The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-12
Testimony Of Secretary Seward.

Ss-Ths meeting 70 which YOU refer In your letter
was regular Cabinet meeting. While the mombers
assembling, and before the President had entered
the council chamber General Grant on coming IN said TO
mo that he was In attendance theye not as member OF
tbs Cabinet, but upon Invitations and replied by the
inquiry whether there change ia tho War Depart
After the President had taken his seat business
went on in the usual way Of hearing matters submitted
by the several Secretaries When che time for the
Secretary OF War; General Grant said that he was now
there not as secretary OF War, but upon the
Presidents invitation, that he had retired
from tho War Department slight difference
General Grant saying that the onfccrs who had borne
his iotter 20 tho President, tina, morning announcing
his reirenreat from the War Department had tod him
that the President desired him at the Cabinet to
which President answered that when General Gseus
communication was delivered to him the President
simply replied shat he supposed General Grant wVnd
'oe very soon NJ tho Cabinet meeting regarded tho
conversation thu, begun as Incidental IL went on qsto
informally, and consisted OF . statement on your pvt
or your views la fegard TO the understanding OF tfe
tenure upon which Genera Grant had assentsd TO hoA
way of answer and explanation IL respectful and
and courteous on bottsces being In this conversational
FORM a. details could only have been presented by
os'hatm report 30 far as knew. No such report WIS
mA0o ~ the Time
give only tho general eect of tho convorsason.
Certsny stated that although had reported the
for Mr. StantOns suspension 10 tho Senate you
nevertheless held that hu would not be entitled 80
resume Ihe Office Of Secretary OF War even If she
Senate should disApprOve n his suspension, and that
had proposed TO hare the question tested by Judicial
process, TO be applied the person who should DO tho
incumbent Of the Deparsmene Under your designations
Of Secretary Of War Gd IN ersm In the place OF MIR.
Stanton you contendod that ,hs was VOL understood
tored the War department az Secretary dd tMsrtn
he expressed bis consurren,e ,n n belief tho.
be question for the courts. That IN subsequent
versaon you had with General Grant bad adverted
TO the understanding thus had and that General Grant
expressed his concurrence in II. Tnarat
sarion which had been previously held General Cant
said no still adhered TO the same construction OF the
law, but said IL he should change his opinion would
give you reasonable notice OF IT, so that you should
DO placed 10 tho same pos ion IN regard TO the
War Department that you wore while General Grant
held Il al interim.
did not understand General Grant as denying nor rs
explicitly admitting these atetnenis in the form and
full extent TO which you made them Hisadmiss on oil
them rather indirect and circamstanlia, though
did not understand II to be an evasve one Ho said
that reasoning what occurred tn tho OF the
police Mary1and, which ne regarded parallel one,
it would DO his right and duty, under your
to hold the War oalcs after
the Senate should dlapprove Mr. Slanon's suspens on
unit, the question should be decided upon by the courts
That he remained until very recently OF tuat opinion.
and that on the Saturday before the Cabinet meeting
held between yourself and him In
which the subject was generally discussed General
stated to you tho legal difficulties which might arise
volvng fine and Imprisonment under the Civil Tenure
b and tina he did not care TO subject himself TO those
peDates that you replied 10 this remark that you
gardod the Civil Tenure bill as unconstitutional aud did
not think Its penalties wero to be feared, or that you
General Grant should either retain the Office
until relieved by yoursclf. according TO what
you claimed the original understanding be-
tween yourself and him, or ny seasonabic notice
OF change Of purpose hrs part put you IN the same
situation which YOU would DO In " no adhered You
claimed that General Grant finally said Ia that Salur-
days conversation that you understood his views and
his proceedings thereafter would be consistent with
what had been understood General Grant did not
controver can say that he admitted his last state
ment Certainly General Grant dad not ~ any time q
the Cabinet meeting insist that he bad in the saturdays
either distinctly or finally advised you or
bis deerm natiol from tho charge OF the War
Department, otherwise than under your own subsequent
direction. He acquiesced in your staiemont that the
Saturdays conversation ended with an expec
tation that there would be subsequent conference
OIL the subject, which he well Is yourself
Supposed could reasonably take place on Monday You
alluded to the fact that General Grant did not CAL
upon you Monday rs you hsd expected from that
conversation. General Grant admitted that IL was his
expectation purpose to call upon you on Monday.
said ia conference with General sherman: that
there little matters To DO attended TO- He
had conversed upon tho matter OF the incnmbency OF
tho War Department with General Sherman and no sx-
pocied that General sherman would cali upon you
Monday My mind suggested further explana.
tioD but do not remember whether IL Wac mentioned
or not namely THAT Il not supposed by General
Grant Monday that the Senate would decide the
question promptly TO anticipate l1rther oxpara-
ton between yourself and him, II delayed beyond that
day.
engaged on sunday with General Sherman and think
also Monday In regard TO the WarDepertment matter
with hope though he did not say In effort 10 procure
acable settlement Of tho affair Of Dir. stanton, and
he s hoped That II would be brought about have the
honor TO be- with great respect your obedient servant
To the PREsipkNl WILLIAM II. SEWARD