Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-20
MIR. STANTON'S SUSPENSION.

p0sed-MysteriOus Facts Explained
Interior view Of Cabinet Councils
Highly Important Historical DOeu
men4.
To the SENATE Of he DATED Safes On the
.l2th Of August last L suspended Mr.. Stan
ton from the exercise of the Office of Sec
reiary Of War, and on the same day desig-
mated Gen. Grant TO act a. Secretary OF
War dd interim.
The following are copies Of the Exeeu-
tive orders:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. Aug. II,
ls67.-SIR; By virtue OF the power and authori-
~ vested in me as President BY the constitution
and laws of the United States. you are hereby
suspended from office as Secretary OF War, and
will cease 70 exercise any and all functions per.
taining to the same,
You will at once transfer to Gen. Ulysses s.
Grant. who has this day been authorized and
empowered 20 act as Secretary of War od inte-
ran. all records, books, papers, and other public
property now IN yOnr custody and charge.
Hon. Edwin NJ Stanton, Secretary Of War.
EXECUTIVE MAEsION. WASHINGTON, d. c.,
Aug. II. 1867. Hon, Edwin NJ. Stanton
having been this day suspended as Secretary of
War, you are hereby authorized and empowered
10 act az Secretary of War I'D interim, and will
az once enter upon the discharge of the duties
Of the Office.
The Secretary Of War has been instructed to
transfer 10 you all the records, books. papers,
and other public property now in his custody
and charge.
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Washington, D. C.
The following communication was re-
ceived from Mr.. Stanton:
WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON CITY. Aug
u, lS67-SIR: Your note of this date has been
received, informing me that by virtue Of the
power and authority vested in you as President
by the constitution and laws ofthe United States
am suspended from Office as Secretary Of War;
md will Ia nd Ill
pertaining 70 the same; and also directing me TO
II once transfer to Gen. Ulysses s. Grant who
has this day been authorized and empowered to
act as Secretary Of War dd interim, all records
books. papers, and other public property now in
my custody and charge.
Under a sense of public duty, am compelled
to deny yOur right under the constitution and
laws of the United States. without the advice
and consent Of the Senate and without legal
cause, 10 suspend me from Office as Secretary of
War, or the exercise of any or ali functions per-
tanning 10 the same, or without such advice and
consent 70 compel me TO transfer to any person
the records, books, papers and other public pro-
perry u my custody as Secretary.
But. inasmuch as the General commanding the
armies of the United States has been appointed
al interim. and has notified me that be has ac-
cepted the appointment, have n alternative
but to submit, under protest, 70 superior force.
To the President. @
The suspension has not been revoked
and the business Of the War Department il
conducted by the Secretary ad interim.
Prior to the date of this suspension, had
come TO the conclusion that The time had
arrived when it was proper Mr.. Stanton
shOuld retire from my Cabinet. The mu-
tual confidence and general accord which
should exist in such relation had ceased
] supposed that Mr.. Stanton was well adj
yised that his continuance in the Cabinet
was contrary TO my wishes, for | had re-
| peatedly given him 80 to understand by
every mode short of an express request
| that he should resign. Having waited full
| time for the voluntary action of Mr.. STAN
| ton, and seeing no manifestation on his
| part Of an intention to resign, addressed
him the following note on the 9Th Of Au-
| gust: .lr fra
SIR: Public considerations Of a high character
| constrain me 70 cay that your resignation as
Secretary Of War will be accepted.
To this note | received the following re-
ply;
| WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August s.
ls67-SIR: Your note of this day has been re
| ceived, stating shat public considerations Of q
high character eonstrain you to say that my re
| signatiOn as Secretary OF War will be accepted
In reply, j have the honor to say that public
considerations Of high character, which alone
have induced me to continue at the head ofthi'
Office Of Secretary Of War before the next meet
| ing Of Congress
The reply of Mr.. Stanton was not merely
a declination of compliance with the re.
quest for his resignation it was defiance
and something more. Mr.. Stanton does
not content himself with assuming thai
public considerations bearing upon his con
tinuance in Office form as fully rule of ac
ton for himself az for the President, and
that upon so delicate a question az the fit
meas Of an officer for continuance in hi.
Office, the officer is as competent and az i'm
partial 10 decide as his superior who is re
sponsible for his conduct; but he goes fur
ther, and plainly intimates what he means
by "public considerations Of a high char
acter;' and this is nothing less than hi
loss of confidence in his superior He sayl
that these public considerations have "alont
induced me TO continue at the head Of thi,
department" and that they "Constrain m'
not to resign the Office OF Secretary of Wa
before the next meeting of Congress"
The language is very significant. Mr.
Stanton holds the position unwillingly. I'll,
is ready to leave when il is safe 10 leave
and as the danger which he apprehend
from his removal then will not exist wheI
| Congress is here, he is constrained TO re
main during the interim. What, then, i
that danger which can only he averted by
the presence Of Mr. Stanton or of Congress
Mr.. Stanton does not say that public con
siderations Of high character" constrair
him to hold on TO the Office indefinitely
He does net cay that no one other thar
himself can at any time be found 10 TAX,
| II. a n. ~ Al.
contrary, he expresses desire 10 leave IN
Office at the earliest moment consisten
with these high public considerations.
He says in effect that while Congress- i
away he must remain, but that when Con
gress is here he can go. In other words
he has lost confidence in the President
He il unwilling to leave the War Depart
J ment in his hands, or in the hands of an
one the President may appoint or designat
to perform its duties IL he resigns, tn
President may appoint Secretary of Wa
+ that Mr.. Stanton does not approve. There
} FORE he will not resign. But when Coz
, eress is in session the President cannot az
point Secretary of War which the SenaI
does not approve. Consequently, whe
Congress meets Mr. Stanton is ready 20 =,
sign. HAL lIEt f4lst u
4 Whatever cogency these considers
tons" may have had upon Mr.. Stanton
, whatever right he may have had to entel
tain such considerations, whatever pr,
priety there might be in abe expression
Them to others, one thing il certain--it WI
official misconduct, 90 say the least oi II,
/, parade them before his superior officer.
Upon the receipt of this extraordinar
note / only delayed the order or suspensio
long enough TO make the necessary a
rangements &c fiji the Office. IL this wei
the only canse for his suspension il woul
be ample. Necessarily il must end OF
most important official relations, Tor car
not imagine degree Of effrontery whie
, would embolden the head Of a departures
10 take his seat at the council table in u
4 Executive Mansion after such an act. M
II can imagine a President so forgetful
o the proper respect and dignity which b
Is long 10 his Office as 30 submit 90 such intr'
> sion. / will not do Mr., Stanton Il
+ wrong TO suppose that he entertained an
i ides Of offering 10 act as one Of my const
+ tutional advisers after that note was wri
, ten. There was an interval of week b
tween that date and the order OF suspe
sion, during which two Cabinet meetin
were held. Mr.. Stanton did not prese
himself at either, nor was he expected.