The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-14
GEN. GRANT has given full authority

TO MIR. Brlstow to state to the lnvestl-
eating Committee everything that was
said and done in Cabinet council. But
we deem it very unlikely that Bristow
will avail himself of this consent on the
part of Grant. We very much doubt
whether the President has any such
right or authority to waive this privilege
and authorize the publication OF the de-
tails OF Cabinet consultations in any
case. Results or conclusions of such
deliberations may sometimes be prop
erly made public as matters Of general
interest. But we do not believe that
the particular details of conversations
or opinions or inquiries or sug-
gestions made by the President
pr any Cabinet officer during
such private and confidential confer
ences should ever be made public under
any circumstances.
Such secrets are not the Presidents
secrets, but the confidential communi-
cations of other men as we'll. Conse-
quently, the President has no right to
either require or authorize their publ
cation under any form. Ii this right
belongs to him, it equally belongs to the
Cabinet officers. Such condolences are
as much theirs as his. And if these
things were to be made the subject o.
common talk and tattle, with all the al
tending misconception and misrepre-
sentation usual to such matters, where
would be the freedom OF opinion most
desirable for such conferences? The
private meetings of the Cabinet
might as well be held in the
market place as in secret ses-
sion. The fact is, the Committee
had no business to require the public
statement OF such matters, and the
President had ne business to publicly
authorize their publication. Bristow
was right IN refusing to state these mat
ters in a public investigation, as they
are, as he said, matters of the highest
privilege. And il once such, they are a.
ways such. They are the high privileges
OF the office, and not of the men. For this
reason the men holding the Office can
not or ought not to be allowed TO preju-
dice the privilege by volunteering t.
make public the official communications
made in the confidence of Cabinet coun-
Gil. In every government, as in every fam.
IIy, there needs must be private matters,
family secrets, into which no humtn
being outside OF the family may pry, and
,ho. .nF lao fnr In r1nnu ri
veal without dishonor to himself
secrets indeed which even the heat
N the family may not o
his own motion authorize to be dis
that Mr.. Bristow, as o man OF honor, re
CARDS these Cabinet conferences. Ant
every honorable man will unhesitatingl
tndorse his view of the matter. III
Presidents permission to make die
closure can not change the principl
thus founded in honor. The Senate ais
mas secret sessions on Executive bus
ness. And what would be thought of tn
Senator who should consent to max
public these secret conferences? Th
seal of secresy may be removed by th
vote the Senate; but not by the Pres
dent of the Senate, on his own motion
in any case. And the seal of confidenc
is even stronger in Cabinet council
than in the Senate's Executive sessions
Hence this whole movement to requirin
Or permitting disclosures is wrong froi
frat to last. We hope Bristow wi
istick."