Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-08
THE CABINET DIFFICULTY.
The Philadelphia Press Of wednes d ~ say


THE CABINET DIFFICULTY.
The Philadelphia Press of Wednesd ~ says;
"In the present critical condition OF public
affairs ihe country cannot afford to dispense
with the services OF an officer like Ed win NJ.
Stanton. Invaluable he was during the wer.
he Is scarcely less important. We
do not betray confidence when we say that on
| more than one occasion the country has been
indebted TO Edwin Nj. Stanton for the timely
note of warning that enabled tue representa-
ttves of the people to meet and defeat the dan
| gerous schemes of a recreant President"
The New ork Herald of yesterday says:
..ln some circumstances it wonld seem a
mere matter OF propriety and personal dignity
that a member of ministry should re- ire W nen
his views of public policy were no longer lu
harmony with the views OF his Official associ-
ates, and, more particularly. when he held
! position of drect antaaonism With the eonsti
tional Executive. In this vie W a letter OF fes-
| ignation should hardly be called for. as
mans own percept ons should carry him ont
! of Office. But this would be narrow view
| of the case to take at the present time, and the
| country must regretfuly acknowledge that
| this delicacy would be worse than wasted on
Mr.. johnson. He would not only misunder-
stand tins conduct. but he would dangerously
| abuse the position in which such a course
would place him: for we are Of opinion thai
the suggestion OF devoinng MT Stan.ons
duties on General Grant does not indicate tue
| Presidents purpose. This is an idea arttully
| thrown out TO soothe the public, made in view
| ofpossible change, to render the people less
| cut OF the way. The purpose of the statement
| that Stanton viii give way to Grant is to COM
| mend the change 10 the country, while behind,
| no doubt, 1t is real intention to put in Mr.
| Stanton's place a man who can be used as
| ready tool in new game for the obstruction
| eff the Congressional plan for the restoration
| of the States. Ii it suited Mr.. johnson to ac-
cept the Cabinet lett by Mr.. Lincoln, such ac-
| ceptance was practical appointment, and
cannot be otherwise regarded"
"J)ata" writes to the Baltimore SIN:
sit is the purpose Of Mr.. Johnson to allow
the hole matter to remain in abeyance for Il
few Gays, giving time for reflection on the part
OF Mr.. Stanton and the friends who advise him
as to the course he shonld pursue. Ii IN two
or three Gays he shall still persist in the refusal
to resign, the President will suspend him, by
giving him notice, substantially, that he is
thereby suspended from the further execution
Of the functions OF the Office Of Secretary of
War. and that the reasons tor this suspension
Will be submitted TO the Senate at the next ses-
sion Of Congress.
The inject was fully discussed in Cabinet
yesterday, and the course above indicated was
unanimously approved being within the
third section of the tenure of office law. The
Cabinet was nearly unanimous in the opinion
that the first section OF the law gives Mr..
johnson the power to remove MIR. Stanton,
who was never regularly appointed by Mr.
Johnson and confirmed as his appoiatee by
the Senate.
"This point will be discussed again in the
Cabinet on Friday next. The President to-day
ordered that no commun ica'ion be held win
.Tbere was no truth in the paragraph ar
nouncng that Gen. Rousseau has been selected
as the successor OF Gen Sheridan. Gen. Rous-
seau is called here from New Orleans upon a
dispatch from Mr. Seward. for the purpose of
conferrIng with the Russian commissioner
sent here 10 formally deliver possession of the
recently acquired territory. Gen. Rousseau's
command will include the territory when re
csived by our Government and as no appro-
priation Is made for expenses for a commits
sIoner on our part to take possession, il is ad-
ArvS Ca
would be best 10 empower a military officer
already under salary. to act as commissioner in
behalf of the United States. General Rousseau
is expectnd here to-merTow. a#.t Z. r.
IL ne Pres dent has been waiting for lnforms-
p lion as TO the command OF the military depart
men's. so as 10 deterEa ne which OF the officers
OF the grade OF brgader can be spared to take
. command OF the hfth district, in place Of Gen
Sheridan. The successor OF the latter will un-
doubtedly be named in four or five days.
The Washington CORES pondent of the New
York Tribune says that Judge Bond, CT Baiti-
more. was among the visitors received by Mr.
Stanton on Tuesday. 1t has the folio wing in
regard to the Presidents future Intentions:
Under the Civil Tenure bill Mr.. Johnson
does not feel fully satisfied that he can remove
MIR. stanton. because of the phraseology uored
here. ''shall hold their Offices respectively dur.
ing the term of Off OF the President by whom
they have been appointed bnt he feels salts
fed that he can suspend Mr. Stanton, and pro-
hibit him from exercising the duties OF War
Minister. This latter point was submitted to
the Cabinet, and they greed that the President
could so suspend, Mr. Joanson will, there.
tore, IN day or two, notify Mr.. Stanton that
he Will not hold any further relations with
him; and that he cannot be admitted to Cabi-
net meetings. IL may be here stated that last
fall Mr. johnson contemplated the very same
action in Mr.. Stanton's case that he has taken
now. and he called General Sherma n to Wash
ingion to take his place. The announcement
Raymond and Weed down here, who plead so
earnestly for Mr. Stanton retention that the
President consented to let HIM remain"
The New York Times OF yesterday morning
says:
1.-The anxiety OF the President to rid mis-
Cabinet OF Mr.. Stanton's presence is intel
lgible, if not praisewor,hy Mr.. Stanton m nst
have been sharp thorn in the way from
the moment he resolved TO embarrass, II not
defeat the Recon structon law, that permits of
no half way work; it must be carried out to
the end or it subsidies into absurdty. The
country has been notified, in his behalf, that
he will tolerate no official will that dares TO
conflict with his own. The District Comman-
6ers he insists shall obey his instr uctons, aud
the Cabicst he intends TO make a unit in their
support. All these Intentions and require
ments, these removals and dismissals, are
features of policy as against the policy of Con.
eress. They are all parts OF his plan for stay
ing the work OF Congress and that of the
measures OF reconstruction. 1t happens al
ways that the ire of the President falls upon
those whose services have commended them
most strongly to the favor OF the country. Sheri
al IL " Dc Ic"o Scu ny way VI
his devotion TO the task with which he has
be zen intrus,ed. The pretence that the insubo
dinate tone Of dispatches has aught to do with
his removal is too puerIle to deceive IL Is a
poor pretext, invented in the last hour, to pal
liate the act contemplated ty Mr.. Johnson
The people know better. They know that the
sin OF Sheridan, in the eyes Of the Executive,
is his uncomprising conduct toward disloyal
officials like Monroe, and tricky, Unworthy OH
cials like Wells, and his unfiinching determi.
naticn to give full effect to the law. Precisely
so will IL be in regard to MI Stanton. The
magnitude OF his services during the war
earned tor him he gratitude OF Union men, aud
only his adherence to the policy OF Congress
provokes the wrath of the President. The
effect OF the course prescribed 10 Mr.. j ohnson
will be to convince the country or his unle.
1enting hostility to the Reconstruction law
His luxe Warmness IN its support has always
been al ee ed, but h sia rtitnfe has changed from
that OF calmness TO one Of fiery, uayielding op.
position He refuses TO accept and obey the
viii Of Congress. He demands that his will
shall be .he supreme law. And he proposes to
set aside Secretaries and Generals who stand
In his path. So far official positions are con-
cerneo, Stanton. Sheridan and all who share
their fate will thus be made to appear martyrs
In the cause OF loyal reconstruction. Mr.
johnson may thank only himself If ha be ar
ratened and treated as its most malignant
enemy" @ tE
The Philadelphia Erening Telegraph OF Wed
nesdHy says: e4Es"f
ale cannot yet be spared. 1t would doub.
less be gratifying to hts own feelings TO reur
from his burdensome post Of duty TO private
life. but the country demands that he shoulc