Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-02-13
GRANT AGAINST JOHNSON,
Important Correspondence.
Grant Asserts the Presidents Statements to be seHs Exposes
IOhnsOns DishOuorable purposes-Ayows BE own Aleg.
anee TO the Laws, and declares that lie took the
Office to Save the Country.
How He Fought it Out on That Line,

WASHINGTON, Feb. a.
The Speaker laid before the House q
communication from the War Depart
ment, inclosing the following document:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. A, 1868.
SIR: In answer to the resolution of the
House of Representatives of the Sd, /
transmit herewith copies furnished me
by Gen. Grant of the correspondence be-
tween him and the President relating to
the Secretary of War, which he reports
to be all the correspondence he had with
the President on the subject. l have had
no correspondence with the President
since the 18th of August last. After the
action of the Senate on his alleged rea-
sons for my suspension from the Office of
Secretary of War, l have resumed the
duties of that office, as required by the
act of Congress- and have continued to
discharge them without any personal or
written communication with the Presi-
dent. No orders have been issued from
this Departmental the name of the Pres
ideht, with my knowledge, and l have
received no orders from him. The cor
respondence sent herewith embraces all
subject referred to in the resolution OF
the House of Representatives.
i have the honor to b8 sir, with great
respect, your obedient servant,
EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
To Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
GEN. GRANT 10 PRESIDENT JOHNSON
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 25 1858.
To His EEceUency, Anoa'eW Johnson
| President Of the United States.
SIR: On the 24th inst. requested you
to give me in writing the instructions
which you had previously given me Yer,
bally, not to obey any order from Hon
e. NJ Stanton, Secretary of War, unless
1 knew 1T came from yourself To this
written request Ireceived a message that
has left doubt in my mind of your inten-
ton. To prevent any possible nisunder,
standing, therefore, l renew the request
that you will give me written instrue'
tions, and until they are received will
suspend action on your verbal ones.
am compelled to ask these instructions
in writing in consequence of many gross
Misrepresentation affecting my person
al honor circulated through the press fol
the last fortnight, purporting 60 come
from the President, of conversation
which occurred either with the President
| privately in bis Office, or in Cabinetmeet'
| ing. What is written admits of no mis-
understanding. In view of the misrep
resentation referred to, it will be well tG
state the facts in the case:
| Some time after | assumed the duties
of Secretary of War dd interim, the Pres
| ident asked my views as to the course
! Mr.. Stanton would have to pursue, il
case the Senate should not concur in his
suspension, to obtain possession OF hi
office. My reply was in substance tha-
Mr.. Stanton would have to appeal to the
Courts to reinstate him, illustrating my
position by citing the grounds had TAX
en in the case OF the Baltimore Polio,
Commissioners. In that case l did no
doubt the technical right of Gov. Swanr
to remove the old Commissioners anC
appoint their successors. AS the ole
Commissioners refused to give up, how
ever, L contended that no resource was
left but to appeal to the Courts. Finding
that the President was desirous of keep
ing DIR. Stanton out of office, whethe
sustained i'm the suspension or not,
stated had not looked particularly int
the Tenure-of-oHice bill but that what
had stated was on general principles, ant
If should change my mind in this par
ticular case, would inform him of tn,
fact.
of-office bill closely, | found L could not
without violation of law, refuse to vacat,
the sf1ice of Secretary of War the mo
ment Mr.. Stanton was reinstated by tn
Senate, even though the President order
ed me to retain it, which he never did
Taking this view of the subject, an,
learning on Saturday, the l1th inst.
that the Senate had taken up the subjec
of Mr.. Stanton's suspension, after SOM
conversation with Lieut.. Gen. Sherman
and some members of my staff, in whiel
/ stated that this left me no discretion a
to my action, should Mr.. Stanton be re
instated, and 1 intended to inform tn
President. Iwent to the President fo
the sole purpose of making this decision
known, and did make it 80 known. II
this fulfilled the promise made in ou
last preceding conversation on the sub
jeot ItgJ lsus ..Ye. W. ed
The President, however, instead o
accepting my view of the requirement
of the Tenure-of-office bill, contendet
that he had suspended Mr.. Stanton un
der authority given by the Constitution
and that the same authority did not pre-
ciude him from reporting as an act o
courtesy, his reasons for the suspension
to the Senate. That having been ap
pointed under authority given by TIA
Constitution, aud not under an act, o
Congress, I could not be governed by th