The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-05
Correspondence Between the President
and General Grant.
Forfeiture of Southern Rail
road Lands.
Secret Service Agents OF the
Government.

from the War Department enclosing the following docu
ments:-
SECRETARY SPEAKER coLrAx.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb & 1885,
SR-In answer to the resolution or the House Of Re-
personalities Of the 9Th, transmit herewith copies
furnished by General Grant OF the correspondence
between him and the President relating to the Secretary
of War; and which he reports to be all the corespon
dence he had with the President on the subject have
had no correspondence with the President since tho
18th Of August last After the action OF the Senate
his alleged reason for my suspension from the office of
Secretary OF War; resumed the duties Of that Office as
required by the act Of Congress- and have continued to
discharge them without any personal written COM
munication with the President. No orders have been
issued from this Department in the Of the Presi
dent. with my knowledge and have received no orders
from him.
The correspondence sent herewith embraces all the
correspondence known to the subject referred TO
IN the resolution of the House OF Representatives.
have the honor TO be- sir with great respect, your
EDWIN NJ STANTON, Secretary OF War
Hon. SCHUYLER CoLFAx, Speaker OF the House OF Re-
personalities
GENERAL GRANT TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, D. c., JAM u.s. 1865. !
His Excellency ANDREW JOHNSON, President Of the
United States
SIR-On the Oath inst requested you to give rue in
writing the instructions which you had previously given
me verbally not to obey any order from Hon. L. NJ.
Stanton, Secretary Of War; unless knew that 1t
from yourself. To this written request l received
message that has lett doubt in my mind Of your inten
tions To prevent any possible misunderstanding.
therefore, renew the request that you will give me
written instructions, and until they received will
suspend action on your verbal ones am compelled TO
ask these instructions writing in consequence OF the
many gross misrepresentation affecting my personal
honor circulated through the press for the last fort
night, purporting TO come from the President of
versaiioDs which occurred either with the President
privately in his Office or in Cabinet meeting. What is
written admits of no misunderstanding. In view OF the
misrepresentation
facts in the
Some time after assumed the duties OF Secretary or
War ad interim, the President asked my views as to the
course Mr.. Stanton would have pursue, in tho
senate should not concur in his SUSPENSION 10 obi ain
possession OF his Office Ny reply in substance.
that Mr.. Stanton would have to appeal 10 the
courts to reinstate him, illustrating my position by
citing the grounds had taken in the Of the Ba
more Police Commissioners In that case did not
doubt the technical right Of Governor Swami to
the old Commissioners refused give up. However,
contended that no resource was left but to appeal to
keeping Mr. Stanton OF office, whether sustained In
the suspension not, stated that had not looked
particularly INTO the Tenure OF Office bl but that what
had stated general principle, and il l
should change my mind IN this particular case
reading the Tenure OF once bill closely found that
cond not without violation OF the law refuse
the Office OF Secretary Of War the moment Mr. stanton
reinstaed by the Senate, though the President
ordered me to remain which lie never did Taking this
view Of the subject and learning Saturday the 1lth
inst that the Senate had taken up the subject OF STAN
toms suspension, after conversation with Lieuten
ant General Sherman and some members Of my STAFF in
which stated that the law left discretion to
my action should Mr.. Stanton be reinstaed and that
intended to inform the President went to the Pres-
sole purpose making this decision known
and did make IL known In doing this fulfilled the
promise made In last preceding conversation the
sabiect The President; however instead OF accepting
my OF the requirements OF the Tenure Office bill
commended that he had suspended Mr. Stanton under the
authority given by the constitution, and that the
act Of courtesy his reasons for the SUSPENSION 10 the
Senate that having been appointed under the authority
given by the constitution and not under any act OF Con-
gres could not be governed the ed that tho
law binding me, constitutional or not, until
set aside by the proper tribunal. An hour
consumed, each reiteraung his views this subject,
until, getting late, the President said he would
again. did not agree to call again on Monday nor At
any other definite time, sont for by the Pres
dent until the following Tuesday. From the i1th TO
the Cabinet meeting the l4th inst doubt
tered my mind about the Presidents fully understand
ing my posiionnamely, that II the senate refused
concur IN the suspension OF Mr. stanton my powers
as Secretary Of War dd interim would cease, and Mr.
Stanlon's right the functions his
Office would, under the law, be indisputabie, and
nicaton direct indirect the subject OF his
statement during his suspension know IL had been
recommended 10 the President to send IN the name Of
Governor Cox of ohio for Secretary OF War; and thus
all embarrassment proposition that sincerely
hoped he would entertain iavorably. General Sherman
seeing the President, my particular request urge
TINS on the 18Th inst.
On Tuesday, the day Mr.. Stanton reentered the Office
Of the Secretary OF War, General Comstock who mad
carried my official letter announcing that with Mr. stan
toms reinstatement by the Senate had ceased
President
open and read the communication brought back TO
IRON President message that he wanted TO
that day at the Cabinet meeting, after had made
known the fact that was no longer Secretary OF War
dd interim. AT this meeting, after opening Il as though
a member of his Cabinet when reminded Of the
notification already given him that was longer Sec
Rotary War I'D iaerim, President gave version
Of the conversation alluded TO already On this state
mont asserted that in both conversations had
agreed to hold on to the ofce Of Secretary War until
displaced by the Courts, resign, so TO place the
nd ba on ffar lint
through ! stated our conversations substantially
gwen in his letter. win add that my conversation
before the Cabinet embraced other matter pertinent
here and 10 therefore left out. in wise admitted
the correctness Of the Presidents statement Of
my statement gave, said alludipg TO first
saton the subject the President might have under
TO resign II did nos resist the reinstatement made
no such promise.
have the honor to be. very respectfully, your o0ed
ent servant, Y. ,. GRANT, Gensral.
GENERAL GRANT TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
HsADerARrERs Army UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1864
His Excellency AsDRsw JOHNSON, President Of tss
United States
sR-I have the honor respectfully 70 rsqusst-to
have In writing order which ,he President gave me
verbally sunday, the 10Th inst, to disregard the
orders OF the Hon v. NJ Stanton Secretary OF War
until know from The President himself thas they
his orders.
ent servant y. s. GRANT. General
THE PRESIDENTS ORDER GENERAL GRANT.
The following Is the endorsement the above note -
As requested In this communication, General Grant
Is instructed writing, ne& to obey any order from
war Department. assumed TO be issuedby the direction
OF the President, unless such order h known by the
General commanding the armies OF tAe Unised States to
have been authorised by the Executive.
JAN. 20, 1865 ANDREW JOHNSON.
GENERAL GRANT 10 rRsaoEyr JOHNSON
HKApQvARrxss ARMY ON rHR UrrEp STATES
WASHINGTON, Jan. 80 1853
His Excellency ANDREW Johnson, President or the
| United Statss-
sn--I have the honor TO acknowledge the return Of
my note Of the Oath inst, with your endorsement,
thereon, thss ara not TO obey any order from the
\ War Department assumed 10 be issued by direction oil
the PRECEDENT unless such order ss known BY me u
haze heen authorized by the Executive" aud In ropi,
thereto TO say that am informed By the sccrearj
! of War that he has not received frof
the Eyvautive any order instructions mtinr, or i'm
psryna hrs authority 70 orders the " az ha