The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-19
Abou Ben BrisfOw Replies to the
Epistle Of Ulysses I.

WASHINGTON, = July lS.-The fol-
lowing is ex Secretary Bristow's reply
to the President:
NEW YORK CITY, July 13.
Mr.. Presidcnt-I have the honor this
moment to receive your letter of yester-
day, in which, referring with approval
to my refusal to testify before the com
mittee of the House OF Representatives to
what occurred between the President and
myself while | held the Office of Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, you are pleased
10 add that you wish to re-
lieve me from all obligations
of secrecy and to express your desire
that all members of your Cabinet may be
called on to testify fully. When ap-
peared before the committee last week,
IN obedience to their summons, l refused
TO answer any and all questions which
required me to state any conversation be-
tween you and myself touching official
matters, whether such conversation
took place at meeting Of the Cabi'
net or at any other time, saying,
however, to the committee that no in
ference adverse TO any one should be
drawn from my refusal to answer this
question. took the position distinctly,
that considered all conversations be-
tween the President and. the heads Of de-
partments on official matters confidential
and privileged, and that the privilege ex.
isted, not so much for the protection of
the parties Immediately concerned as for
the interest of the public service.
If l 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, l
said to the committee, would not feel at
liberty to answer their questions with
your consent. Although | have had no
opportunity TO examine the authorities
on this subject, | am still of the opinion
that 1t is my public duty to treat such
conversations as confidential, and the
privilege is not removed or modified by
you- consent that should make full an
swer TO the questions. If the privilege
was merely personal it might be waived,
but place it on higher grounds. re-
spectiully suggest that the appearance of
several heads Of departments before the
committee Of Congress to testify TO con-
versstions between the President aud
themselves, running throughout period
of many months, would almost ineyi-
tably lead to the disclosure Of differences
of recollection, and present to the coun.
try An unseemly conflict, to which !
could not willingly be party. Besides it
seems to me that such an inquiry by a
committee OF Congress tends to the ab.
sorption, if not the complete destruction,
of the executive power, and to the es-
tablishment OF purely legislative gov
ernment. In any view am able to take
of il; il seems TO me that duty requires
me to adhere to my announced purpose,
not to answer the questions propounded
TO me by the committee. | beg to re
mind you that my opinion on this subject
was repeatedly stated TO YOU and
tie members of your cabinet, and
rs understood, meets your and their ap-
proval. My withdrawal from the Csbl-
net does not alter or modify my duty in
this respect, nor have my own views un-
dergone any change. l hope | will not
be recalled by the committee, but should
they see proper to call me again, can't
consent, as at present advised, to testify
10 conversations held with the President
on official business.
With great respect, | am your obedi-
ent servant, b. ii. BRlsTow.