The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-16

| IA X Y SEDDONA CAR,
From TIE VIRGINIA CON
GRESSIONAL DELEGATION
We gave yesterday the correspondent
between President Davis and ex.Secre
tary James A. Seldom with reference t,
the resignation Of the latter. Today ",
give card, put forth by the Virginia de
legation in Congress, about the sam,
matter:
TO THE PUBLIC::~
1t is with profound regret that tho
members Of the delegation in Congress-
from the State of Virginia find them
selves Obliged to make public statcmcn,
respecting their proceedings on a late
occasion. But the reflections upon their
conduct, conveyed in CORRESPONDENCE
between His Exccllency the President
and the Hon. James a. Seldom late
Secretary of War, and the publication
OF that correspondence, render the state
mcnt necessary.
At the beginning of the present year,
the Coniederacy was thought by many
to be in extraordinary danger in consc-
quencc of series Of misfortunes. The
public spirit was depressed. Apprchen-
sions for the public safety were increased
bv belief that our misfortunes were
partly the result of NAL administration
Proppt, energetic and judicious mea-
surcs appeared to be necessary for the
restoration of the public confidence.
Alter mature consideration and consul
tation with Others, the members of this
delegation concluded that, aifions the
most important Of such measures. would
be general reconstruction of the
Cabinet.
"A meeting Of the delegation was held
about the middle of January, in which
certain public affairs, peculiarly affecting
the safety of Virginia, were considered.
In the same meeting, after frank inter-
change of views, it was resolved that the
opinion of the delegation respecting
change of the Cabinet should be made
known to the President as the advice of
friends.
\ member (thc Speaker of the lIousc)
was deputcd to communicate the advice
in the most friendly, respectful and con-
tldcnual manner to the President, with
suitable explanations of the motives and
views of the delegation. lie was autho~
rlzed to communicate also with any of
the heads Of departments; but other
wise the proceedings were to be regarded
as confidential. The communication was
accordingly made to the President, in
person and by letter, and he received it,
as we supposed, in the same spirit of
patriotism, candor and friendship which
had prompted the action of the delega-
ton.
The advice thus rendered by the dele
CATION was, that a general reconstruct
ton of the Cabinet was demanded by
public sentiment, and was necessary for,
the restoration of public confidence. I'll
was given as an opinion Of a delegation
friendly to the Administration. The de-
clslon OF the matter was, Of course, left.
to the President, with whom it consti- |
tutionally rested. |
When the President had previously
invited this delegation to consult with
him, we received with satisfaction his
advice respecting legislative business, and
we had no reason to suppose that, when
ever we should deem it our duty to offer
him counsel respecting important af-
fairs in the executive department, our
advice would be resented as officious.
If we had intended to embarrass the
President or the heads of departments
by an appearance of constraint, we
night have invited members of other
delegations, known to concur with us in
opinion respecting the Cabinet, to unite
With us in action. We preferred to avoid
such an.appcarancc even at the hazard
If rendering our advice less influential
md of subjecting ourselves to miscon-
;truction.
1t can scarcely be necessary to state
hat the members of this delegation did
lot assume for themselves, or for the
louise of Representatives, or for Con:
'rcss, power to compel the resignation
# heads of departments by any express
ion of opinion. They had reason to ex-
'ect that some movement would be made
n Congress which might bring on col
lsion between the legislative and execu-
i've departments, or constrain the Execu-
i've to make concessions. We desired to
prevent such movement, when we ad-
Used the President to conform the COM
ositlon of his Cabinet to the prevailing
ointment in Congress and the country.
We confidently hoped that such change l
Gould, by its effects upon Congress as
yell as the executive department, make
nc action of the Government, at critical
eriod, more efficient for the public safety.
The delegation, in advising the Presi~
cnt, did not discriminate among the
eads of departments, whatever were ,
nv individual ;uIn,rop&r ,o..:o,Io-J