Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-25

uit lCuf iOl ~ q fACAAltl RNNsA'AbAtNs
removal, as he has Che power to supply a
place made vacant BY death, OF at the
expiration of a term, or for instance the
incumbent of an Office should be found
wholly unfit TO execute the functions of
other public service, should require his
immediate expulsion, a remedy should
exist and be at once applied, and time be
allowed the President to select and APP
point a successor, as IS permitted by him
in case of a vacancy, caused by DEATH
or the termination OF an Official term.
The necessity therefore for an ad interim
appointment il Just as great, and indeed
may be greater, in cases Of removal than in,
others. Therefore that the power given
by the act of 1875 in cases Of removal is
abrogated by succeeding legislation, an ex-
press repeal ought to appear. So whole
some power should certainly not be taken
away by loose Implication. 1t NAV be,
however, that in this, as in other cases of
implied repeal, doubts may arise. 1t is
.confessediy one OF the subtle and dehatable
questions which arise in the reconstruction
Of States. II, upon such aquestion, | have
fallen into an erroneous construction, l sub
nit whether it should be characterized as
violation of official duty and of law.
have deemed it proper, in vindication Of
the cause Of which | have concluded il
my duty TO take, to place before the Senate
the reasons upon which have based my
action, although have been advised by
every member of my Cabinet that the entire
tenure of Office act is unconstitutional and
therefore void, and although l have ex-
pressly concurred in that opinion in this
veto message which had the honor to
submit to Congress when l returned the
bill for consideration, i have refrained
from making a removal of any officer con-
trary to the provisions of the law, and
have only exercised that power in the
case of Mr. Stanton, which in my judgment
did not come within its provisions. | have
endeavored to proceed with the greatest
circumspection, and have acted only in an
extreme aud exceptional case, carefully to
follow the course which | have marked
out for myself as a general rule, faithfully
to execute all laws. / have appealed and
sought to appeal 10 that fnal arbiter fixed
by the constitution for the determination
of all such questions. To this course
have been impelied by the solemn obli-
k2AAohA ASaN u fOi W oAt7ldtiif
violate, the powers Of the high Office COM
mitted to my hands, whatever be the con-
sequence il merely personal to myself, |
could not allow them TO prevail against
public duty so clear 10 my own
mind, and so imperative of what was
possible had been certain il had been
fully advised when l removed Mr.. Stan
ton. That in thus defending the trust
committed to my hands, my own removal
was soon TO follow, / could not have hest.
tated. Actuated By public considerations of
the highest character, | protest against
resolution Of the Senate which carges me
in what / have done with violation Of
the constitution and laws Of the United
States.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Feb. 22d, 1868.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The city con.
tinues in a state of feverish excitement,
owing to pending impeachment of the
President, and everybody who takes an in
terest in public affairs is anxiously await
ing new developments. In absence of facts
rumors gain currency, and from time, to
as they are exploded, new ones are invented
to take their places, such as the alleged ar
rest Of Gen. Grant. All these excite evil,
and do not satisfy the constant demand
in hotels and among Congressional circles
and elsewhere for latest intelligence Ex-
ecutive mansion was visited in course of
the day by Secretary Seward, Adiutant
General Thomas, and a number of Demo-
cratic members of Congress. Republican
| Senators and Representatives, including
Messrs. Conkling, Chandler, Thayer, Wade,
Morgan, Judd, FarnswoFth, Logan and
Boutwell,, repaired to the War Depart
ment. 1t is reliably ascertained that the
| conversation between them aud the Secre-
tary of War, being on the pending political
! troubles, led 10 a comparison of notes,
which left no doubt in their mindstha on
| the impeachment question the Republi-
cans are a unit. 1t was not known to them
that even one member would falter and de-
sert his party, and their general impress
| sion was that the President will not only
be impeached but tried, convicted, and re-
moved from Office within the next ten
days. The ground they take is that the
| Republicans can not now avoid issues
which they say the President has forced on
them, and that having taking the first step
they must prosecute the work TO a speedy
| conclusion. Nothing was said about the
employment of troops by the opponents OF
! the President. No one present could an
| ticipate any event which would render il
n cessary, especially az they thought the
| President could not obtain the military
force to sustain him.
These gentlemen who had conversations
with Mr.. Stanton gave assurance that they
would stand by him to the last, having no
| doubt in the success of their case. There
is much earnestness and determination ex-
pressed by all of the Republicans who con-
verse upon the subject. Their speeches in
| the House may be regarded az an evidence
of the feeling which generally prevails
| among the members Of that party in Con :
| gress--certainly in the House of Repreaen-
| tatives.
Secretary Stanton has not left the War
Department since last Friday, his Con
| gressional friends having advised him to
remain there. He, however, contemplates
going home after the Honse shalt have i'm
pesched the President, az the belief among
them ia that the latter will thus be shorn
| of his moral influence, and will make no
effort to thwart the purposes of Congress,
whose authority tney say Will Dt 5uppOfleu
by Gen. Grant, under the law, the func-
tons of the Executive being suspended in
effect. Pending the trial Maj Gen. Emory,
who commands the department of Wash
ington, it is said by Republicans, will sub
ieet himself to the immediate orders only
of the General Of the army, and not those
of the President.
The guard at the War Department has
been doubled. Col Carr, of Gen. Emory 3
staff, remained there last night by order of
Gen. Grant.
The President is in receiptOf letters and
telegrams giving him assurance Of appro-
baton and support, and Republicans are
constantly being encouraged in a similar
manner to unfalteringlY execute the work
| they have undertaken.
The President to-day directed appiica-
| ton to be made to court tomorrow for q
mandamus or quo warranto with view Of
making Mr. Stanton show under and By
what authority he retains possession Of the
War Department
Mr.. Stanton has retained Hon. Mathew
II. Carpenter, Of Wisconsin to appear in
the case against Gen. Thomas, aud il IL
probable that Attorney General Stanberry
will be directed BY the President 10 appear
. for Gen Thomas, in addition 10 Messrs.