Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-24
THE MILITARY AND THE PRESI.


Many exciting reports have been in circula-
non since Saturday as 10 The part 10 b. taken
by the military heTeabouts IN tn difficulty be-
tween the President and Congress. Il was
currently reported yesterday that the 18th reg
iInsnt. (COl. Wallace,) vas 20 be employed to
enable Gen. Thomas 10 take military possess
sion of the War Department; that Gen. Thomas
was then 10 get himself arrested under the
civil tenure act Tor the processing and par
doned by the President before trial under II e
PRESIDENTS pardoning powers.
The CkrOEicLs of this morning saws:
'In connection with the question of resort
10 force, there II an importaH Ht consideration
which has, 10 doubt, had great weight with
both TIE President and his al tatsr,ns appoint-e
an bringing hem 10 a pacific state OF mind
and that II, " IA, ~ the force is 10 b.. obtained
he President tnGs- 10 his embarrassment that
his sUbOrdinates IN tEs army have due sense
OF the Importance of OF, ,dIeuce 10 the Liws-a
discovery which NAV hsd him 10 conciude
that the assertion he once mad of his ability
10 declare himself dictator was somewhat pre-
mature j he laws provides that TO orders
shall tt ISSUED 70 the army except through tie
General commanding. This provision VAS
promul gated III general orders, and thus mad.
known 20 every officer in the army after its
enaC tm1 nj, and consequently any officer who
should receive an ord otherwise than through
the proper channel would do 50 In full yiey of
The consequences. Very naturally, The Presi-
dent has not Yet found any one willing TO take
upon himself the responsibility OF a course
Nnlcn NOulG D- at once violation Of the law
and of army regulations
'-On Saturday he sent for Genl Emory. who
commands the Department OF Washington and
whose cooperation h.. Therefore. doubtless re-
gardeC az very important al lunct 70 his
scheme Had General EIlory consented TO
beCOmr hI- tool. II l. not hAely that We should
have heard any Of the pacific talk 70 ch we
arr now Treated at least until an attempt had
ben made ~ Use stronger mpasures Rut
he Was too good soldier. and too IoyaI &
cItIzen u lend himself to the Presidents pur-
"A -.
The FresIdept of his position in the somewhat
biant e1pr, ssion, You can't use me- He
subsequently called AT General Grants head
quarters, and stated 20 him the result of the
interview We believe he had arOthrr IN
terNIew with the Pres Ident eft, rwa-d. but
nothing - known a. 10 what t-anspred there
H. except thaI General EmCry's position re-
mans un;tiiefed- II l. understood that the
commanding officers of the troops within tue
drp,l4 tn 1t Of Was hlngtOn nave all had their
attention called 10 the law, and been reminded
Of theIT duty JherpUnder. Ii il stated that the
President subsequently, sent for Col. Wallace.
commanding the l2th infantry. but found him
a. iheorrupuble a. CSeR- Emory. The only
encourage usnt he has met with. so far A. we
can hear A. from tE- venerable SECRETARY of the
Navy This ~Old man Of the sea- with char
aeierIsle OflcioGsn"ss, has, Se learn. rendered
IA IN" President the service of the Inarin,s To-
cafrd In tins city. Of whom there are about aOO
under the command of Gen. Zeilin. an officer
whos We learn, u IN accord with Con grrss All
things cOnsIdrTrcz circumstances seem very un-
favorable for a resort 10 force against the Ser
tary OF War, If the President really has e nt.r
Iained such design
On the other hand, Data writes 10 In. Sy,
IN regard 10 these reports
IL have the authority OF the Prasidan, for
saving that there IL no word OF truth IN thes.
stat. ments. On the contrary. the information
reached Mr. Johnson that ceStain significant
movements of troops had taken place, and Gen
Emory was called upon 10 explain what trans
piTed, but no demand has been made by the
PrssiCssn ssnt for soldiers Of any body for any pur-
po~e.
This idea of directing the military 10 exc
cute the orders of the Executive in carrying
ooi The order removing Mr.. Stantos, or An any
way takiEg part in the controversy relative TO
ths possession of the War Department, origin
Aied entirely Ousside OF the White House.
As heretofore stated in these dispatches, the
fr-iden nj has treated the whele matter OF the
ftmoNai Of dr. Stanton as coming within the
sitli iaW, and has not proposed or contempla-
"o bf lh'erysDtaon OF The military, directly or
Inuifteul, IN the execution of his orders or
piahs. Inc only use thus far made of the MIL
nary IN me War department. imbroglio has
o~en Dy ofder OF Mr.. Stanton, who has now q
oobbte gusrd surrounding the War Ofice 70
protect him. and obey his orders as against she
ssscp Oh his ruper,or, The President"