New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-02-12
dispatches to the Associated Presa.l

I
From Waahlngtsn.
| WASHINGTON, February 1.-THE presi-
dents last letter TO Grant opens as follows
1.-THE extraordinary character of your
| letter of the third would seem to preclude
a reply, hut the manner in which publicity
has been given to the correspondence,
whereof that letter formed nerf, and the
grave questions involved, induces this
mode of giving the proper sequel to the
communications which have passed be-
tween US. Statements Of i've members Of
the cabinet who were present during the
conversation on the 14th, and copies OF
their letters to me Rre inclosed.p
After quoting from Grants letter the
| president says:
Whenever controversy upon matters Of
| fact reaches the point to which this has been
| brought, further assertion or denial be-
tween the parties should cease, especially
when on either side II loses the character OF
respectful discussion which is required by
the relations in which the parties stand to
each other.p
After quoting again from Grants letter,
the president says:
"lrhe point IS that before you changed
your mind you had secretly determined to
do the very thing which you at last did
surrender the office to Mr.. Stanton. You
may have changed your views asto the law,
but you certainly did not change your views
as to the course you had marked out for
yourself from the beginning
The president argues at some length the
| legality of his order to Grant to disregard
Stanton's orders, making the point that
Grant will not obey his direct orders. but
/ will obey his Indirect orders. The president
| concludes: without further comment upon
/ the insubordinate attitude which you have
assumed, am at loss to know how you
/ can relieve yourself from obedience to the
orders of the president who is made by the
Al.
army and navy, and is therefore the official
| superior as we'll of the general Of the army
| as of the secretary of war;
This mornings Chronicle contains the
| correspondence between the president and
General Grant reported from the war de-
partment in answer to a call from the
Il house. He then calls attention especially
l to that part of the correspondence relating
to the conversation between General Grant
/ and the president. and requests q statement
i of what was said on that occasion.
In reply, Secretary Weiles says:
My recollection of the conversation cor
/ responds with your statement of it in your
letter of the 3lst January. The three points
specified in that letter giving your recol-
lection of the conversation are correctly
stated.ps
Secretary McOulloch says; 81 can not un-
dertake to state the precise language used
but have no hesitation in saying that your
/
your letter to General Grant of the 3Ist.,
substantially and in all important partieu-
lars aceOrds with my recollection of it,"
Secretary Randall says: II have read care
| fully the correspondence in question, and
particularly the letter of the president to
General Grant of the 3lst. The following
extract from that letter is according to my
recollection correct statement of the CON
versati0n that took place between the presi-
| dent and General Grant at thecabinet meet
| ing on the 18th of january
Mr.. Randall then quotes the presidents
version of the conversation as published.
Secretary Stewards letter Is quite long,
giving a detailed account of his impressions
of what the president said in his letter Of
| the thirty-irst. Seward says "I did not
/ understand Grant as denying nor as ex-
plicitly admitting these statements in the
form and full extent to which you made
them. His admission of them was rather
| indirect and circumstantial, though did
not understand 1t to be an evasive one.r
| After further details Seward continues !:
| Certainly General Grant did not at any
/ time in the cabinet meeting insist that he
had in the Saturdays conversation either
directly or finally advised you of his deter
mination to retire from the charge fthe war
department otherwise than under your own
subsequent direction. He acquiesced in
your ssaieInoni tiilb INC Saturday . CONVEX
sation ended with an expectation that there
wouldbe a subsequent conference ON the
subject, which he as Well as yourself sup
day. General Grant admitted that 1t WINS
his expectation or purpose to call on you on
Monday, and assigned reasons for the omis-
sion.n
Secretary Seward's letter cansed shouts Of
laughter and alternate derision and incre-
dulity from the Republicans as his cautious
narrative proceeded.
Secretary BroWningis letter is also quite
long, and IS mainly q repetition Of the
others. 8
General Grant has already written areply,
opening as follows; y
II have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your communication of the 10th
instant accompanied BY statements of five
cabinet officers, Of their recollection Of
what occurred Ia the cabinet meeting on
the l4th Of january. Without admitting
anything contained in these statements
where they differ from anything heretofore
statec by me- propose to notice only that
portion Of your communication wherein /
am charged with insubordiAation.n
General Grant then proceeds to argue the
point At sone length. y
The impeachment fever is subsiding some-
what.
The defeat Of the Alabama constitution
causes much bitterness, and the delay Il the
senate in passing the supplemental 6fil IS
denounced by extremists in harsh terms
1t is confidently asserted thatthe extremists
will admit members elected at the recent
election, and recognize the state as restored
under the defeated constitution.
The congressional majority are sadly par+
picked, and the widest propositions are Sc
riously discussed.
The reconstruction committee has pest
poned further meetings to Ehnrsdng great
r. II Is said, TO SteFeiis' disga6t Wh9 I1fofs
Immediate impeachment.
During the reading Of the presidents
letter Nj. Butler statiohef himself directly
n front Of the clerk, and seemed to eD5oVit
very much, Mr. Buller DON'T IKE General
Il Is fair 10 sal lhas 4 malority Of the
house apd galleries heard the commnniea,
tions read with evident humiliation and
regret.
Caneressloasl FroeeeaIhss
House. h some nelso nal plantations.
the sighta0f American citizens abroad was
resumed, and wildly discussed.
with acconpanyingI docuIaenff, was read,
fpondence
me president Was caiisa Oh for General
Grants Response.
The house then went fnte COMMITTEES 81
tli6 Nh6ie e. a1ft1 Giai)0na. An enert.
ment Striking out no appropriation ~
/ asslstart eeestttlf 4aTeon clerk An4 tufef
I lcuHA elAa 4sls nipSea h8 "a RAF'sA
N1ut 4raI afe4foN.
Ihe aent fen1 eer2rol 9fanle ri
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