What member of President Lincoln's cabinet sought a legislative change to weaken the war powers of the president?

Answer 1

The idea of a military coup d' tat was not what many Radical republicans had in mind as the Union's war efforts seem unable to stop the Southern rebellion. The failure of General McDowell's 35,000 man army at the first Battle of Bull Run fueled the idea that President Lincoln was incapable of running a war and attending to domestic matters at the same time. As what might have been expected, the key members of his cabinet were Republicans. However, it may not have been a great idea to have former contenders for the Republican nomination sitting in key roles in his administration. One of the most radical of Lincoln's rivals at the Republican convention of 1860 was Senator Salmon P. Chase. Lincoln selected him to be the secretary of the treasury, a key cabinet position for its time. Unlike the powers of that position in today's US government, in 1860 there was no Federal Reserve System. Chase was in charge of the Union's finances, and a former senator who was allied with Senator Chandler.The embarrassing loss at Bull Run magnified two weaknesses that President Lincoln would overcome by the war's end, however, it should be remembered that Lincoln had been in office less than five months when Bull Run occurred. President Lincoln lacked the so-called academic and governmental credentials of even a weak president such as Buchanan. And, Lincoln's critics could point to Jefferson Davis's unique set of tools and experience. Davis not only had legislative experience, a duel major academic background, one in being a West Point graduate, war experience and once served as the US secretary of war.

There was no animosity against Lincoln by the Radicals, however, the Congress, some members of the press, and Chandler and Chase saw the logic of a military "dictator" running the Union's war effort. Such a position would be the result of deliberate legislation. The Congress would set a duration and limits of power for such a position. Powerful congressional factions led by Chase and Chandler would expect the dictator to look to them for advice on policy.

The dictator's appointment would end at the war's termination, and his powers would be purely military. Lincoln would remain part of handling domestic issues and the Radicals saw this operation as being accomplished without damaging the republican character of the government.