Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-15
- rHE RuEIii.

IT.,
ence, render the statement necessary.
Al the beginning of the present year, the Con-
federacy was thought by many 10 be IN eAtraordl-
nary danger in consequence OF series OF nnslor-
tunes The public spirit was depressed Appre-
tensions for the public safety were increased by
Ielief that our misiortunes were partly the result
of NAL administration. Prompt, energetic and Ju-
dieious measures appeared 10 be necessary Tor the
restoration of the public confidence. After m2turs
consideration and consultation with others, the
,an,hs1N of this delegation concluded that, among
the most important of such measures, would be
general reconstruction of the Cabinet.
A meeting of the delegation was beld about the
middle OF January, in which certain Puoie ahalIS
SSi5ered In the same meeting after frank inter
cLongs of views, it was resolved that the opinion
of tbe delegation respectDga change OF the Cabinet
| sbonld be made known 10 the President as the
| advice OF friends. H., ,,.a, A.,
,ntad 10 communicate the advice in the most friend
Il respectful and confidential manner to the FTeSi-
dent with suitable explanations OIL tue motives anu
views of the delegation He was authorized to conf
mupicate also with any OF che HEADS OF departments,
bnt otherwise the proceedings were 10 be regarded
] AZ confidential The communication was according
Nv mad 10 the Pre- sident, in person and by letter,
! @nd he received H. as We supposed, 10 the same
snrit of patriotism, caEdor and irlendship "hich
| iod nrompted the action OF the delegation.
ME ADVICE thus rendered by the delegatlo was,
tina, general reconstruction OF the Cabinet was
demanded by public sentiment ana was necessary
for the restoration Of public conicence, was
given as an opi0ion Of delegatlon u|enof " lhe
Standardization The decision OF the matter was OF
course, left to the fresuen' Win "+'1' ="
tionally rested. .,u.-
When the President had previously invited this
delegation TO consult with him. We received with
satisfaction his advice respecting legislative busi-
ness and we had no reason to suppose that' "heh-
er W. should dee IN it our duty to offer him eoun-
III resnecting important affairs in the Executive
nensrtment our advice would be resented as Off
cioGs. NIL. -
The Heads of Departments by an appearance OF con-
.traint we might have invited members Of 2ther
DELEGATIONS known 10 concur with Us in opinion,
resneciipg the Cabinet, to unite with us IN acton
We preferred to avoid such an appearance, even at
the hazard of rendering our advice less lnhuentlal,
ItIcap scarcely be necessary to state that the
members Of this delegation 6did not assume Tor
themselves, or for THE Hopss OF Representatives
or for Congress, power 10 eompei thS reSlghsuon
of Heads of Departments by any expression oil
oniuion They had reason to expect that some
movement would be made in Congress which might
lrine on n collision between the Legislative ana
Executive Departmehts, or cOnStran the Executive
10 make concessions We desired TO prevent such
A movement, when we advised the President to
conform the composition OF the Cabinet 70 the pre-
vaiing sentiment in Congress and the country. We
confidently hoped that such change would, by its
effects upon Congress as well as the Executive De-
partment, make the action Of the Government,
al o critical period, more efficient for the pubic
safety.
The delegation. in advising the President, did not
discriminate among the Heads Of Departments,
whatever were our individual judgments of particn-
lar officers This course appeared 10 be the best
suited 10 all the circumstances, aud especially TO
the stste OF public sentiment, If not required by
sound political principle. ave chose TO regard the
a. l,1I Oi held
as a whole 10 public opinion for the course OF the
entire administration, besides having each sepa-
rate responsibility as head Of his own department.
Whatever may he the tbcory-of our goyeFnmert 1t
had not occurred to before the publication of the
correspondence now under consideration that prac-
tically body so eminent in our political system
could through dependence on the pleasure OF the
President become 50 Insignificant that change of
the Heals OF Departments coulh not alter the ad-
miuistrative policy OF tue govSrnnl0nt in any de-
gree IL could rot be presumed that body OF
statesmen in our country, filling those high places,
would contribute no independent advice, iniorma-
tion or influence the policy OF the administration,
OF that they would long continue 10 hold Office
either in complete SubSeryiency TO single mind or
in defiance OF the general sense of their country
men. OF course, we were aware that the President
alas power 10 dismiss them-2 power hit TO be eXer
csed for the public welfare in great crisis-and
that to him belongs controlling authority and the
chief honor as well responsibility Of the admins.
,tatOu We did not design either 10 abatc the con-
sttutional authority of the Presidential office,
10 take from our country the guiding
influence OF a President IN whom we greatly
conide and whom We have firmly supported.
Il is obvious that the general advice suggested by
this delegation to the PTesident-based gen
crll reason alleging no fault and arraigning no in
divdual-merely advice 10 he adopted applied OF
rejected by the Presldent-might have been sub
stantially accepted without excluding every par
ticular Head OF a Department from q new arrange
ment We expected and desired that at least one
exception would be made. 1t would not have been
proper iOr this delegation to indicate to the Pres-
don't when they volunteered counsel the details OF
such arrangement, and least OF ALL would it have
been proper for Us, as delegation, 10 single
out a Secretary from our own State for pal tial
action, highly esteemed the Virginian
then in office, and as much desired our State
to be represented in tho Cabinet. MiscOnceiyng
the spirit OF proceeding, our distinguished fell
low-citizen, Mr. Seddon, without general recon
sruction of the Cabinet, resigned the office of Sec
retary Of War. Ii we have uuintentOnay wounded
his sensibilites, We deeply regret that such con-
sequence resulted from our action or from his
strnCtiOn of IT,.
In letter accepting his resignation the Presi-
dent declines TO approve the propriey of his deci-
sion 10 resign, becduSehe adds II cannot admit the
existence OF power or fight IN the Legislative
DEPARTMENT Of the Government, or in any part or
branch OF it, 10 control the continuance in office OF
those principal officers in each OF the Executive
Depar tmeuts,' mbOse choice the Constitution has
vested in the Chief Magistrate,'' sc. lie observ
that the circumstances which gave rise to Mr.. Seu-
don's resignation are without precedent. In con
cediug Just and legitimate influence TO enlighten.
ca public opinion, he denies ''that the declartion
alton of State delegation, or even of, one or both
Houses is entitled to be considered as the anthem
tic expression of such opinion requiring con
cession from aco-ordInate department of the Gov
ornment"
The public can now judge how far the discussion
Of such topics relevant 10 our action and how
Justly or wisely the publication OF such CORES
pondence, the spirit which peryIdcs it, RESPONDS
10 the proceedings aud purposes of this delegation
That the friendly advice al delegation, or the
more authentic counsel of Congress, should be
PEELED in such a manner with such claims and at
such a time is a circumstance which We deplore for
the sake ii our country, and, let Us add, for the
sake OF the President. 1t will not provoke 10
z s.ut f1l cnntrnrnrsr IL cannot nhnte nnr deKn-