Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-03-21
Change in The Cabinet.

The rumor of change in the Cabinet has
been generally circulated, and very recently
it has been asserted that not only will MIR.
Stanton leave the Department Of War, but
that his successor has actually been deter
mined on. There is, in reference to this
whole matter, however, a, mystery, which the
most astute have not yet been able fully to
penetrate. There ia reason to believe that
Mr.. Stanton, Mr.. Harlan, and Mr.. Speed, are
opposed to the policy of the President, and,
to some extent, have been active in counter
acting it; and why they are not permitted to
resign, or why not removed, is q question
which no one as vet has been able sstiafacto-
rily to answer. The most probable suppose
tion is that the Radical party desire them to
continue, and that The President has reason
to apprehend, from the present temper Of the
Senate, that, if removed, those appointed to
succeed them would not be confirmed. This
policy of refusing to confirm appointments by
the President, pending the present controver.
sy, though not yet acted on, 80 far as we are
advised, is clearly indicated; and as appoin-
tees cannot onter on their offices, so long AZ
the Senate ia in session, without confirmation,
it is even supposed that, to continue the rigor
of this discipln ne upon the President, the SEN
ate will not adjourn, and will not allow to
the Government the services Of any officer
who may not be agreeable to them.
This policy will be especially efficient with
respect to the Cabinet. 1t is understood that
these officers hold on until their successors
are confirmed, and, by refusing to confirm
successors, therefore, the Senate can retain
as members of the Cabinet, men who cay
be personally aud politically offensive to the
Executive; and, for the reason that they are
so offensive, it is probable, in the present
state Of feeling, tho Senate will be only the
more especially inclined to exercise that
power.
1t is becoming obvious, from our expert.
ence, that there is necessity for a less arii-
fetal government. There must, Of necessity,
be the aexibility to conform to changing Cir
cumstances. The Government must be able,
when exigencies arise, to 60 before the peo'
pie. 1t cannot, and, perpetually, it will not,
suffer itself to be overruled and defeated by
Congress that does not represent the public
sentiment of the country. The Executive
cannot continually act with advisers who do
not concur in its policy. AS the Confederacy
becomes Republic, and Capitalization be
comes perfect, the Government must be ad
mitted 10 the conditions by which this power
is to be exercised. In one form or othe',
that central directory, be it the President, or
be it Congress, must be individual and gu
preme; and it is not possible that artificial
forms, by which coordinate branches Of the
Government may veto and neulralize the &C
tions Of each other, can be permitted to con.
tinue.
1t is possible that that imperial authority
may yet result to Congress; that if We ever
pass the present crisis in our fortunes without
a despotism, the Parliament may come to BE-
here as it is in England, the paramount au-
thority, aud that even the Government must
fall before majority of that body. But be
fore that Congress can attain to such position
of majesty and power, it must be effected by
some condition which will renderit more Ger.
tainay the exponent of public sentiment To
tho Judgment of Congress called directly
from the people to the arbitrameat of great
questions, the President might properly bow.
But before be cen be called upon to bow to
Congress, he must be able to regard it as he
of the public will he must be
able to call from the people the special repre-
sentatives Of their opinion and, by some
process, this hexibility to public sentiment
must be acquired, or the Government, through
some ono Of its Departments, must break th.
fortus around it, and grasp the sceptre Of i'm.
perial poWer.-Charleston News.