The Portland daily press., 1867-08-12

The President nnd tlae Secretary of War.
The recent correspondence between the
President and Secretary Stanton is not with
out precedent. In 1888 Andrew Jackson had
as strong reasons for desiringto get rid of his
Secretary Of She Treasury, as Andrew johnson
has now for desiring some more plant officer
in the place of his Secretary Of War. Presi-
dent Jackson, like President johnson, re-
quested his Secretary to resign. Mr. Duane,
like Mr.. Stanton, refused. Mr.. Jackson, after
some days hesitation, wrote TO him, Il feel
myself constrained to notify you that your.
further services as Secretary of the Treasury
are no longer required" and on the same
day appointed Roger b. fancy Secretary.
The appointment was not confirmed by the
Senate, and the next year Levi Woodbury.
succeeded to the Office. Mr.. Johns on's course
is not quite so clear. By the tenure-of- Office
act members of the Cabinet can only be re-
moved "by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate" They may be suspended,
however, during the recess of Congress, if
shown by evidence satisfactory TO the Presi-
dent, to be guilty of misconduct in Office, or
crime, or for any reason incapable or disqual-
flied but in such case it becomes the duty of
the President, within twenty days after the
meeting OF Congress, to report to the Senate
the reasons for his action and the evidence
upon which it is based. Win Mr.. johnson
take the responsibility of attempting to show
that Secretary Stanton is incapable, or dis
qualified, or guilty of official misconduct, or of
crime? sf9 ss. -...s..f
Is that officer guilty of misconduct, whose
courage and devotion carried the nation safely
through the greatest war Of modern times?--
Was it official misconduct which made the
War Department during those anxious years
scene OF untiripg activity, and infused into
our armies the resolution and energy of its in
domitable chief? Was it official misconduct
which so endeared the Secretary of War to
Mr.. Lincoln, and to all men who loved the
country, and which has made him so obnox-
ious to the enemies of the country, North and
South? Is he disqualified for the duties of
his office by any failure of heart or brain ? At
the trying moment when all hearts for an in
stant stood still, when Lincoln and Seward
were struck down and chaos seemed to have
come upon us, Stanton rose to the full
height of his grand character
There was no longer trace in his bearing of
that impulsive energy which, no doubt, has at
times led him into venial errors. Full of a
calm determination, lie moved straight for
ward, without haste and without delay, for
getting nothing, committing not single mis-
take, attending personally to everything, even
to the dispatches which announced to the
country that the President was dying-was
dead-and resting not until he had placed Mr..
johnson in the chair. Are we to be told that
this man is incapable?,
Mr.. Stanton is not incapable; he is not dis
qualified; he has been guilty Of no miscon-
duct in office. What then is his "crime ?o
His crime is, that he has refused to become
the plant tool OF usurping President. His
crime is, that from first to last he has thwart-
ed the mad impulses of a man who would
gladly have his own way, even by violence ii
necessary. 1t is now known that the repre-
sentations of Secretary Stanton and Of Gener-
al Grant prevailed with the Senate to hold the
power of meeting in July in their own hands.
It is now plain enough that had Congress
last spring adjourned to meet in December,
the most serious difficulties would have fol-
lowed. Secretary Stanton's crime has been,
that he prevented that adjournment and its
consequences. Mr.. johnson was not left to ex-
plain away the reconstruction laws and work
his own pleasure in the Southern States. He
was not left to pervert the War Department
into an engine Of oppression for the Union
men OF the South. During this unhappy
quarrel between the Executive and the Leg
islature, it has been comfort to millions of
honest men TO know that loyal officer stood
firmly at his post in the most important of the
Executive Departments. Secretary Stanton
owes higher duty to the nation than to the
man who now occupies the Presidents chair.
1t is not for him to resign. If he is suspend
ed, will the President dare to report truly to
Congress the nature of the "crime" which Oc-