The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-19
GES BRTSTOW'S REPLY TO GRANT
lie Believes IL to be his Bntv MOI 10 Make
Cabinet Conversations Public.

WAsHtSGroN. July 1s.-The following is
cx-secretary Bristow's reply to the President:
MIR. PHEsinEST: | have the honor this mo-
meut u receive YOUR le ter OF YESTERDAY. IN
winch referring Win approval TO- my refusal to
TESTIFY o. lpie a committee OF NE House u Rep
resentatiyes TO waat occurred between the
President aud myself wniio held the office Of
cfetify OF the treasury you are pleased to
add that you wi'h TO relieve me from all opugt-
tons OF secrecy, and express your desire that
all the members oI your Cabinet may De called
upon TO te ,tfy fully.
Wnen AMP. ared before the committee last
W. ek, IN obedience t. their summons, refused
10 answer any md all Questions which required
me 10 state any conversation between YOU aul
mvself touching ofticiai matters. whether such
conversation To TX place At a meeting Of the Cab-
net OF AZ any time saying, however 10 the com
miites that no lnierenee adverse to any one
sh ild be drawn from my refus Il to answer their
qiesuont. ! took the position distincty that
| considered all conversations between thr Pres
idcnt and heads If the departments on offcial
matters cunhdentiala nd pflNieged. ana that tho
privilege existed, not 50 much for the prutec-
ton OF the parties iInlned lately concerned, as
for the interest Of the public service. If | wa,
risht ia this view ~ the N itter II would seem
To follow that the privilege cannot be waived by
ether or bo,h ol the parti,s. Indeed. | sad 10
the committee. that would not feel al liberty
To answer their questions with your consent.
Although have had no opportunity To amino
opinion that the uublic duty To treat such con-
versauons as confidential ana privileged is Il t
removed or modified W YOUR consent that
! SHOULD make lull answer To the ques-
lions. II the privilege were merely personal
II might De waived, hut l place 4 ON
higher grounds. | respectfully suggest
that the Appearance of the several nrads
81 departments before n com mlttee Of Congress
70 testify TO- conversations between the Pres-
dent aud thems elves running through many
months, would almost inevitably lead to the
disclosure of differences OF recollection. and
present. to the countr' an unseemlv conflict 10
which would not Willingly be a party. Besides,
II see ms 10 me that such an lnqIir by COM
mittea OF Congress tendS To the ahsOFpti n. II
not Of the complete destruction Of executive
power ana 10 the estabilshment OF purely log
i,litiye government. In any view | am
aple II take, IL seems to me that
duty requires me to There 10 my an
nounced purpose not to answer tho que,-
tiOns pruL sundod to me by the committee. |
hes 10 remind you that my opinion on this suu-
J"ct " ~ repeatedly stated to Won ana the mem
Uefs OF your Cabinet, and, as ! under-tOod, met
your and tier approval My Withdrawal from
the Cabinet does not after or modify my duty
in this respect nor have NV own views under
gone any cuange. | hope will not be recalled
ny the committee, but should they see proper
to call me again, e mot consent, As at present
advised to testify to CONVEX ltlOns held with the
lresIdent on ottci,l business,
" lin great respect, am
Your ohedient servant,
NEW York, july b. 1875. W. IL. BRIsTow.