The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-16
[From the New York Evening Post, of Friday.]
MIR, Stanton's Suspension.

So much power as Congress left in his hands, in
regard to his advisers the President has chosen to
exercise, by suspending tho Secretary of War from
his duties.
Army, the President has commanded Gen. Grant
to act as Secretary of War ad interim, the interim
being probably from this time to tho meeting OF
Congress.
While we are sorry to see Mr.. Stanton out OF tho
Cabinet, where he has long been very useful, wo
hold that the chief Executive must in the general
interest and for the proper administration of the
public service, have the control of his subordi-
mates. If he uses his power and place to defy or
defeat the laws, Congress con impeach and remove
him; and If Congress does not chose to exercise
that constitutional power, then the people at the
next election can punish the delinquent officer by
decreeing his removal and putting better man in
his place.
At the bottom of all discussion on this subject,
and Of the constitutional regulations upon it, lies
the belief that no man in the Presidential chair
can ruin the country in four years; that if he plain
ly violates the Constitution, Congress will be COM
PEELED by the people TO impeach and remove him;
and that IL Congress does not act, the people have
at the Presidential election power over the whole
matter to decide as seems to them best. Thus
the country is made safe against usurpation or
corruption, and that without any such Injurious
limitations Of the Executive authority as that
which Congress-, unwisely, as we think, has
enacted.
hands of the President we did not doubt. He has
long been anxious to retire from public service; he
has remained in the Cabinet only because he was
made to feel that his stay there, .whilo it vexed
desired by the people. He has been, no doubt, of
great use in the Cabinet 80 long as the President
did not fasten quarrel upon or break with him;
but when this occurred his usefulness ceased, be-
cause he could no longer hope to influence Mr..
johnson for good, or exercise restraining power
over him.
We do not doubt that Mr.. Stanton saw this him
SELF and as, by the attitude of tho President his
influence was destroyed, the order Of suspension
was probably welcome to him.
We perceive that some Journals try to bring
General Grant into contempt and suspicion, be-
cause he has been commanded to take charge,
temporarily, Of tho War Department. But let any
one say what Grant was to do. He is q soldier,
the highest officer of the army under the Presi-
dent. He has obeyei his superior's order, rs he
was obliged to do. Had he hesitated or refused he
would have set ON example of insubordination, for
which he would have deserved severe punishment.
He has not resigned his place in the army; he is
still General; he has gone to the War Department.,
as he would doubtless have gone to Texas, at the
Presidents order. The country is to be congratu-
lated that 80 true man holds so important DO
sition. The President has, for his own purposes,
chosen to place Grant in what some may think a
false position; but for that Grant is not to be
blamed
We do not credit the reports that General Stoed-
man is to be called to the War Department. Such
an appointment would be too scandalous; itwould
be flying in the face of public opinion, such as
even Mr.. Johnson would scarcely venture upon.
General Steedman is very well remembered as O
person who, sent by Mr.. Johnson to investigate
the management of the Freedmen's Bureau, tried
to destroy the characters Of faithful and honora-
bic officers in his official reports. These reports
Of his were 80 falso 80 devoid Of truth, that even
tho worst enemies of the Freedmen's bureau were
glad to drop them; and the officers whose fair
fame he tried to stain cleared themselves in every
instance Of the wrong imputed to them.
The action Of Mr.. johnson las left tho public
curious to know what may como next Does he
intend to crafty the desires OF the obstruction
ists people ask. Does he intend to remove
Sheridan, Pope and Sickles 2 It is not likely. he
could have removed them without removing Mr..
Stanton. Tho President, in such a matter, is
not subject to tho authority interference Of the
Secretary. But it is scarcely worth while to spec
ulate about MIR. Johnson's intentions. he has
shown himself, so often, tricky, and given to un-
derhand, inconsequent, and what may fairly be
called mean actions that it is not useful to specu-
late about what he may do hereafter; nor do we
think it very important. He will probably delay,
as much as he can, the work Of reconstruction,
and thus keep the country in turmoil. But that
work has now gone so far that it can scarcely be
much delayed by the President
If secessionist politicians are wise at all, they
must see that they have little to hopo from the
help of o President who has very large majority
against him in Congress, and whom even the
minority does not trust or respect. MIR. Johnson
has 80 managed atfairs that he has lost the con-
fdence and respect of Democrats as well us Re-
publicans in the Northern States; and his chief
advisers and friends now are OF tho class Of old
pro-slayery politicians OF the South, of whom he
said during the war, that the country could mover
have peace until they were put aside and new men
brought forward in their places.