Year: 1866

The Euensng Journal publishes a long
letter from Gov. Dennison, in reply to one
written by Olivia A. Morse, Geo. B. Rip
ley, and others. 1t fully explains the
reason why he retired from the Cabinet,
and goes on to say:


! In explanation of my resignation, l
may say that l was not unaware some
! time previous to its occurrence, that
| different views were entertained by the
President and myself on questions more
or less important, relating to the treat
ment of the rebellious States. Our po-
litical education and antecedents were
wholly dissimilar. Born in the South,
himself a slave holder previous to the
war, an earnest member of the Demo
cratic party of the South, which always
maintained the rightfulness of Slavery
and the duty of the Government to give
it all the national sanction which its in
terests should demand, it could be hardly
possible that his and my general views
would correspond on the subject of
Slavery and its agency in bringing on,
and responsibility for the prolonged con-
tinuance of the war, born and reared, as
l was, in a free State, taught from in
fancy to regard Slavery as great moral,
social and political wrong, and a mem
Der of the Whig party from my early
manhood, which in Ohio, whatever it
may have done elsewhere, never failed to
denounce the increase of its power in
any form. Still 1 attached less i'm
portance to any real or supposed differ
ences between us, and 1 did not doubt
that they would be reconciled by the
course of events. Assuming that
the President was equally determined
with myself to accept the final action
of Congress in the matter of recon
struction, whatever might be his OPP
position to particular measures, 1 did
not look forward to any necessary breach
between him and any member of his
Cabinet, nor did I believe there would
be any occasion for breach between
him and the majority in Congress. 1
assumed that he, his Cabinet. and the
majority in Congress were equally earn
est and sincere in their loyalty to the
Union Republican party to which they
were alike indebted for their official po-
sitions, and that in every event the just
claims of that party on their allegiance
would be :ully recognized by all. and its
unity religiously preserved. Hence, in
my declarations, private and public, l
uniformly expressed myself hopeful of
reconciliation of all vital differences
between the President and Congress,
until short period previous to my with
drawal from the Cabinet / would not
be understood that was not aware prior
to the meeting of Congress. and more
convinced after that event, that influences
hostile to the Union party were brought
to bear upon the President, to induce
the repudiation OF his obligations to it.
by the reorganization.o of his Cabinet. and
by public opposition to the principles
and demands of that party as declared
by its Representatives in Congress, its
press, and its representative men. Such
Influences were urged upon the Presi-
dent to a limited extent, almost immedi-
ately upon his installation to office. Ap-
parently, however, and doubt not really,
they made little impression upon him


Though defeated in their purpose at the
time, the persons who thus sought to
ALLEVIATE the President from his political
friends were not discouraged from re-
newing their efforts whenever any differ
ences transpired between him and those
friends.


The press was not unobservant of
these machinations, and the almost daily
rumors it furnished the country excited
the fears of the loyal people, while dis


trust of the purposes of the President
and a portion of his Cabinet, more or
less wide spread, was the consequence


The imm ediate effect of this condition
of things was the encouragement it gave
to the leaders of the Rebellion in the
Southern States, and their prominent
allies of the Northern Democratic party,
to hope for division between the Ad-
ministration and the Union party, and
their restoration to political power, in
some way. under the favor of the Presi
dent The political tone of the South
underwenta marked and most misehiey-
Gus change. For several months i'm
mediateiy following the suppression of
the Rebellion, the people of the South
ern States. under the consciousness of
deserving only such treatment from the
Government as its generous insticts
might prompt it to give, expected and
asked for nothing more Defeated in
their wicked efforts to destroy the Gov
ernment, and alone responsible for the