The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-02-21

| ting to be given by his direction q Il
c0nes from the IVor Department. You
will not obey the direct order of the
President, but will obey his indirect
order If as you say there has been a
practice in the war Department to
issue orders in the name of the Presl-
dent, without his direction, does not
the precise order you have requested
and have received change the practice
as to the general of the army? Could
not the President cOun ermand any
such commands issued to you from the
War Department If you should re-
ceive an order from the War Depart
ment, issued in the name Of the PreSl-
dent, to do a special act, and an order
from the President directly, not to do
the act, is there a doubt which you
ought to obey?
You answer the question when you
say to the President, in your letter OF
the Sd instant, the Secretary of War i
"my superior and your subordinate,
and yet you refuse obedience to the
superior out of Difference to the subOr-
dinate. Without further comment up
on the subordinate attitude you have
assumed, am at q loss to know how
YOU can release YOurSelffrOm obedience
to the orders of the President, who Is
made by the constitution commander
in-chief of the army and navy, and Is,
therefore, the official superior as we'll OF
the General Ofthe Army as of the Sec
retary of War.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
General Z. S. Grant, commanding
armies of the United States, Wash
ingtOn, ID. c.
Copy of letter addressed to each OF
the members of the Cabinet present at
the conversation between the President
and General Grant on the 1t of Janu-
AIRY, 1868: EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, d. C., Feb. ), 1868.
Sir: The Chronicle Of this morning
contains Il correspondence between the
President and Gen. Grant, reported
from the War Department, in answer
to resolution of the House of Repre-
sentatives. | beg to call your attention
to that correspondence, and especially
to that part of it which refers to the
conversation between the President
and Gen. Grant at the Cabinet meet
ing on the 18th Of January, and to re-
quest you to state what was said in
that conversation.
Very respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHN, ON.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. D, 1868.
Sir: Your note of this date was hand
ed to me hiseVening. My recollection
of the conversation at the Cabinet meet
ing, on Tuesday, the 14th of January,
corresponds with your statement of ii
i'll the letter of the 3lSt ult., in the
published correspondence. The three
points specified in the letter, giving
your recollection of the conversation,
are correctly stated.
Very respect'y, GIDEON WELLEs.
To the President.
TREASURY DEPT, Feb. 9, 1868
Sir: / have received your note of the
9th inst, calling my attention to the
correspondence between yourself and
General Grant, published III the ChrOn
icle Of yesterday, especially to that pait
of it which relates TO what occurred at
cabinet meeting" on Tuesday, the
l4th ultimQ, and requesting me to state
what was said in the conversation re-
ferred to.
l cannot undertake to state the pre-
else language used, but have no hesi-
tation in saying that your account OF
the conversation, given in your letter
to General Grant of the 3lst utimO,
substantially, and in all important
particulars, accOrdS with my rec0llec-
ton of il,
With great respect, your Obedientser-
want. HUGH MCCULLOCH.
To the President.