Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-02-27
/" EXECUTIVE MANSION.


removed from Office as Secretary Of the Depart
of War; and your functions as such will termi-
nate upon the receipt of this communication.
" You will transfer to Brevet Major General
Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant General of the ar
my, who has this day been authorized and en-
powered to act as Secretary of War al interim,
all records, books, papers, and other public
property now in your custody and charge.
Respectfully yours
"ANDREw JOHNSON, President.
To Hon. EDWIN N. STANTON, Washington"
1t appears that General Thomas, on receiv-
ing his appointment, proceeded to thedischarge
of his duties He went to the room lately oc-
cupied by Mr.. Edwin NJ. Stanton, and exhibit
ed to him his own letter of appointment, and
the order dismissing Mr. Stanton from office.
Mr. Stanton, upon reading these documents,
asked for time to remove his private papers,
which was courteously granted to him by Gen
eral Thomas
In the course Of the morning the President
sent written message TO the Senate, informing
that body that under the Constitution and laws
of the United States he had in August last sus-
pended Edwin N. Stanton as Secretary of War,
and had now by the same authority removed
him from Office, and had appointed Genera
Thomas to I'll the position. The Senate very
soon after the receipt of this message laid aside
its regular order Of business, viz: Mr. Trum-
bulls bill to modify the reconstruction laws
and went into executive session, to consider the
subject mentioned in the Presidents message
After very excited debate, which lasted I'M
til late hour in the evening, and many differ
ent propositions, some of them very violent in
their character, the following resolution was
passed by very nearly party vote, being
substitute offered by Mr. Wilson for resolu-
ton proposed by Mr.. Edmunds;
"Whereas the Senate have received and con-
sdered the communication of the President,
stating that he had removed Edwin NJ. Stan
ton, Secretary of War, and had designated the
Adjutant General of the army to act as Secre-
tary of War all interim therefore
ReSolyed by the SenGteof the United States,
That, under the Constitution and laws of the
United States, the President has not the power
to remove the Secretary of War and designate
any other officer to perform the duties of that
Office"
At the same time that the Senate was thus
engaged in secret conclaye, disputing the right
of the President to select his own Cabinet-a
power never questioned from the beginning of
the Government until this revolutionary faction
undertook to grasp the entire reins of Admin
stration-Mr Stanton was making his appeal
to the House Of Representatives, hoping proba
bly, to evoke the impeachment scheme, already
twice buried with the honors of war. The fol-
lowing is his letter to Mr.. COlfax enclosing a
copy of the order by which he was dismissed
from office, just handed to him by General
Thomas:
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
"WAsnNGroN CRY, February 81, 1868.
"SH: General Thomas has just delivered
to me copy of the enclosed order, which you
will please communicate to the House of Rep
resentatives
Your obedient servant
EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Hon. SCHUYLER CoLFAX, Speaker Of the
House Of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Washburne, this CORES
pondence was referred to the Reconstruction
Committee, Mr.. Washburne kindly remarking
that it was a competen. committee" The
committee was granted " authority to report at
any time" Subsequently, the House decided
to adjourn over until Monday, Mr. Butler as
signing as a reason that they had now 1.-TWO
Secretaries Of War-one by law and one by
usurpation" Mr. Coyode, not to be outdonc
offered a resolution to the effect that the Presi-
dent be impeached for high crimes and INSIDE
meanors, and this, after occaSioning some mirth,
was refereed to that BALKAN basket" of in
sane and absurd schemes, the Committee on
Reconstruction.
Perhaps the fttest comment on these violent,
unconstitutional, illegal, and passionate pro-
ceedings is that the individual whose ackhof
shame or honorable sensbility has led to this
disorganzation and excitement was, as we I'M
derstood, late last evening in the War Depart
meut building, vaiuly supposng that by linger-
ing about the premises he was a member of the
Cabinet from which he had been expelled.
But the country has more to consider than
the impertnonce Of any individual, no matter
how Justly deSpised and infamous he may have
become, Congress, or the Senate, rather, is !
making the issue Of its power to dictate mem
Der of the Presidents Cabinet Has it this
power by the Constitution, any more than the
President has the power to appoint the Secre
tary Of the Senate or the Clerk of the House
Is the President, by the Constitution, Comman-
der-n-Chef of the army aud navy; and is it
his duty to take care that the laws be faith
fully executed, or somebody else's duty, to be
appointed by the Senate? In word, have we
a written Constitution, and is it binding on
Congress, as well as the people Of the land p
This is the great issue, and thepeople will have
something to say about it. If those who seek
to overthrow the Constitution and subvert
usages coeval with the Government ITSELF in
volve the country in disorder, confusion, and
conflict, they cannot expect to escape sppro-
pirate retribution.
SYMPATHYFoR THE Observation-Disclosures,