Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-16
COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESI-
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
Relating to the Suspension from the sffice
of Secretary Of War of Edwin vi. Stan

COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESI-
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
Relating to the Suspension from the sffice
of Secretary Of War of Edwin VI. stan
To TIE Senate Of the United Statss:
On the 18TH OF August last suspended Mr.
Stanton from the exercise OF the once OF Sec
retary OF War, and on the same day designated
General Grant 70 act ss Secretary of War al
interim.
The following are copies of the executive or
deIs.
"ExRCUTIvR MANSION,
'.WAsHINGToN, August IL, Is67.
SIR BY virtue Of the power and authority
vested in me as Presids:it, by the CONSERVATION
and laws Of the United States, you are hereby
suspended from Office as Secretary OF war,
and will cease to exercise any and all tune
tiops pertaining TO the same.
You will at once transfer to General UIys-
ses = Grant, who has this day been authorized
and empowered to act as Secretary OF War at
interim, all records, books, papers, and other
public publ: properly now In your custody and
The Hon. EDWIN N. STANTON. Secretary
ofWar"
"ExBcUTIvR MANSION, D
"WAsHINGTON, ID. e., August l.. 1867 "a
"SIR: The Hon. Edwin M. Stanton having
been this day suspended as Secretary of War,
you are hereby authorized and empowered to
act as Secretary Of War dd interim, and will a.
once enter upon the discharge Of the duties OF
the office
The Secretary Of War has been instructed
to transfer to you all the records, books, pa
pers. and other public properly now in his
custody and charge.
General Ulysses 5. GRANT, Washington,
ID. G."
The following commu niestion was received
from Mr.. Stanton:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
"WAsHTNGToN CITY, August II, Is67
"SIR: Your note OF this date has been re-
ceived, informing me that by virtue OF the pow.
ers and authority vested in you as President
by the Con stitutiOn and laws OF the United
States, i am suspended from office as Secre-
tary of War, and will cease TO exercise any
ana all functions pertaining TO the same; and
Ulysses 5. Grant, who has this day been au-
thorized and empowered TO act as Secretary OF
War adiHtsT'im, all records, books, papers, and
charge.
Under sense Of public duty. L am
compelled TO deny your right under the Con.
stitution and laws OF the United States, with
out the advice and consent of the Senate, and
without legal cause, 10 suspend me from office
a. Secretary OF War, or the exercise OF any or
all functions pertaining to the same, or with.
out such advice and consent 10 compel me TO
transfer 10 any person the records, books
papers and public property in my custody as
Secretary.
"But, inasmuch as the General commanding
the armies of the United States has been ap.
pointed I'D interim, and has notified me that he
has accepted the appointment have no alter
native but TO submit under protest TO superior
force
40 TIE Presiderttr
The suspension has not been revoked and
the business Of the War Department is con.
Quoted ~ the Secretary I'D ,atcrim.
Prior 10 the date OF this suspension, had
come TO the CONCLUSION that the time mad ar
rived when II was proper Mr.. Stanton should
retire from my cabinet. The mutual conf :.
xrhi i1b
in such relation had ceased. l suppose that
Mr.. Stanton was well advised that his continu-
ance In the cabinet was contrary TO my wishes
for had repeatedly given him go TO under
stand By every mode short Of an express
request that he should resign. Having waited
tuil time for the voluntary action OF Mr.
pert of an intention to resign, addressed him
the following note on tue 5th Of August.
"SIR Public considerations OF a high char.
acter constrain me 10 say that your resignation
AZ Secretary OF War w Ill be accepted.
To tins note received the folio wing reply
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, August 5, 1867
SIE: 1our note of this day has been re-
ceiveo, stating that public considerations of a
bi6h character constrain you 10 say that nv
resignation as Secretary Of War Will be &C ).
copied.
"In reply, 1 have the honor to say that
| pnblie consideratious OF . high character,
the head Of this department. constraiu me no,
70 resign the ofice Of Secretary of War before
| the next meeting of Congress"
THIS reply Of Mr. Stanton was not merely q
dtcllnafion OF compliance with the req ue for
| MS resignation; II was a defiance. and some.
hing more. Mr.. Stanton does not content
himself with assuming that public considera-
uons bearing upon his continuance IN ofice
| form as fully . rule OF action for himself as
Tor the President, and that upon so delicate a
question as the fitness of an officer for contin-
| uance IL his once. the officer is as competept I
and n impartial to decide as his superior who
is responsible for his conduct; but he goes
| fnTther and plainly intimates what he means
by .public considerations OF q high character
| and this is nothing else than kis loss OF conf
| dence in his superior. He says thar these pu b.
/ lie considerations have s.alone induced me- TO
continue a. the head OF this department" and
| that they .constrain me not 10 resign The ofi ce
| OF Secretary OF W ar before The next meeting OF
| Congress"
| This Language is very significant. r.Stsu.
| ton holds the position un willingly. He contIn-
| ues In office only under a sense OF high public
| su'y. He Is ready to leave VIII n ID is safe 10
| leave, AID as the danger he apprehends
| from his removal then will not exist when
| Congress 10 here, he is constrained to remain
| during the interim. What, then. is that danger
which can only he averied by tn presence of
Mr.. stanton or OF Congress, Mr.. Stanton does
| not say thar "pnblic considerations OF a h IGN
| character" constrain him 10 hold on to the
| office indefinitely. He does not say thar no one
| other than himself can at any time be found 10
rake his II ace and perform its duties On me
| contrary, he expresses q desire to leave the
| Office AZ the earliest moment consistent with
| tbese ulgn HuOuc cObSlQerdtl0nS. He says, III
| ifect, that while Congress is away he must re.
| main, but thar when Congress is here, he can
| go. In other words, he has lost confidence in
| me PIesideht- He Is unwilling TO leave the
| War Department in his hands, or IN the hand
| of any one the President may appoint or des-
igsa'e to perform its duties. Ii he res igns, ID
| President may appoint a Secretary Of War
| that Mr. stanton does not approve. Therefore,
| ne will not resign. But when Congress IS in
| session the President cannot appoint q Secre-
| iary OF War which the Senate does not ap.
| prove. Consequently, when Congress meets
| Mr.. Stanton Is ready 10 resign.
| Whatever cogency these Icons idsratiops'
| may have had upon MIR. Stanton. whatever
| right ne msy have had 70 entertain such con.
sideratisns, whatever propriety there might be
| IN the expression OF them 10 others, one thing
Is certain. IL was Official misconduct. 10 saw
the least OF it, 70 parade them before h supe.
| riOr officer lG..a. ...-r
| Ipon the receipt of this extraordinary note
| L only delay ed the order of suspension lone
| enough TO make the necessary arrangements Il
| Nil the Office. II this were the only cause fol
| his suspension II would be ample. Necessari.
| ~ IL must cad our most important Official re
| lations, for i cannot immagine q degree of ef
| frOniery which would embolden the head OF
| a department 10 take his seat a. the council
| table in the executive man sion after such ar
| act; nor can imagine q President SO forgetfu
I OF the proper respect and dignity which be-
| long 70 his Office 70 submit to sue b iutruslop
| will not do Mr.Stanton the wrong 10 suppos.
| that he entertained any idea of Offering 70 ac
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