Again, on November 15th, to the same, he wrote:—
As you see, by the replies of eleven out of the fifteen, they are not disposed to share the responsibility that attaches to them, or to enable one to right himself. By its proceedings the Board has outraged the public sentiment, mocked the law by indecent haste, and offended our sense of right.
Mr. Dobbin told me some time ago that I was mistaken in supposing that there was any feeling in the public mind upon the subject. . . . He moreover added that it was a mistake to suppose that Congress was going to undo the matter, for that Senators had conversed with him and pledged themselves to sustain the Board. He admitted that there were some officers, by supposition twelve or fifteen, that ought not to be ruled out, and ought to be put back, and asked me to advise with him as to the mode of getting them back. Speaking hypothetically, he put this case:—Suppose he and the President, consulting with the Senate, should satisfy Senators as to these twelve or fifteen cases; that Senators should agree to confirm the nominations, and that the President, then revoking twelve or fifteen commissions, should send in his blackballed nominations? My reply was, it was unlawful to promote blackballs, and that the President and Senate could not repeal a law. I told him that mere promotion would not satisfy me; that the Board has cast a professional stain, and that must be wiped out. He then suggested the idea of reassembling the Board to state reasons for their finding. I said that would be to aggravate the outrage, and I would not trust the Board!
I have not yet made up my mind as to my next step, or as to what I shall do with the Board replies. . . . I think I shall wait until some of my friends in Congress arrive, so that, seeing how the land lies there, I may take a fresh departure. I am much obliged to Baldwin and my good friends at the university about the professorship. I can't think of anything until I get right here. What wickedness. has that Board not committed! It appears to me that my brother-officers, many of whom are men of intelligence, are
