The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-02-27
11olititol.
Grant against Johnson.
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Highly Important Correspondence
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johnson as Signally Defeated as Lee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.
The Speaker laid before the House
communication from the War De-
partmeut, inclosing the following
document
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb 4.
SIR: In answer to the resolution Of
the House of Representatives Of the
3rd, | transmit herewith copies furn-
ished me by Gen. Grant Of the cores
poudeuce between him and the Presi-
dent relating to the Secretary oC
War, which he reports to be all the
correspondence he had with the Pres
ident on the subject. l have had no
correspondence with the President
since the 18th of August last. After
the action Of the Senate on his al
legged reasons for my suspension from
the Office of Secretary of War, have
resumed the duties of that office, as
required by the act Of Congress, aud
have continued to discharge them
without any personal or written COM
municution with the President. No
orders have been issued from this
Department in the name of the Pres.
ident, with my knowledge, and l have
received no orders from him. The
correspondence sent herewith embra.
ces all the correspondence known to
me on the subject referred to in the
resolution of the House Of Represen-
tatives.
l have the honor to be, sir. with
great respect, your obedient ser
want, Edwin NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
To Hon. Schuyler Coliax, Speaker of
the House Of Representatives.
GEN. GRANT TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
HEAp'Rs ARMY OF THE u. s.,
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, '6S
To His E.ccellency Andre,o johnson,
President Of the United States.
SIR: On the Oath inst, request
ed you to give me in writing the in
structions which you had previously
given me verbally, not to obey any
order from Hon. Il. NJ. Stanton, Sec.
retary of War, unless / knew it came
from yourself. To this written re-
quest | received message that has
left doubt in my mind Of your inten-
ton. To prevent any possible mis-
understanding, therefore, | renew the
request that you will give me written
instructions, aud until they are re
ceived will suspend action on your
verbal ones. l am compelled to ask
these instructions in writing in con.
sequence of the many gross misrep-
reservations affecting my personal
honor circulated through the press
for the last fortnight, purporting tC
come from the President, Of conyer,
sation which occurred either with the
President privately in his Office, OF
in Cabinet meeting What is written
admits Of no misunderstanding. In
view of the Misrepresentation referred
to, it will be we'll to state the facts in
the case:
Some time after assumed the du
ties Of Secretary of War, ad Interim
the President asked my views as tC
the course Mr.. Stanton would have
to pursue, in case the Senate SHOULD
not concur in his suspension, to OBJ
tain possession of his Office. NJ
reply was in substance that Mr.
Stanton would have to appeal to th'
Courts to reinstate him, illustrating
my position by citing the grounds
had taken ip the case Of the Balti
more Police Commissioners. In tina
case l did not doubt the technica
right of Gov Swami to remove tn,
old Commissioners and appoint thei
successors. As the old Commission
ers refused to give up, however,
contended that no resource was lei
but to appeal to the Courts. Finding
that the President was desirous o
keeping Mr.. Stanton out of Office
whether sustained in the suspension
or not, l stated l tad not looked par
ticularly into the Tenure of. Oflic
bill, but that what ! had stated wa
on general principles, and if | shoul,
change my mind in this particula
case, would Inform him Of the fact,
Subsequently, on reading the Ten
ure of Office bill closely, l found
could not, without violation Of law
refuse to vacate the Office Of Secretar.
Of War the moment Mr., Stanton wa
reinstated by the Senate, even thougl
the President ordered me to return
| it, which he never did. Taking thi
view of the subject, and learning Of
Saturday, the llth inst, that th
Senate had taken up the subject 0
Mr. Stanton's suspension, after som
conversation with Lieut., Gen. Sher.
man and some members Of my staff
in which / stated that the law left m
no discretion as to my action, shoul,
Mr.. Stanton be reinstated, and | in
tended to inform the President.
went to the President for the sol
purpose of making this decision
known, aud did make it so known
! In this I fulfilled the promise mad
10 our last preceding conversation o.
the subject.
The President, however, instead o
accepting my view Of the require
ments of the Tenure of Office bill
contended that he had suspended MI
Stanton under authority given by tn
? Constitution, aud that the same au-
thority did not preclude him from
reporting, as an act of courtesy, hi
reasons for the suspension to tn
Senate. That having been appointe,
under authority given by the Consti
tuition, and not under an act of Con
gress, l could not be governed by tn