The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-19
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, D. O., July 1s.-Captair
Eads explained TO the HOUSE Committee
on Commerce this morning the progress
made In his ietty work at the mout!, O.
the Mississippi river, and showed tha
the work was q complete success so far
with every circumstance and prospect II
his favor. 'aH Il. ~
ID. NOMINATION.
Mason Biayman has been nominated
Governor Of Idaho.
ALL HARMONIOUS.
The committee Of conference on tht
army appropriation bill have reconcileC
all their differences.
SECRETARY DRSTow's REPLY TO THE
fsi PRESIDENT.
The following Is Secretary Brbtowl
reply to the President;
! NEW York, July1S.
Mr.. PREsIDENT: ! have the honol
this moment to receive your letter Of yes.
terday, in which referring with approval
to my refusing to testify before the Com
mittee Of the House Of Representatives
10 what occurred between the President
and myself while I held the. office o.
Secretary of the Treasury, you are
please TO add that you wish, 10 relieve me
from all obligation Of secrecy, and TO ex.
press your desire that all the members
Of your Cabinet may be called on to ties.
tify fully. When / Appeared before the
committee lastweek in obedience 10 their
summons, ! refused TO answer any and all
questions which required me TO state any
conversation between you and myself
touching official matters, whether such
conversation took place at meeting Of
the Cabinet or al any time, saying, how
ever, 10 the committee, that no inference
adverse to any one should be drawn from
my refusal to answer their questions. l
took the position distinctly that 1 con-
sidered all conversations between the
President and heads Of departments on
official matters as confidential and priv
ileged, and that privilege existed not so
much for the protection Of the parties
Immediately concerned as for the
interest Of the public service. II |
was right in this view OF the matter 1t
now seems to follow that the privilege
cannot be waived by either or both OF the
parties, indeed I said 10 the committee /
would not feelat liberty.to answer their
questions with your consent. Although
1haye had no opportunity to examine
authorities on this subject, l am still OF
the opinion that the public duty to treat
such conversations as confidential and
Is not removed or modified by
your consent that / should make
full answer to questions. If the
privilege were merely personal it
might be waived, but I place il on
higher grounds. / respectfully suggest
that the appearance Of several heads
OF the departments before the Committee
Of Congress, to testify to theconversations
between tie President and themselves,
running through period Of many
would almost inevitably lead to
a disclosure Of the differences Of recollec-
tion, and present to the country an un.
seemly conflict to which could not will
ingly be a party. Besides, it seems 10
me that such an inquiry by Committee
of Congress tends TO an absorption, il not
a complete destruction Of the Executive
powers, and 10 the establishment Of a
purely Legislative Government. In any
view 1 am able to take, il seems to me
that duty requires me to adhere 10
my announced purpose not to answer the
questions propounded to me by the com.
mittee. l beg to remind you that my
opinion on this subject was repeatedly
stated to you and the members Of your
Cabinet, and rs 1 understood met your
and their approval. My withdrawal
from the Cabinet does not alter or modify
my duty in this respect, nor have my own
views undergone any change. hope l
will not be recalled by the committee,
but should they see proper to call me
again l can't consent, as at present ad.
vised, to testify 10 conversations held with
the President on official business.
With great respect, l am your obedient
servant. a'' B. Il, BRIsrow.