The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-02-25

which at last you did surrender the Of
fee to Mr.. Stanton. You may have
changed your views as To- the law, but
you certainly did not change your views
as to the course you had marked out for
yourself from the beginning.
will only notice one more statement
in your letter of the I'd instant, thatth
performance of the promises which ii is
alleged we're made by you would have
involved yeu in she.resistance OF law, I
know Of no statue that would have been
violated had you, carrying out your prom
ises in good faith rendered your resigna-
tion when you concluded mot to be made
party in any legal proceeding.
You add:
I am in measure confirmed in this
conclusion by your recent order directing
me to disobey orders from the Secretary
lof War, my superior and your subordi-
nate, without having countermanded his
authority to issue the orders I am to
disobey,
On the 24th ultimo, you addressed a
mote to the President requesting in writ
ling an order given to you verbally FIVE
| days before, to disregard orders from MIR.
stanton, as Secretary Of War, until you
knew from the President himself that
lthey we're his orders. On the 29th, 10
Icomplianee with your request,I did give
lyou instructions in writing not to obey
any order from the War Department IS
sumed TO be issued by the direction Of
the President, unless such order is known
by the General commanding the armies
of the United States to have been au-
Ithorized by the Executive, There are
some orders which a Secretary of War
may issue without the authority of the
President. There are others which he
issues simply as the agent of the Presi-
dent. For such orders the President is
Responsible. and he should therefore
know and understand what they are before
igiving such direction. Mr.. Stanton states
in his letter Of the 4th instant, which ac-
companies the published correspondence,
that he has had no correspondence with
the President since the 18th of August
last. And he further says that since he
resumed ths duties Of the Office he has
continued to discharge them without any
the IoSIe presiSent a. % and bs adds. aNo orSsrs a
have been issued from this department.
in the name Of the President, with my
knowledge, and / have received no orders
| from him"
II Thus saems that Mr. stanton now
discharges the duties Of the War De.
| partment without apy reference to the
President. and without using his name.
MY orders to you had only reference to
orders assumed to be issued by the Pres
iident.
It would appear from Mr.. Stanton's let
ter that you have received no such or
ders from him. In your note to the
President of the 18th ult., in which you
acknowledge the receipt of the written
order of the 10Th, you say that you have
been informed by Mr.. Stanton that he
has not received any order limiting his
authority to issue orders to the army,
aec,,, ,,,rding to the practice of the Depart
meut Rp;dl state that, "while this author
itv n tbe War Department is not coun-
termandea # will he satisfactory evidence
to me that any orders ;ss,ie,l from the
War Denartment hv d;rection of the
President are authorized by the Execu.
tive"
The President issues an order to Won to
obev mn order from the War Department
nnrnortino 70 he made aby the direction
a. tha President, mill Won have re- ferredI
81 to him fer his approyal You reuly
hat von boya reca;ved tba Pres;
aan.,s ordor ana w;ll NOT obov an oraer
n,,rrort;no - bs Given bv his d;rection If
!, aamas fsom tha War Ienor,ment Yon
,r;l, y. ohor : - - a;.aat s a.dos ae .ba pres;
Az. - 10y ~. III, - 49, 49, h;a ;na;sao. a.aor Gf
sn.' 0us III - ~ s.sa.;ao @
20 yyu eay, 'neio na' oesn : = aes'.e AZ -
.ne war pepal.msn. ~ ,ssae viIs,s a;aat = .I'
name q 'ne IIssiasns; wienoas nla ultsos
.on, uues NJ. so,sG saa oss - ,nua sbe she
requested ana nave receised cndnge lne
Pracs,ce as 70 .le 0snefal u .ue Aluy :.
oo9io not .ne Iresioeh' coun1ernanu W any
sucn y ofuer .ssueu ~ you ilom 'ne a.
order from that Department, issued in
the name of the President to do special
act, and an order directly fromthe Presl-
dent himself not to do. the act, is there
a doubtwhich you are to obey? You
answer the question when you say to the
ID u gokk - of
ffesldeht IN your nv ,e'ter 81 'he ou ins''
.ne .oecfe.aly Oh "ar - youl supetlot
ana my suooroinate. ana yes you iee
luse 'opeoienee 10 me superi0r WV. uas =.
seleIence 70 lhe sapofuinases alsnou' ~
ial.nsl cobsns upUa sne ammoS ,nsuoSuao au,
Gtll'uue wni1n YOU nas9 assumou gu