The New York herald., 1868-02-22

stirring News from WnshiuEtOn-A Coup
d'E'"t mt Last from President johnson.
Yesterday was day Of momentous events
and high excitement In Washington. First,
the nomination by President johnson Of Gene
raj Mcclellan a. Minister to England raised q
little breeze Of conjectures and speculation
but as there was nothing unexpected in this
proceeding 1t awakened neither wrath nor
alarm in the Capitol. But something SO bold
and decisive as to be positively startling very
soon followed: First in an Executive COM
muncation to the Senate announcing the re-
moval Of Mr.. Stanton as Secretary Of War and
the appointment of the Adjutant General Lo-
renzo Thomas In his place secondly, In q
communication to the House from Stanton
transmitting the Presidents order to him TO
vac&te the War Department at once and
thirdly, in the announcement to the Senate
from the President that he had appointed Major
General George IL Thomas TO be, first, Lieu
tenant General, and next, General by brevet.
The removal of Stanton Of itself was an act
OF defiance against the expressed will of Con-
grcss sufficiently astounding 10 both houses !;
but coupled with these promotions Of the old
ministerial General Thomas and Of "the man
who never lost BATTLE" the crock of Gibral-
tar" The fighting General Thomas there was
enough to satisfy the Senate and the House
that there was mischief in the wind, and that
the case OF "tbe man at the other end of the
avenue" had assumed phase which admitted
OF no delay.
Mr.. Conkling's speech, In progress at the
time, on reconstruction, thus rudely inter-
rupted was promptly suspended, and the
Senate went into executive session. As the
first result Of this secret consultation Messrs.
Fessenden, Cattell and Thayer were appointed
o committee to wait on Secretary Stanton
and enjoin him to hold fast to his
position until further action by the Senate.
In the House the communication from
the displaced Secretary Of War was, in
the midst OF unparalleled excitement, referred,
under the previous question, to the Committee
on Reconstruction. Next, on motion Of Mr.
Butler, previous order appropriating the 22d
Of February to the holiday amusement Of
miscellaneous debate was rescinded. with
view 10 these urgent business matters from the
White House; and next, o resolul ion from Mr..
Coyoae, OF Penney lvania, that Andrew Johnson
be irnpeached as guilty Of "high crimes and
misiemeanors" was referred to the Recon-
struction Committee, and then, still in an un-
usual state Of combustion, the House ad-
Journed.
Now, this looks like bringing the conflict
between King and Parliament TO crisis.
There Is o great gathering Of the democratic
leaders from all parts Of the country In Wash
ington at this time, dancing attendance upon
Mr. Be mont and hs National Executive Com
mittes, In reference to the appointment of the
time and place for the National Democratic
Convention. Have these gentlemen been
pointing out tho way to Mr.. johnson,
and are they with him in these movements Of
yesterday. Are these proceedings part OF
an arranged Presidential programme involv.
ing the nomination OF Mr.. Johnson! l. is
difficult 10 believe that, single handed, ho has
undertaken to challenge directly In Congress
tho force of law OF Congress on the impeach-
rnent question The Tenure OF Once law may
be fas san,ly unconstitutional; but il the two
houses concur in adjudginy adeiance Of this
law "a high crime and misdemeanor," and
that this renewal Of Stanton, so coon after his
reinstatement under this law, is an act of cui
pable defiance Of the law. where is tho COM
pensasion 70 Mr.. johnson? Does be propose
70 head otf The impeachment penalty by an
appeal TO the Supreme Court, This may be
his purpose. 1t II said, for instance, that Mr..
Stanton has given no answer to the requistlon
Of General Lorenzo Thomas for the keys Of
the War Oaice. II <his be so, an applicao obn
for mandamas may follow 10 oust the refrac-
tory Stanton, and this may change materially
The present complexion Of affairs.
But what means this promotion OF the fight.
ing General Thomas TO the rank by brevet, Of
General Grant Under the circumstances II Is
inferred that the object Is TO call General
Thomas Sherman having declined) to the new
Military Division Of the Atlantic, with bis head.
quarters at Washington? General Grant hav-
ing lost The Presidents confidence, !, General
Thomas, de facto, TO take his placef II SO,