The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-02-14
Grant and auhnsplr,
The Grant-JOhnsOn Correspondence.
The President. General Grant
and secretary StanIOM-GTan nJ'S
Clear and UnimpcaChaDle
p RecOrd-Thc Full Correspond
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.
The Speaker laid before the House a
c1mmunica ion from the War Department,
closing with the following documents:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. 4, 1868.
S,r: In answer to the resolution of the
II tuse of Representatives of the S'b,
transmit herewith the copies furnished Ia
IN by General Grant, of the correspond
epce between him aud the President re-
lating to the Secretary of War, and which
he reports to be all the correspondence
with tie President on the suhject. have
had no correspondence with the President
since the 18th of August last
Altr the action of the Senate on his
alleged reasons for my suspension from the
office of Secretary of War, / resumed the
duties of that Office, as required by the act
of Congress, and have continued to dis.
charge them without any personal, o:
written communication with the President
No orders have been issued from this De-
partment in the name Of the President.
with my knowledge, andl have received
no orders from him.
The correspondence sent herewith en-
braces all the correspondence known to me
on the subject referred to in the resolution
VI lls VI
/ have the honor to be, sir,
ss Your obedient servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON.
HEAD QtARrERs, ARMY OF rHE U. s., [
WASHINGTON. D. C., Jan. %, 1868.
His Excelency Andrew Johnson, President
of tie United States:
Sir-On tho 24'h inst, requested you
to give me in writing, the instructions
which you had previously given ME verb
ally, not to obey any order from Hon. +
NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War, unless I
knew it CAME from yourself. To this
written reqnestI received a message that
has left doubt in my mind of your hinten
tions. To,preyent any possible mIsunder'
standing, therefore, | renew the request
that you vii! give me written Instructions,
aud until they are received, will suspend
action on your verbal ones. b. -'r.Yf t.
| am compelled to ask these instructions
In writing, in consequence Of tie many
gross misrepresentation affecting my per-
sonal honor, circulated rough the press
for the last fortnight purporling to como
from the Presidentprivately in his Office or
in Cabinet meetings. What is written
admits of no misunderstanding. ~
In view of the misrepresentation re-
fered to, it viii be well toistate the facts
in the case. Sometime after ! assumed the
duties OF Secretary of War dd interim, the
President asked my views as to the course
Mr.. Stanton would have TO pursue, in case
the Senate should not concur in his sus-
pension, to obtain possession of his office.
My reply was, in substance, That Mr.. Stan.
ton would have 10 appeal tothe COURTS To
reinstale him, illustrating my position by
citing the grounds ! had takeu in the case
of the Baltimore Police Commissioners. ln
that case. did not doubt the1technicsl
right'of Govefilor Swarm 10 reniove tie
old commissioners and appoint their sue
egssors. AS the old commissioners refused
TO giyetup, however, conteuded fthatNno
RESOURCE was left but to appeal TO the
courts. Finding that The President,Twas
desirous of keeping Mr.. Stanton out OF
Office, whether sustained in the suspension
or not, l stated that had not looked par
ticularly into the Tenure Of Office bill, but
that what ] had stated was a general prin'
ciple, and, if should change my mind in
this particular case, would inform him of
the fact. Subsequently, on reading the
Tenure of Office bill closely, found ! could
not, wiihouts Violation ofAaw, refilse to
vacate the Office Of Secretary of War, the
moment Mr.. Stanton was re-instated by
the Senate. even though the President
ordered me to retain il, which he never did.
Taking this view Of the subject, and learn
ing on Satrrday, the llth lust. that the
Senate had taken up the subject OF Mr..
Stantons. suspension, after some copyer,
cation with Lieutenant General Sherman
aud some members Of my staff, in which.
stated that the law left me no discretion
as to my action, should Mr.. Stanton be re
ipstated, and that Intended so to inform
tue President, went to the President for
the sole purpose of making this decision
known, aud did make il known. ln.tbis,
fulfilled the promise made in our last
preceding CONVERSATION on the subject
Ehe President. however. instead vf Acl