The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-11

ure." then handed him the paper addressed
to me, which he read, and asked me to give
nun copy. had copy made Wnlch c .h
said, "I do not know whether l will obey
your instructions or whether l will resist
them" Nothing more passed of any moment,
and left Towards one o'clock went into
the other room. and he was there, and said I
should issue orders as Secretary of War. He
said 1 should not; he would countermaId
them.
This is all on the first day. 1t reads more
like description of the Erie war than of the
internecine struggle portrayed in the Press.
The next morning bright and early, Thomas
instead of being arrested by file of soldiers
and led out and shot, was brought before
Judge Cartier and admitted to bail He in
formed the President of his arrest, and got, for
reply, Very well, that is the place want it
in-the courts" Then he went, of all places
in the world, to the War Ofice What fol-
lowed is best told in his own language:
1 said, "The next time you have me arrest
3D. please do not do it before L get something
to eat" l said had had nothing to eat or
| drink that day. He put his hand around my
neck, as he sometimes does, and ran his hand
| through my hair, and turned round to General
| Schriver and said, "Schriver you have bottle
here; bring it out" Schriver unlocked his
case and brought out small vial containing,
| 1 suppose, a spoonful of whiskey, and stated at
| the same time that he occasionally took lit
| tie for dyspepsia. Mr.. Stanton took that and
| poured it into tumbler and divided it equal
| ly, and we drank together. He held up the
| glasses to the light, and saw that they each
| sently messenger came in with bottle of
| whiskey, a full bottle; the cork was drawn,
and he and took drink together. "Now,"
said he, "this at least, is neutral ground"
Nv nhn- Nos fhn4 Ill flNl
| hibited that day?
| Witness-That was all.
Mr.. Stanbery-Have you ever at any time
attempted to exercise any force to get into that
Office?
| Wi5ness-At no time
Mr.. Stanbery-Did the President authorize
| or direct you to use force, intimidation, or
threats to get possession of the War Office?
| Witness-He did not
This is the testimony on which the court
acted. According to the evidence Mr.. Stanton
appears to have behaved not like a stark luna
tic, as "Etcetera" makes him out in the Press,
but like sensible man who thought he had a
| case, was bound to test it before competent
| tribunal, and was resolved meanwhile that the
| other party should get no undue advantage
L wish he had won, though cannot regard
the succession of General Schofield as great
public misfortune. However, the case came
before the Senate, was tried, and Mr.. Stanton
was cast, Mr.. Fessenden decided, and half
the Republican lawyers in the country agree
with him, that the tenure-of-office act did not
4 protect Mr.. Stanton. That was simply ques-
ton of law which he was bound to answer i'm.
partially. 1t was perfectly consistent at the
same time to commend Stanton courage and
devotion during his long term of service, his
proper determination to test this particular
question, and his prompt acceptance of the re-
suit.
1 have thought it worth while to call atten-
ton to the evidence concerning transaction
SO egregiously misrepresented as this has been
As Tor "Etcetera's" prediction that the friends
and enemies" of impeachment-in other words
the people who believe that Johnson's neglect
to remove Stanton when he might without
question amounted to legal appointment
and those who do not-will find it impossible
to act together hereafter for the election Of
Grant, or the restoration of the Southern
States, or the preservation of the national
honor, or the extension of impartial suffrage
let it go; if his vaticination is no more trust
worthy than his narration, nobody need be
troubled about it. REPUBLICAN.