
from all feelings of delicacy or personal
regard towards myself which might
hinder the freest exercise Of your judg
ment in the selection of another Secretary
who could command more fully the con-
Gdence Of the country and bring to its
service greater influence and power of
usefulness.
l owed it to my colleagues of the Cabi-
net that if, as might be supposed, they
had been involved in an adverse opinion
by the delegation from my own State
from reluctance to move against the
member FROM her alone, such cause
should be promptly removed, and that,
in any event, whatever propriety existed
for their separate action as a delegation,
in the fact that there was a member in
the Cabinet from their State, should no
longer be allowed to continue, to the
prejudice of the entire Cabinet. 1t is,
perhaps, but justice to myself, in this
connection, to say that assurances were
given to me that the action of the dele
CATION had not been directed against me,
specially or separately, but still l could
not be inscnsible that, being confined to
one delegation, it might be construed
otherwise, and in that view be felt to
operate, because Of my relation to them,
injuriously on others. My resignation
at once swept away all such implications,
and left their opinions against others
without such accessory justification or
influence.
From these blended motives Of senti-
ment and duty my course was unhesi-
tatingly taken, and though the privilege
Of serving the country in times like these
is to be valued, and the honoring asso-
Citations have enjoyed are not parted
with without pain, my subsequent re-
Elections have only confirmed me in the
correctness of my decision.
| have only to add renewed assurances
Of the honor and pleasure l feel in re-
turning your personal as we'll as official
esteem, and to say shall be happy, by
all the means in my power, by such
modes as you suggest or otherwise, to
further the accomplishment of your cx-
allied duties, or to have the opportunity
at any time of contributing to your per
sonal prosperity and happiness.
Very truly, yours,
JAMES "A. Seldom.