The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-12-20
The President and Secretary Stan
ton.


cation TO the Senate relative TO the re
moval of Secretary Stanton. In ref
erenco to Mr. Stanton's determination
to remain in the Cabinet under the
Tenure of Office Act, he says that every
member of his Cabinet adv ised him
that the proposed law was unconstitu-
tionel, and that Mr. Stantons condem-
nation of the law was the most elabor-
nto and emphatic We quote: Il was
no much, struck With the full mastery
Of tho question manifested by Mr.
Stanton, and was at The time 80 fully
occupied with the preparation of an
other veto upon the pending Recon
struction act that requested him to
prepare the veto upon the Tenure Of
Office bill. Tnis he declined to do on
the ground of physical disability to
undergo, at the time, the labor of writ
ing, but stated his readiness to furnish
what aid might be required TO the pre-
paration OF material for the paper,
The President states that the great
difference Of opinion with Mr.. Stanton
was on the District of Columbia Suf
frage, and the reconstruction bills Of
1867, the vetoings of which were OPP
posed by the latter, although nil the
other Cabinet members supported the
President. He then states the special
ground upon which Stanton was re
moved, the facts connected with the
message OF Gen. Band, previous TO the
New Orleans riot, asking for instruc
tons. After detailing the dispatches
received by him (the President) from
tho Lieut. Governor and Attorney
General of Louisiana, and his reply
that the military will be expected to
sustain and net interfere with the pro
ceedings of the Courts" he quotes the
despatch sent by Gen. Baird to Secre-
tsry Stanton on the same day (2Sth
August as follows;
"a convention has been called, with
the sanction of Gov. Wells, to meet
here on Monday. The Lieut. Govern
or and city authorities think it unlaw-
full and propose to break it up by ar
resting the delegates have given nc
orders on the subject; but have warned
the parties that | could not counte.
nance or permit such action without
instruction to that effect from the
President Please instruct me at once
by telegraph"
The 10Th of August was on Satur
day. The next morning (the 10Th,
this despatch was received by MIR
Stanton ut his residence in this city
He took no action upon it,and neither
sent instructions to Gen. Baird him
self, nor presented it to me for sucl
instructions. On the next day Mon
day the riot occurred. | never say
this despatch from Gen. Baird unit
some ten days or two weeks after til
riot, when, upon my call for all Tia
dispatches, with view to their publ
cation, Mr. Stanton sent it to mi
These facts nil appear III the testimon
of Mr.. Stanton before the Judciar
Committee i'll the impeachment inve,
tgntion."
He then quotes from Gen. Baird
letter to Seci etary Stanton on the 30
the date OF the riot), giving the d
tails of the riot, and expressing regr
that no reply to his previous despat,
had been received. He then pr
ceeds:
"The despatch of Gen. Baird (of Il
2Sth) asks for immediate instruction
This letter of the both, after detailir
the rebel not which had just happene
ends with the expression of regret til
the instructions which he asked (
were not sent 1t is not the fault,
the error. or the omission of the Pre-
ident that this military command "
left without instructions, but for
emissions, for all errors, for all failur
to instruct when instructions mig
have ayerted this calamity, the Pre-
dent is openly and perslstently he
responsible.
Instantly, without waiting for pro
the delinquency o. the President "
heralded III every form of lutheran
Mr.. Stanton knew then that the Pr
ident was not responsible for the
linquency The exculpation was in
power, bat it was not given by him
the public, and only to the Presid,
In obedience TO Il requsition for all
dispatches. No one regrets more I'll
myself that Gen. Baird's request v
not brought to my notice. 1t is c'
from his despatcl and letter that
the Secretary of War had given L
proper instructions, The riot VIII
arose on the assembling Of the conv
ton would have been ayerled. Th
may be those ready to say that ! wo
have given no instructions even ii
despatch had reached me IN time,
all admit that | ought to have had
opportunity"