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Show Secreinry RrlBtorr to the Pro- 1 h I 1 e u 1 . 1 Washington, 18. Tho following is ; Srcretary Brislow's reply to the presi- I dent: j New York City, July 13. ; Mr. President, I have ihe honor i this moment to receive your letter of yesterday io which, referring with , approval to my refusal to testify be- ! fore the coin imliee of the houee of ! representatives to what occurred be- ! tween the president aud myself while 1 I held the office of secretary of the treasury, you are pleased to add lhat you wish to relieve me from all obligations of secresy, and to express your desire that all members of your cabinet may be called upon to testify fully. Wnen I appeared befoie the committee last week in ohodienco to tucir summons, I refused to answer any and all questions which required ' me to stale anv conversation bu tween you and myself touching official matters mat-ters whether auch conversation took place at a meeting of the cabinet or at any time, saying, however to the committee that no inference adverse to any one should be drawn trom my refusal to auswr their questions. 1 took Ihe position distinctly that I considered all convcrsat ons between the president and heads of departments depart-ments on official matters as confidential confiden-tial and privileged, and thai the privilege existed not so much for the protection of parties immediately concerned, but for the intereitof the public service. It I was right in this view ot the matter, it now aeema to follow that the privilege cannot be waived by either or both of the parties. Indeed I said to the committee lhat I would not feel al liberty lo, answer their questions with your consent. Although I have had no opportunity to examine authorities on ihis subject, sub-ject, I am still of the opinion that the public duty to treat such conversation as confidential and privileged, is not removed or modified by your consent that I should make lull answer to questions. If the privilege were merely personal it might be waived, but 1 place it ou higher grounds. I respectfully suggest lhat the appearance appear-ance of several heads of department! before a committee of congress to testify tes-tify to con versatioua between the president and themselves, running through a period of many months, would almost inevitably lead to the disclosure of ditferences ot recollection and present to tne country an unseemly un-seemly conflict, to which I could not willingly be a party; besides, il aeems to me that such an inquiry by a committee of congress lends to the absorption if not complete destruction of the executive power, and to Hie establishment of a purely legislative government. In any view I am ablo to take, il stems to me mat duty requires me to adhere to my announced purpose not to answer questions propounded to me by tho committee. I beg to remind you tiiat my opinion on tiiis subject waa repeatedly biaied to you and mem hers ut your cabinet and, as 1 unuer-rlaml, unuer-rlaml, met your and their approval. My withdrawal from the cabinetjioes not alter or modify my duly in this respect, nor have my own viewa undergono any change. 1 hope 1 wiil not ba recalled by the committee, hut should they see proper lo call me sg.tin, 1 cannot consent, as at present dvotd, to testily to conversations I eld wiih tho president ou olhcial b sineEs. With great respect, I am your edieut servant, B. H. Brt-toW |