New-York tribune., 1868-02-24

tlcnan to-day, said My family were greatly an
noyed and alarmed at my arrest / have never been
involved in legal case of any complexion before,
and when was first arrested | had no notion as to
where should get bail i was about sending for
bail to Georgetown but, meanwhile, a person whom
barely knew came TO me and offered to go bail to
the extent of the demand first thought," said he,
of applying to Joseph H. Bradley, who was counsel
for John II. Surratt to bail me. Bradley is a cor
nection of mine by marriage j have been obliged
to employ counsel but" said he 81 am Secretary Of
War, and mean to charge that expense to the War
Department"
To several gentlemen who waited Oh Gen. Thomas,
he frankly stated the position which he occu-
pied in connection with the War Department. Said
he: Gentlemen j am Secretary of War; Mr.. Stan
ton of course, has possession of the building, but
that does not constitute him Secretary of
War; On being asked what his intentions
were for Monday morning, he said that he
would go to the War Department and take
possession. He was then asked what be would
do in case Stanton resisted He replied: Il am
too old soldier to pass q sentry" Stanton and
can have no difficulty cannot afford to be discour-
teOus Gen. Thomas further says: Il do not wish to
disparage any Of the Clerks in the War Department
but. if they decline to obey my orders, of course
would take action on their refusal" Also, he said:
In case / make requisition for tha Depart
ment of War; the Secretary of the Treasury
may pay it or may refuse to do so.
am now ready to transact any business coming TO
me. am Secretary of War; That is my position"
He was further asked if he was Secretary of War by
order of the President OF whether it appoint
ment rendered to him and accepted. He replied: 1t
is a civil appointment-by no means military Or
der / looked into the case before 1 accepted
the position, and concluded that / had
right to take possession lie adds that the
comments upon his course in some of the Washing
ton newspapers, were ungenerous and untrue Said
he: $50 far from being intoxicated on the morning OF
my visit to Mr.. Stanton was called out of bed by
the Marshal. had had nothing to eat OF to drink.
did not screw up my courage by any artificial
stimulants, and had no notice whatever that any
such crisis my arrest and the impeachment OF the
President would ensue" Gen. Thomas was asked
whether any other person could have as ready access
TO the officers of the army situated throughout the
in the various States and Territories as himself He
replied that che kept the latest army lists" Robert
j. Walker hearing that was in trouble voluntarily
be careful as to the ground occupied, because by
the Tenure-of Office bill Gen. Grant issues all orders
to the army. As Secretary of War, orders from the
President are transmitted only through you to Gen.
Grant To Gen. Grant alone intrusted the
transmission of these orders to the army" Gen.
Thomas was also asked whether Gen. Grant had
made any remark during this interview with Secre-
tary Stanton. lie said: =" No Grant came in while
was speaking with Stanton said to HIM, Gen.
Grant here is an order that j wish to show you.
Grant replied, Is this an order for me Mo- but
meant to go TO your headquarters after leaving
this place to show you this order, and, now that
have met you, you may as well see it now'
Grant looked at the ORDER passed it back to ME and
said nothing" One of the gentlemen remarked that
considerable confusion had been caused among the
people as to Gen. George II. Thomas and himself.
Ycsv said he, Il have had for many months con-
siderable trouble myself. Ills letters have been
coming TO me-" &c AS TO Gen. Thomas, our inform
ant thinks him an humble old gentleman, who has
been made the catspaw of Mr.. Johnson. and
seemed to-day for the first time TO be fully
aware of tho elevated position he had
unintentionally assumed Thomas did not
think that Stanton had liked him for long time.
Although their personal relations had been sufi-
cently courteous Said he: When l went to the
Mississippi Valley to organize eighty thousand black
men, / aftcrward found that Stanton could find no
other person to co. and that he had applied TO several
persons to undertake this work" He asked the gen.
tlemen who visited him If il was true that Mr. STAN
ton had kept all the clerks in the Department on
Friday night Thomas regarded this as very
cowardly, as he bad, he said, no intention what
ever of sezing the building while the Secretary was
asleep.
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
Your correspondent to-day visited several of the
more prominent Democratic members of Congress
for the purpose of learning their individual views of
JohnsOns coup detdt. They all seem to be in total
ignorance of Mr. Johnsons movements or intents
They say that in this last movement it would appear
that Mr. johnson has consulted no one Jerry Black,
who is known TO be his confidential friend and adj
yiser has been absent from the city since the early
part of last week. After the Senate had taken its
decided position on the removal of Secretary STAN
ton, the President telegraphed for Black to return
here Immediately, as he wished him to act as
counsel for Gen. Thomas. Judge Black has pDt
arrived. and Attorney-General Stanbery is acting
as the legal adviser TO Mr.. johnson. He has
been closeted with the President most of to-
day. and plan of procedure for tomorrow
has been arranged They have agreed to forego their
warke intentions and to take the matter before the
courts tomorrow in some shape. Several rumors are
abroad relative to the course which they will pursue.
1t appears to be pretty well settled however, that
or a writ Of quo warrantO will be applied
for tomorrow demanding or compelling Mr.. Stanton
to show cause why no retains possession of the War
Department and his records in cOntravention to his
official order The President and his friends are very
sanguine that Impeachment will fall through by
of the adjudication in the courts on the con-
of the Tenure-of Office law. They are
quito confident that the courts will decide in their
favor. The Attorney General and numerous friends,