Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-15
The Disruption OF Davls's Cabinet
THE UNPoPULARITY CT THE EXECUTIVE DE.
PARTMENT OF THE REBEL CoNFEDERACY.
From the Richmond Ennnirer. Feh O

THE UNPoPULARITY CT THE EXECUTIVE DE.
PARTMENr OF THE REBEL CoNFgDERACY.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Feb. 9.
The correspondence between President
Davis and the Hon. James A. Seldom pre.
sents an argument upon the powers and
duties OF the Legislative and Executive
Departments OF the government peculiarly
important at this time. While the Presi,
dent presents most torcibly the argument
that our theory of government unlike that
OF Great Britain, conters no power on the
Congress to compel Executive compliance
with its wishes, and demonstrates the COM
plete independence of the President vet, in
a government founded on popular will and
sustained by public opinion, an obdurate
non compliance with the will and wishes oi
the popular branch OF the government must
be accompanied with much embarrassment.
While the Congress has no constitutional
right OF power to put in or turn out a Cab
met minister, yet the organization of the
Executive Department being entirely with
IN the power of Congress, it may, by re-
pealing the laws which establish these de-
partments, leave the Executive stripped of
all capacity to execute the laws, or force
him to comply with the will of the people
as expressed by the Congress. That apv
such action on the part OF Congress would
be tactious and improper we do not hesi
tate to declare; but that it is, nevertheless
within the power of Congress cannot be-
denied, and that it may be within their in
tention is not improbable.
Public opinion is the life and souI of
popular governments-its channels of ax.
preston are the press and the votes of the
representatives of the people. 1t Will not
do to qualify public opinion by the term
"enlIghtened;" for ali we'll defined and
explicitly expressed public sentiment must
be accepted as enlightened. If only an
'enilghtened public opinion" is to be re.
spected, and the authorities are to be the
judges whether or not it is "eulightened. :"
me question of obedience to public senti.
ment IS narrowed down TO the will of the
authorities When they choose to obey,
the opinion is "enlightened;" when they
desire to disregard, the sentiment is not
"enIightened." Aud, applying this to the
question Of recognizing the Cabinet po
man |no has watched the course of public
opinion can deny that the present Cabinet
no longer retains the confidence of the, people.
at one time the press aud Congress were
each divided upon the Cabinet. The first
congress, which made every excuse TINT
was possible, could not etem the current q f
popular sentiment that was setting against
the Cabinet. The present Congress, fresh
from thu people, comes out now moro
strongly thaR the old for the new men,
The pfessr once divided, ia now almost
unanimous for change of Cabinet Unless
the press is venal aud. corrupt, ana the
Congress ztactious and unpatriotic, the ex-
preston OF public sentiment now. with
uhexampled unanimity, demands of the
FresldenJ change of Cabinet. r..
We do not mean to imply that any want
Of confidence exists towards the Presi-
dent; but his fellow citizens believe that
his own usefulness is impaired by tie voice
and advice OF men not equal to the occa-
sion. Whether other men could have done
any better or given auy greater satisfac-
lion, we cOnnot say; but that the present
Cabinet has wholly failed to secure the
confidence of the country. none can deny.
Mr. Memminger recognized the, fact and
retired. Mr.. Seldom now retires be.
cause the Virginia delegation has ex-
pressed the opinion of the people of Yir-
zinla, and they understand it, against the
JADlnet. -.4.y ..#..f. 'E.E Cd.