Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-13
eo.D cldsed in New YORK yesterday at


lzlM zf
sGMon. Edward sBaiiss speech.
We give place this morning to the very
able speech of this distinguished Member
of the Ohio House of Representatives on
Mr.. JEwErr's resolutions. It win repay
perusal.
Personal.
Hon. JOIN H. PUTNAM. the talented ed
sitor of the tssillicoshe Aduerfiser, favoredsus
with a call yesterday. He reported the
Democracy of Ross united and determined
to make the strongest possible effort to as
sfst In wrestling the Government from the
hands of the spoilers.
The Johnson-Graaa Correspon.
deace.
On the 4th instant there was laid before
the Federal House of Representatives by
the Speaker thereof, a correspondence that
had transpired between President JOHNSON
aud General GRANT in relation to the REIN
seatement of Secretary STANTON In that
correspondence, President JOHNSON claim
ed that there was between him aud Cen
eral GRANT a distinct,s sunequivocal UNDER
sta nding, when General GRANT consented
to discharge the duties of the War Office
ad interhn, that, In the event the Senate
should undertake TO reinsSate Secretary
STANTON he General GRANr) was to bold
on to the War Office until the Judiciary
should have passed on the question, or If
h felt disinclined to do so, then he was
t. give the President sufficient notice to
enable him to appoint man who would
hold on to the Office until the ques-
ton had thus been tested. General
Grant denied that this was the UNDER
standing on his part. To this letter the
President replied under date the 10th inst,
accompanying his reply, which we subjoin,
with letters from Secretaries WELLEs, Nc
CULLocH, RANDALL, BROWNING and SEW
ARD. concurring in the statement that Gen.
serai GRANT in Cabinet meeting did admit
that there was between him and the Presi-
dent the understanding the President
sclaimed. This answer of the. President
was communicated to the Federal House of
Representatives on the 11th, in pursuance
of resolution adopted the preceding day
ealing forthe same and it is mostterrible
on General GRANT. 1t shows him to have
been un.ruthful and treacherous in his
dealings with the lPresitlent-wssh having
taken the War Office for the purpose of
defeating the President in his effort to get
rid of STANTON, and to defeat him in test
ing the constitutionality Of the CfYfl Ten.
eura- -bilts L Il -A-3 ~ - )
THE PRESIDENT TO GENERAL GRANT.
,..;.s;-eE EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 10, 1885,
GENERAL: The extraordinary character
OF your letter of the 81 instant, would seem
to preclude any reply on my part, but the
manner in which publicity has been given
to. the correspondence, of which that letter
4offns part; aud the graveq questions " which
are involved, induce me to take this mode
of giving, as proper sequel to the COM
munications which have passed. between
us, the statements of the five members of
the Cabinet who were present on the oc-
1caefOn of our ureonyersatien on the l4th ult.
Copies of the letters which they have adj
dressed to me upon the subject, are accord
ingly herewith enclosed. s.rr x-,z-,
,GEY ou speak of my letter OF the 1StsnltimO,
as reiterative of the many and grOes mis-
representations contained in certain news
paper articles, and reassert the correctness
OF the statements contained in your conf
municatiOn OF the 18th ultimO, adding-and
here give your own words" Anything
of yours in reply to it to the contrary not.
withsranding.' s5isJHGJTaas
When a controversy upon matters of fact
reaches the point to which this has been
brought, further assertion OF denial between
the immediate parties should cease,
especially When upon either side it loses
the character of the respectful discussion
which is required by the standing of the
parties to each other and degeneiates in
tone and temper.
In such case, il, there is nothing to rely
upon but the Opposing statements, conclu-
F1,1
alone. and from whatever intrinsic proba-
bilities they afford in favor Of or against
either of the parties. should not shrink
from this controversy, but fortunately 1t is
not left to this test, alone. There were five
Cabinet officers present at the conversation,
the details of which, in my letter of the
2Ssh ult., you allow yourself to say con-
tain many and gross misreprcsenta-
Etions. These gentlemen heard that
conversation and have read my statement;
they speak Tor themselves, and I leave the
proof without word of comment. deem
1t proper before concluding this commune
cation,to notice some ofthe statements con-
tanned in your letter. You say that per-
s,forrnance of the promises alleged to have
beenmade by you to the President would
have involved = 9 resis tance to law and an
Inconsistency with the whole history of
my connection with the suspension of Mr..
Stanton" You then state that you had
tears the President, would, on tue removal
OF Mr.. Stanton, appoint some one in his
placessWho Would embarrass the army in
carrying out the Reconstruction acts, and
add: Fit tOsprevent such an appoint-
ment that accepted the Office of Secretary
of War ad interim. and not for the purpose
: of enabling you to get rid of Mr. stanton
by my Withholding it from him in opposi-
sSion TO the law, or not doing 90 myself str
rendering it to one who w0nld." IS ,o6
AS the statements and assumptions in
your communication plainly indicate was
sought first OF all, you there admit that
from the very beginning of what you term
theqwhole history of your connection with
Mr.. StantOn's suspension, you Intended to
circumvent the President. 1t was to carry
= out tthatintehtth That, y on accepted the ap-
Pointment. This was in your mind at the
time OF your acceptance. 1t was not then
in obedience to the order, ,ot your superior.
rs has AeretofOre been supposed, that Won
assumed the duties of the office. You knew
it was the Presidents purpose to prevent
szMr. Stanton -fromfEresuming 1thel Office of
Secretary 1ofsW ar, and you intendedkfo de-
feat that purpose.stYo accepted the office.
not in the interest of the President, but Of
Mr.. Stanton. If this purpose so entertain
ed by you had been confined to yourself-
If, when accepting the Offices yon had done
SO with q mental reservation to Illustrate
the PresidentAft would have been de-
: eer<ienriuthe ethics Ofsome persons. Each
course is allowable; but you cannot stand
even upon. that questionable ground.
The history Of your connection with
this transaction, as Written by yourself,
places you ID a different predfcament and
shows that you not only concealed your
design from the President, but Induced him
to suppose that you would carry out his
purpose to keep Mr.. Stanton out OF office
; 81 s5kajhi19 it yourself alter an attempted
restoration, by the Senate, SO as TO require
Mr.. Stanton to establish his right by . ju-
dicial decision.
now give that part of this history as
wfIf{sa y0uEselE In, 90dr KtteE 1M the