The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-02-21
POsTOFFICE DEPARTMENT,

Woyhugton, Feb. 6, 1868.
Sir: am in receipt of your letter OF
February, calling my attention to the
correspondence published in the ChrOn-
icle between the President and Gener-
al Grant, and especially 10 that part OF
it which refers to the conversation be-
tween the President and General Grant
at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday,
the l4th of January, with request that
| state what was saiI in that cOnVerSa-
ton.
In reply, | have the honor to state
that | have read carefully the cores
pondence in question, and particularly
the letter of the President TO General
Grant, dated January 81, 1868.
The fOllOWing extract from your let
ter of the 31st of January to General
Grant is, according to my recollection,
Il correct statement of the conversation
that took place between The eide n
and General Grant in the Cabinet meet
ing OH the 14th of January last. In
the presence of the Cabinet the PreSi-
dent asked General Grant whether sin
conversation Which took place after
his appointment as secretary of War
I'D interim he did not. agree either. to
remain at the head Of the War Depart
ment and abide any judicial proceed
ings that might follow the nOn-cOncur-
renee by the senate in Mr.. Stanton's
suspension, and should he wish not to
BECOME involved in such a cOntruyer-
ay, to put the President in the same
position with repect TO the office as he
occupied previous to General Grant,
appointment by returning to the Pres
ident in time TO anticipate such action
by the Senate"
This General Grant admitted. The
President then asked General Grant il
at the conference on the preceding Sat
urday he had not, to avoid miSunder-
standing, requested General Grant to
state what he intended to do; and fur
ther, If in reply to that inquiry he Gen
eral Grant had not referred 10 their
former conversations, saying that from
them the President understood his po-
siti0n. and that his General GRANTS
action would be consistent with the un-
derstanding which had been reached.
To these General Grant replied in the
affirmative. The President asked Cen
eral Grant If at the conclusion of their
interview Gif Saturday ib Has not un-
dtrstOod that they were to have anOth-
er conference Oh Monday, before fl
nal action by the Senate in the case
of Mr.. Stanton. General Grantreplied
that such was the understanding, but
that he did not suppose the Senate
would act 80 soon; that on Monday he
had been engaged in a conference with
General Sherman, ana was occupied
with ''many little matters" and asked
''ifGeneral Sherman had not called on
that day"
| take this mode Of complying with
the request contained in the Presidents
letter to me, because my attention has
been called to the subject before, when
the correspondence between the Presi-
dent and General Grant was under con-
sideratiOp,
Very respectfully, your obediant ser
want, ALEX ANDER W. RANDALL.
Postmaster General.
DEPARTMENT OE THE 1NTERIOK,
Washington, d. {. Feb. 6, 1868,
Sir: am in receipt of yours OF yes
terday calling my attention to CORES
pOndence between yourself and Gener-
al Grant published in the Chronicle
newspaper, and especially to that part
of said correspondence (which referred
to the conversation between the Presl-
dent and General Grant at the Cabinet
meeting on tuesday, the 14th of Janua-
ry," and requesting me ''tO state what
was said in that connection"
In reply, l submit the following