Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-02-25

/ After breakfast yesterday morning, the
c;tv became intensely excited blythe arrest
I If General Lorenzo Thomas on warrant
from Judge Carter, Chief Justice of tho
District Supreme Court, founded upon the
tenure OF civil office law and the affidavit OF
Mr. Stanton, which had been prepared dur.
ing Friday night. At 7 o'clock General
Pile delivered TO the Marshal of the District,
ID, s. Cooling, the warrant duly signed by
Judge Carter, attested by the clerk, aud adj
dressed to the Marshal, as follows:
81 David X. Carter, Chief tyustic of the
Supreme Court of the District, of Columbia,
hereby command you4to- arrest Lorenzo
Thomas. of the said District, forthwith, and
that YOU have the said Lorenzo Thomas be-
fore me at the chamber of the said Supreme
Court iu the city of Washington, forthwith,
to answer the charge of high nisdemeauor
| in this:
''That on the 21st day OF February, 1868,
in the District OF Columbia, he did unlawful
! ly accept the appointment of the office OF
Secretary Of War al interim, and did then
! and there unlawfnliy hold aud exercise, and
attempt to hold aud exercise the said Office
contrary to the provisions Of the act entitled
sAn act regulating the tenure of certain civ
il officers. passed March 2, 1867; and here>
| of fail not but make due return. Given I'M.
der my hand and seal of said court this 22d
day Of February, 1865.
ARREST AND RELEASE on DAII..
The warrant issued by Judge Carter for
the arrest of General Thomas was placed in
the hands Of. Marshal Gooding at seven A
NJ. Saturday. The marshal, accompanied by
his deputy, Mr.. Phillips, and MIR. Morgan
Chandler, proceeded to General Thomas's
residence, at the, corner of Tenth and II
street The general, who but few hours
before had returned from the grand masked
carnival at Earini's was just taking breakfast
at the time Of the arrival Of the officers, but
upon being informed by Marshal Gooding of
the object of their visit he left the mea! un-
finished and accompanied them to the. City
Hall, where they arrivcd-,about nine o'clock,
Although the arrest and the preliminares
1 thereto had been conducted as quietly as pos
sble, the 1ews was soon nosed abroad, and
there were number of persons at the City
Hall waiting to sea@the result
General Thomas vas, conducted to the mar
shal's office, where Chief Justice Carter was
waiting his arrival, aud was required to give
bail in the sum of five thousand dollars to APP
pear at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning
He requested permission to visit the Presi-
dent, which was granted, and he thereupon
proceeded, under escort of Marshal Gooding
and Mr.. Phillips, to the White House. He
had Il hasty conference with the President,
whom he informed of the state of affairs, and
then returned to the City, Hall. 1t was
about / A. NJ. when the required bail was
furnished by Mr.. George r.. Hall, carriage
maker, of this CITY, and Mr.. b. A Eliason,
tanner, ofGeorgetown, and General Thomas
was again in enjoyment OF his personal free
dom.
ANOTHER DEMAND FOR SURRENDER.
Alter his release on bail, General Thomas
again went to the Presidents House and SUBJ
seuuently, at about 11.30 o'clock, had an in
terview with Mr.. Stanton, at which there
were present. in the room, Gen. Charles II.
Van Wyck. of New York, Gen G. NJ. Dodge,
| of Iowa, Hon. Freeman Clarke, of n. Y,
Hon. J. K Moorehead, of Penna., Hon. c..
Dclano, of Ohio, Hon. Bart Van, Horn. Of
New York, Hon. W. D. Kelley, Of PenGa,
and Hon. Thomas ". Ferry, of Michigan
Notes of the conversation wero made by Mr.
Moorchead.
Gen Thomas presented himself at the
door and told Mr.. Stanton he would like to
sec him. Mr.. Stanton requested him to pro-
coed with anything he had to say.
Goa. Thomas remarked that he had como
to discharge the duties of Secretary. of War
al interim, having been ordered to do SO by
the President of the United States.
Mr. Stanton replied that he could do no
such thing, and ordered him to his room to
perform his duties as Adjutant General.
Gen. Thomas replied that he had been or
dercd by the President to act as Secretary Of
War, and he intended to doit.
Mr..Stanton again replied that he would not
and again ordered him to his own ROOM and
denied the power Of the President to make
any order.
General Thomas said he would not go;
that he should obey the orders of the Presi
dent, and not obey the ordefs-of Mr.. STAN
ton.
Mr.. Stanton remarked, as Secretary of
War. order you to repair to your own place
as Adjutant General.
Gen. Thomas-I shall not do so.
Mr. Stanton.-Then you may stay here as
long as you please, if the President orders
YOU, but you, cannot act as Secretary Of War
General Thomas.-I shall act as Secre-
tary of War.
General Thomas then withdrew into a
room opposite, being General Shriver's ROOM
Mr.. Stanton Immediately, followed by
Others went-after General Thomas, and after
some conversation, Mr.. Stanton said:' ''Then
YOU claim to be here as Secretary of War,
and refuse to, obey my. ordersT'
General Thomas-I do so, sir. T shall
REQUIRE the mails for the War Department to
be delivered to me, and shall transact all the
business of the War Department.
ri this iunctur General Grant came in
and said playfully to Mr.. Stanton's friends,
II am surprised to find you here; I supposed
you would be at my headquarters for protec-
ton.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT WITH CLOSED DOORS.
General Thomas subsequently called at the
White House and had another interview with
the President, but what passed between them
was not known. During Saturday afternoon
General Thomas went again to the War De