New-York tribune., 1868-02-22

ing that he had violated the Civi lTenure-of Office
bill Justice Cartier Immediately made out an order
for his arrest which has been placed in the hands OF
an officer and that person has already gone in search
| of Gen. Thomas
The Executive session Of the Senate lasted about
seven hours, and the proceedings were most inter
esting Senator Fessenden opened the debate, ana
took strong ground against the authority OF the
President to remove Secretary Stanton ana
appoint Secretary ad interim without the con-
sent of the Senate. Senator Edmunds followed
with resolution which simply protested against
Mr. Johnsons action This was met with s'rong
onnosition. and after several amendments had been
voted down the main resolution was defeated on a
call of the Yeas and Nays, and Senator Wilson's sub
stitue was finally adopted. Nearly all of the Repub-
lcans participated in the debate. They were unit
upon the illegaty of Mr. Johnsons action, and the
only point of difference was upon the manner in
which they should so express themselves to the Pres
ident The prompt action of the Senate has inspired
the Republicans who are jubant, and confident.
A resolution. which was delivered to the President
at 1890 tonight, is as follows;
Tn Fr,cuf;re Session. Senate Of the United States Feb
| q. 1SGs-WheTtas, The Senate have read and con-
sidered the communication of the President stating
that he had removed Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary OF
War and had designated the AdJutant-General OF
the army TO act as Secretary of War dd interim;
therefore.
under the Constitution and laws of the United States
the President has no power to remove the seerety
of War and designate any other officer 10 perform
the duties of that officer dd interim.
ID. vii IolI
ing tomorrow morning, and then Mr.. Covode's
resolution calling for Mr.. Johnson's impeachment,
and this whole matter of AIr. Johnson's second
removal Of Secretary Stanton will be considered.
1t is useless to speculate upon what may be done,
in regard to impeachment; but prominent Re
publicsns, who have heretofore opposed impeach-
ment for the reason that there was a lack of
evidence, tonight express their desire for the
immediate impeachment Of Mr.. johnson.
Ii appears that Adjutant-Gen. Thomas sent for
by the President at about noon, and in the Cab
met meeting when he was made the recipient of the
order making him Secretary of War dd interim. with
instructions how to act in the matter. Gen. Thomas
went from the Cabinet meeting to Secretary Santons
Office and presented the Presidents order assigning
him to the charge of the War Department, Secre-
tary, dd interim. Secretary Stanton received Gen.
Thomas eOurteously and asked for time TO
consider, which request the General willingly
granted. Secretary Stanton remains in his Office
and will stay there all night. Gen.
Thomas will again call OF him tomorrow morning.
and demand surrender Of the office. Should seere-
tary Stanton refuse which he will most certainly do,
it then remains to be seen what action Gen. Thomas
will take. The General announces tonight that he
will prOmuleate orders tomorrow 20 all the attaches
of the War Department not 10 obey any orders fIom
any one connected with that Department, unless
they come through him. the penalty being dismissal.
Gen. Thomas's friends, many of whom Republi-
cans have been in consultation with him tonight,
and they say that lie is determined to carry out the
Presidents desires.
Mdnght-Intense excitement still prevails, and
the hotel lobbies are crowded with people. The
movement through Judge Cartier TO arrest Gen.
Thomas is not generally known, aud all are in
feverisb state Of anxiety to learn the result.
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas was during the war, Adm
tant-General. in March, 1862, he was dispatched bv
Secretary Stanton to the Southwest, 20 organize
regiments of coored troops. The officer of the same
nanie who figured so prominently at Chattanooga,
Nashville aud other points at the West and since
the war has been in command in Tennessee, is Gen.
George H. Thomas.
When Judge Carter was applied to this evening for
writ for the arrest of Gen. Thomas, no at first OBJ
ected on the ground that he had authority to act
hut after some persuasion from those who demanded
the witt and a further investigation Of the law. he
decided that he had authority, and issued the var
rant One Of the officers of the court Is now ll2SO)
endeavoring to find Thomas
The President gives out to bis friends, tonight,
that he has taken this action in the Stanton matter
merely 10 test the consttutionaly of the Tenureof
Office law and says that he wants it definitely settled
in tho courts. Should Secretary Stanton refuse to
surrender possession TO Gen. Thomas, proceedings
are TO be at once begun on writ OF quo WdrrGnf0,
which takes precedence in the calendar, ana may
come up before the Circuit Court al any te Appear
hes to the Supreme Court.
1t is not true, as reported, that Gen. Thomas has
been arrested
In the Senate to-day considerable time was taken
up in explanations of the dispatch which was sent in
1861 by Mr. Harvey, late Minister 70 Portugal in
forming the Rebels of the intention to reinforce Fort
Sumter The subject was introduced in a personal
explanation by Senator Grimes made necessary by
certain remarks by Senator Hendricks III debate yea
teTday. The point at issue seemed to be whether
this dispatch had the sanction of the Cabinet Sena
tor Cameron stoutly insisted that it had not and
asked that the Senate pass resolution calling upon
Secretary Seward for information on the subject NO
action was taken At o'clock the consideration OF
the bill pending yesterday to declare majority OF
the votes cast at election sufficient 10 ratify
Constitution under the Reconstruction law was re-
sumed. Senator Conkling took the floor, and made