Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-27
THE WAR DEPARTMENT

| SLale3 ~ lmpeached Oh high crimes and
misdemeaRors by the House of Represen-
| tatives.
(, THE WAR DEPARTMENT
Was opened this morning, at 9 o'clock,
with Mr.. Stanton in his office, he having
remained there during the night. In fact,
he has not been away from the building
since Friday. He was visited at an early
hour this morning by a large number OF
Senators and Representatives, all Of whom
were admitted TO his Office. Judge Foster,
of the District Supreme Court, called at
1915 and was followed by General How
ard. While these gentlemen were in the
room General Thomas entered the build
| ing, and proceeded to Mr.. Stanton's room,
when he again made the demand for the
Department, and Mr.. Stanton again refused
TO surrender the same.
GENERAL THOMAS DEMANDS POSSESSION.
The following is the detail of the third
demand made By General Thomas of
Secretary Stanton for the War Department
General Thomas, hat in hand, with a
bland manner" Good morning, Mr.. Stan
TONI
Mr.. Stanton Good morning" Said
very CURLY.
Mr.. Thomas, without being invited, or
even taking a seat, said: Z" Mr.. Stanton,
have this morning again received orders
from the President of the United States to
assume command of the War Office | now
appear and notify you that come to take
possession of the building and to assume
| the Office of Secretary Of War I'D interim"
Mr.. Stanton replied L do not acknowl-
edge such authority. | do not recognize
the authority of the President to issue any
| such order. / refuse to surrender the War
| Office, the building, or the mails, records,
etc, belonging to the department"
Mr.. Stanton then further said Gen.
Thomas, now order you to your room as
Adjutant General, and order you to dis
charge the duties of such Office"
Gen. Thomas again replied: / will do
no such thing. have been ordered to
! discharge the duties of Secretary of War
dd interim, and intend 10 do CO."
Gen. Thomas then left Mr.. Stanton's
room, and repaired to Gen. Schrivers
room, then to Gen. Townsend's room and
TO Gen. BrecEs room. To each Of these
officers he gave orders that all letters, i'm
portant communications, etc, coming to,
or going from, or through their respective
departments, should be sent at once to him.
These officers have, SO far as official duties
necessitated, obeyed such orders.
WHAT Mr.. STANTON THINKS ABOUT 1T.
In answer to an inquiry, Mr.. Stanton re-
piled that he had given no order to refuse
Gen. Thomas admission into the building.
He was asked, if Gen. Thomas persisted
would he be arrested. He replied My
action depends on Gen. Thomas action"
Gen. Howard, who was present, said
that he guessed there would be no cause
for arrest
Mr.. Stanton said that if the court issued
quo lcarranto, he would appear by coun-
sell The writ would be merely to show BY
what law he held his office, and he was
ready to show the law by counsel, but did
not mean to surrender the Office
During the day he came but once out of
the War office building, and then to speak
to his wife, who was in a carriage on the
pavement His meals were sent to him
from his residence, and Senator Chandler
dined with him.
During the day he received kilograms
and letters from his friends in various
quarters.
THE DEPARTMENT GUARDED.
Each entrance to the department is
guarded by an armed sentinel, while
number of messengers and attendants are
on duty. A Lieutenant has been placed ia
charge of the guard at the Department, and
he occupies 4 seat near the foot of the
stairs. The room ofthe Assistant Adjutant
General is kept closed, and messenger
stands at the door refusing admission to all
until the card of the visitor has been hand
ed to the Assistant Adjutant General, f.
D. Townsend, and he has given permission
to the visitor to enter.
MATTERS OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE.
There are many interesting scenes and
| incidents that go to make up this day and
night in Washington. All of the public
places are thronged with people discussing
| the result of to-uay's action Of the House.
| Speculation is turned to the Senate, and
many declare that a two-thirds vote can
| not be had to convict johnson, and this
belief, it is said, keeps gold down. Others
declare that in three weeks Johnson will
he ont OF Office.
PRESIDENT wADE's CABINET.
One of the evening papers, confident OF
this, talks about Mr.. Wade's Cabinet and
prints the following names as likely to be
selected
"Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, Sec
Rotary of State.
freeman Clarke, of New York, Secre-
tary of the Treasury.
civilian ID. Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
Secretary of the Navy.
Frederick Douglas of New York, Sec.
rotary of the Interior.
John NJ. Langston, of Ohio, Postmaster
General.
CIV. H. Carpenter, of Wisconsin, Attor.
ney General.
Edwin NJ Stanton, Secretary of War
of course"
SUSPICIOUS PERSONS EXAMINED.
As an illustration of the apprehension
that prevailed among the officers at the
capitol, a representative of one Of the lead
ing newspapers Of the country, who wa
quietly vending his way 10 that building
this morning, with a small package o
manifold paper under his arm, was haltel
at the western gate by two policemen anC
INTERCEPTED as TO the contents off the pack
age, aud whether he had any concealed
weapons upon his person. Upon satisfying
these vigilant guardians that he did no
contemplate the assassination of any body
he was allowed to proceed to the scene 0
bis daily Iabors.
SECRETARY MCUIIOCH.
We asked to-day whethsr he recoTuize,
Mr.. Stanton as Secretary OF War, an,
would honor his warrants. He said I" / d
nor care TO answer that question now.
have received no definite orders on tn
subject" He had just received dispatc
from New York announcing the decline il
gold, and said, . We'll, it's hard work f.
Congress to get it up" He was quite taci
turn on the situation.
THE PRESIDENTS RECEPTIoE.
The reception at the White House to
night, despite a heavy snow storm, was tn
largest of the season. Whether from cur
osity to see the President, or sympathy 70
him, il is nevertheless true that such a
attendance of the people has not been VII
messed in long time There were Preser
nearly all of the Cabinet, the usual repr'
sentaIion Of the diplomatic corps and th
Democratic delegation of both houses
Congress. Every body was anxious 10 Sc