The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-19
r1rre.nandence between Stanton. Grant and
THE PRESIDENT.


NasAir gton dispatches of the Ash to the Western
press ls#A the following
The sneaker laid before the House to- day commu-
nieatjon rom the War Department, nclosng the fol
LOWING document:
teWAR DuPaR rNENT, Feb. 4. 1858.
Sif-En answer TO the resolution of the House OF
EepfasenatiVes, ofthe 3d. transmit herewith copies
furnished me by General Grant, of the correspondence
between lin and the President relating to the Secre-
taF vi ar which he reports to be all the correSpon-
deaae be as had with the President on the subject.
huHa 6"& correspondence with the President since
The l2th Ut August last
AGer he action Of the Senate on his alleged rea-
pruy suspension from the Office of Secretary of
War have resumed the duties of that Office as re-
4utf%& b2 the acts Of Congress, and have continued to
al9ei. them without any personal or written com
"AH2caLfca with the President No orders have been
aS%&2d from this department in the of the Presi
dent with my knowledge, and have received no or
ders FROM him. -
The correspondence sent herewith embraces all the
correspondence known the subject referred to
a the Ie*1iutlon of the House Of Representatives.
baF the honor 10 be, sir with great respect, your
o2edtent scrvaEt EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Ion Schuyler cofas, Speaker of the House of Rep
fFeseaLaves.'
GEN. GRANT To THE PRESIDENT. 4. $685.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY UNITED STATES,
Washington. d. G., Jan. IS, 1868.
las ENgelency Andrew johnson, President Of the
United States -u. sr
"ss2~-On the oath instant, I requested you to give
ne Ii writing Instructions which you had previously
ElgaH terbay, not to obey any order from Hon. u.
81, 5t8g len, Secretary Of War, unless knew it came
fr0m yourself To this written request | received
message nat has left doubt my mind of your nen-
Ton, 10 prevent any possible misunderstanding,
therefore, renew the request, that you will give
written nsructions, and until they received will
suspend action on your verbal ones. t.I@*
4m compelledt to ask these instructions in writing,
h consequence of the many gross Misrepresentation,
affecting ny personal honor, circulated through the
press Toe he last fortnight, purportng to come from
tHe President, of conversations which occurred either
with the President privately, in his office, in cabinet
teHUg- What is written admits of nisunder-
,tuHdn& a-s4 u". 10.
" In ylef of these Misrepresentation referred to- it
VIII be W@i to state the facts the Some time
after assumed the duties of Sec cary of War ad in
term, Inc President asked my views to the
Mr. SlHGtn would have to pursue in the Senate
rhpNc Ho concur IN his suspension, to obtain posses
SION Of b-s office.
% Nv 9ly was in substance that Mr.. Stanton would
nave to opcal to the courts to renstae him, iilustrat
Ing :ny Ition by citing the grounds | had taken in
the case q the Baltimore police commissioners. In
that case did not doubt the technical right of Coy.
Swami 10 remove the old commissioners and appoint
ibelr successors. AS the old commissioners refused
= ~ aPf howerer contended that resource was
ZEN bat 10 appeal to the ,urts Finding that the Pes
4ept WAS DESTROYS Of keeping Mr. Stanton out of Office
whether E4lsained IN the suspension not, stated
tAtt had not looked particularly into the tenure of
0tuee Oil but that what stated was the general prin-
Gple AAa II should change my mind in this particu
4sr Gasei would inform him of the fact.
>u0sequchtly, on reading the tenure of Office bill
1@-sy found could not without violation of law,
refuse 10 AGATE the office of Secretary of War; the
ntHt DR. stanton was renstated by the Senate even
LA"HEh me President ordered me to retain it, Which he
HGrGF did. @-
Taking this view of the subject and learning On
Saturday. the 18th lnst that the Senate had taken up
tue sa6J@cE OF DIR Stanton SUSPENSION after
Fersaf'on With Lieutenant General Sherman and some
members 9 my staff in which stated that the law left
me nc al@cretion as to my action should Mr.. Stanton
5efesastaed, and that intended to so inform the Pres
dept vent to the President for the sole purpose of
MAKING dis decision known and did make it known
III t3is alflled the promise made in last preced
ing co0v.rsaton on the subject The President how
ever instead ofaccepng my view of the requirements
q ad ba had I'D
AT stanton under authority given by the Constitution
@"a that ne same authority did not preclude him from
reporting as an act of courtesy his for the sus
PGGSlon the Senate; that having been appointed
deE authority given by the Constitution and not under
Inc o9< VI Congress, could not be governed by the
sEa.cd that the law was binding on me- constitu-
5h4 e. Let, unless set aside by the proper tribunal
an Fuur was consumed, each relterating his views
gH 3 s9gect until getting late the President said he
9ul ssS me again. did not agree to call again on
Monday norat any other definite time, / sent
for BY the President until the following Tuesday.
" from he 18th inst to the cabinet meeting on the
t5ia INST, doubt never entered my mind about the
President fully understanding my position, namely, |
That L he Senate refused the suspension of
air. Stanton, my powers Secretary of War, ad in
te11@ would cease. and MIR Stanton's right to
IL once tie functions ofhs office would under the law,
Ee lSPntable; and acted accordingly. ....
" WITH Mr. Stanton had communication direct
OF iaE&c on the subject OF his reinstatement during
hi1 suspension. knew that it had been recommended
L., TIE resident to send IN the of Gen Cox, of
tb.o, t4r secretary Of War; and thus all embar
ssEIeata PROPOSITION that sincerely hoped he would
sulertaH favorably, Gen. Sherman seeing the Pres-
-eNt 5 my particular request to urge this the 18th
e. On tuesday, Mr.. Stanton entered the office of Sec
re,sry ct War. Gen. Comstock, who had carried my
cGcl& letter announcing that, by Mr.. Stantons rein
sialeneat by tie Senate had ceased to be Secretary
vt W AF ad interim, and who the President open
md read the communication brought back to me, from
lie RESIDENT a message that he wanted to me
shat day at the cabinet meeting, after had made
Ea4wn The fact that was longer Secretary Of War
ad Interim At this meeting after opening il though
/ was menter OF his cabinet, when reminded of the
uslhcasioa already given him that was no longer
Secretary Of War nd Interim the President gave
aiop OF The conversation alluded to already In this
statement it was asserted that in both conversations
lad agreed to hold on to the office of Secretary of War
until a1sP aced BY the courts resign, to place
iAe President where he would have been had never
accepted The office. After hearing the President
lbFQEgb, stated our conversation substantially as
giTeu m Is letter. will add that my conversation
1etore the cabinet embraced other matter pertinent
eFe and - therefore, left out. i'll wise admitted
he correctness of the Presidents statement Of
NerSAtlon, though to soften the evident contradiction
u nay star cment, said, abiding to- first
oR on the subject that the President might have
deF50ad NE the way he said namely, that had prom
Ise4 &c ieSlgn If did not resist the Reinstatement.
HlHng no GIch statement. .&.@ "-I .'
II have the homer to be- very respectfully YOUR ODE
dleHL servant, l- so = - .e-..
.-. 5@g @@ gu s. GRANT, Generaln
MOTHER REQUEST FOR ORDERS IN WRITING.
- HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
Washington, January "a, 1865 |
90 Jas XceiieRcy Andrew OiS0n, President of the
uaised States - w.
SCI have the honor, very respectfully to request
Il A"ve writng the order which the President gave
nae, yarbatly Sunday, the 18th instant to disregard
Tie afaers Of the Hon E. a. Stanton as Secretary of
" ar Gntli knew it came from yourself.
~ haze the honort to be, sir very respectfully, your
a54dlsnt servant, U. S. GRANT, General"
THE PRESIDENTS ENDORSEMENT.
The following is the Endorsement the above note :
AN Esquesed in this communication, Gen Grant is
Instructed IN writing not to obey any order from the
r apartment, assumed to be issued by the dctation
NJ the PRESIDENT unless such order is known by the
ta1etai commanding the armies of the United States
ia 4Ave 1aen authorised by the Executive @
5nt1ary 90, Is63.-ba-A-' 5A5 ANDREW JoHSsoS"-
LETTER 40. g.
" HEADQUARTERS United STATES ARMY, ! |
Washington, Jan 80, 1868, !
"tI@ bzeeency Andrew Johnson President - "fn 4
SA'-I have The honor to acknowledge the return of
y p"te d the 18th inst. with your endorsement there
ga lhnt ata not to obey amy order from the War Dc
Pat cat assumed to be issued by order of the Presi
4ga5 unless such order is known by authorised
bHthe Secutiye; and in reply thereto, to say that
n Hiulsned BY the Secretary of War that he has not
sechlVed rom the executive any order instructions
Uniting or impairing his authority to issue orders
&e array, has heretofore been his practice under
the laws and customs of the department While this
H8thoIg 70 the War Department countermanded,
slllba satisfactory evidence to that any orders
ss#el isom the War Department by direction Of the
Frc&QeHt are authorised by the executive. #~
haze the honor to be, very respectfully, your obc
ftfelt servant Gennrn1U