Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-02-11

1t is only necessary to add, that on Wednes-
day morning, the 18th, 5ou called on me, in
company with Lieut.. Gen. Sherman. After
| some preliminary conversation, you remarked
| that an article in the "Wdti0ndt Inteihgencer
of that date, did you much injustice. l re.
| piled that had not read the "Intethgencer'
| of that morning. You then first told me
that it was your intention to urge Mr. Stanton
to resign his Office.
After you had Withdrawn l carefully read
the article Of which you had spoken and found
that its statement of the understanding be-
tween US was substantially correct. On the
18th caused it to be read to four of the five
members of the cabinet who were present at
our conference on the 14th, and they concur
red in the general accuracy of its statements
respecting our conversation upon that occasion.
In reply to your communication L have
deemed it proper to prevent further m'sun.
derstanding to make the simple recital OF
facts. Very respectfully, yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
GENERAL GRANTS REPLY.
The answer of General Grant, dated Feb
ruary Sd brings the matter up to date, and is
as follows:
HEAReas AaaLEs OF % TIE F:b 2: sEATss; 1ss;
His Excelency, A. Johnson, President of the U.
States : Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 3lst ultimo
in answer 10 mine OF the 2sth ult After careful
reading and comparison OF il with the article IN the
Ngiion9I Intelstncer of the 18th ult; the article
over the initials" J. B. So in the New York oria
of the 9th ut., purpOrting to be based upon your
statement and that of members OF the there
in named find it only TO be but reiterati0n-only
somewhat more in detnil-Of the '' many and gross
Misrepresentation " contained in these articles,
aud which statement of the facts set forth in my
letter of the 2Sth ultImo was intended TO correct
and here rsassert the correctness OF my
in that letter. anything In yours III reply To II 10 the
contrary Notwithstanding.
iconiess my surprise that the cabinet officers
ferred to should greatly misapprehend the facts
in the matter of admissions alleged 10 have been
made by me the cabinet meeting Of the l4th ult.,
ss suffer their mares to be made the basis OF the
charges in the newspaper articles referred to or
agree to the accuracy, you affirm they do, oil
your account of what occurred at that meeting
You know that parted on Saturday, the llth
ult., without any promise on my part, either eS'
press implied to tue effect that would hold on
to the Office of Secretary of War; Gd interim against
the action of the Senate, declining TO do SO my
self, would surrender it to you before such action
was had, or that would see you again et any liked
time the subject.
The performance of the promises alleged by you
to have been made by me would have involved a re-
sistance of the law, and an Inconsistency with inc
whole history of my connection with the suspension
of MIR. Stanton. From oUr conversation and my
written protest of August lst, 1861 against the re-
nIoval of Mr Stanton, you must have known that
my greatest objection to his removal or suspension
the fear that some one would be appointed ia
his stcad, who would, By opposition to the laws re-
Iating to the restoration of the Southern States TO
their proper relation to the government, cmtarras5
the army in the Performance of the duties cspe-
caIly i'm posed upon it by the laws, and that it was
prevent such an appointment that accepted the
appointment of Secretary of War. Gd interim an d
not for the purpose of enabling you to get rid OF
MIR Stanton by my Withholding it from him in OPP
position to the law, not doing so myself, surren
der ii to one who would as the statement and as
sumptious in your communication plainly indicate
sought.
And it 10 avoid the danger, well as 10 re-
lleve you from the personal embarrassment in which
Mr. Stanton's Reinstatement would place you, that
l urged the appointment OF Gov. Cox, SehcHinS
that ii would be agreeaLl: to you and also TO Mr.
Stanton. satisfied, was, that II was the good oil
the country, aud not the office, the latter desired
On the 18th uIt., in the presence OF Cen Sherinan
] stated to you that thought Mr.. Stanton would
resign, but did not say that would advise him to
do SO. On the 18th Gid agree with Gen. Sherman
go and advise him to that and the 18th
] had interview alone with MIR. Stanton, which
led me to the conclusion that any advice to him of
this kind would be useless, and SO informed Gen.
Sherman. Before consented TO advise MIR. Stan
ten to resign, understood from him in a conversa-
ton the subject Immediately after his reinstae-
ment, that it his opinion that the act OF Con-
gress entitled an act temporarily to supply vacan
cics in the Executive Department in certain cascs,
approved Feb. 90, 1868, was repealed by subsequent
legislation, which materially influenced my action
Previous to this time, had doubt that the laws
of 1868 still in force, notwithstanding my
ton, fuller examination Of the law leaves ques-
ton in my mind whether it is or is not repealed
This being the case could not now advise his re-
signaton lest the same danger Unprecedented from
his first removal might follow.
The course you would have it understood agreed
to pursue was in violation of law nd without orders
from you while the course did ursucand which
] never doubted you fully understood was in ac-
cordanCe with law and not in disobedicnce to any
orders of my superior.
And now, MIR. President, when my honor ns
sol lier and integrity man have been soviolent
ly ussailed pardon me for saying thatl can but re-
gard the whole matter, from beginning to end. as
an attempt to involve me in tho resistance of law,
for which you hesitated to assume the responsibility
in orders, and thus destroy my character before
the country, ! am, in a measure, confirmed in this
conclusion by your recent orders directing me to
disObey orders from the Secretary OF War, my su-
perior md your subordinate, without having coun-
demanded his authority TO disobey. With
the assurance, Mr.. President, that nothng less than
a vndication of my personal honor and character
could have induced this correspondence my
part have the honor be, very respectfully, your
ohedient servant, U. S. GRAST, General.