The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-02-26
The Presidents Reply to Grant,

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" The Presidents Reply to Grant,
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4.s EXECUTIVE MANSION Feb. To- 1868. /
4, 4Geaeral:--The5 extraordinary character
of your letter Of the 3dinstant would seem
to preclude any reply on my part, but the
manner in which publicity has been gwen ~
tothe correspondence Of which that letter
forms q part, and the grave question which
ARE involved require that, in justice to my
esclf,fI should take This method of giving,
AS q proper sequel to the communications
which have passed between asd the state
ments Of five numbers Of the Cabinet, who
were present on the occasion OF our cor-
yersation on the 18th uitinfo, as we'll as
copies ofthe letters which they have adj
dressed on the subject, are according here
with inclosed. n Td0H
You speak ofmy letterof the 3lst ult. as
''reiteratiye Of the many apd gross misrep-
RESERVATIONS contained in certain , news-'
paper articles, aad resassert the correct
ness OF The statements, contained IN your
communication oflthej 18th ult., adding
land here give your own words,) "any-
thing 10, your, reply to,it to the contrary
notwithstanding" When q controversy
upon matters Of fact reaches the point
towhich this had been'broughti further as.
soeiation or social denial between the. I'M
mediate parties should cease, especially
when upon either side. it loses that eharac-
Ter Of respectful discussion which is re-
'duired by the relations in which the parties
stand to each other, and degenerates in tone
and temper. In such d case, If there is
nothing to rely upon but opposing state
Tnents, conclusions must be drawn from
whatever intrinsic probabilities they offered
III favor Of or against either Of the parties,
they should not shrink from the contrbvsr-
,sy; but foftlnately9it is not left to this test
alone. There were five Cabinet officers
present at our conversation, the, "details Of
Which were in my letter Of the 1,2Sth MT,
and which, you allow yourself 70 SOY,
contains many and gross nlisfepres entai-
tons" Those gentlemen heard that con
versation and read MY staterasnhts; TREY
speak for themselves ,ssahd iteavsthe proof
Without D word Of comment. =. IN. !, pEs
- Ideem it proper. before concluding this
ocommnuicati6n, to,notice Some ofthei state
lnents, contained ii your letter. You say
s.a,the performance Of promises, alleged 70
nave been made. by me. to Tie gPresideIs !,
would have involved d resistance to The
law and inconsistency with the whole iiis-
tory ofmY connection with the suspension
of Mr, stadton." You then state that you
ahad fears that the PresIde9t wotl y on 5f9 tle
removal Of Mr. Stanton appoint 2 1t SONG niss one
ID hts place who would enbarfass me army
in carrying out the recolIstruction acfs, and y
to prevent such an appointment I accepted
the Office d, Secretary s'of War do sate1.fsa9
and not for the purpose Of enabling you TO
etrid o. Mr., Stanton, BY my, Yithhp ldintg,
,jtftt8mf him ii oppsition to ting law or noot
doing 70 myself, 70 one who would ~ y As
the Statements and assnmp tfons IN Your
communication plainly indicase that J, yoin
sought IL first Of all, as you here admit, tnat
from the very beginning Of what YOU, t term
whole history Of my connection with Mr.
Stanton's suspension, you intended to Cir
cpnyent the President, and il was, to carry
ont that intent that you accepted The lap7
,poiitmsnt, and this vas, ID your mind. at
the time Of, your acceptance, and IL. Was
then in obedience to Tie o order OF Your SUI
perior as has heretofore been ASSUMED. that
you accept the duties Of the office. You
knew itMas theRresident's pafpose to pre-
vent Mr.. Stanton from assuming the office
ofSecretary of War, and YOU intended to
defgat that purpose, aud accepted the Office,
not in the Interest Of the President, but, ol
! M,IStantop. / IT. this; purpose, so, enter;
ltained by you, had been confined l to your
lself audlif, when accepting 1.-THE Office you
t!hadldoneso awithanisHtal resersatiohato
ftdstrate the Presidents it would have been
deception ethics inwhich suchaco course
Is allowable but you Cannot, stand even
upon that questionable ground. THE his1
tory -ofyour connection , as written BY your
self, places you IN q difficult predicamleelpt,
diand shows that syou not only concealed
your design from the President, but iinlpe-
ishimto suppose that youwouhiearrg cat bis
f'Pufpese-4tokeep Mr.Stanto,i out oEomce
BY retaining it yourself. iafter'tbe attempt,
+ : ed restoration by the Senate 60 asto re'
qatre MIR stanton to estab 't ms fight BY
a