Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-02-12
WHOLE NO. $3.50.

Office Of Secretary of War ad intsrim
against the action of the Senate; or
declining to do SO, would surrender it
70 you before such action was had or that
lWould see you again at any fixed time
On the subject. The performance of the
promises alleged OF have been made BY
me, would hsVe involved a resistance Of
the law and an inconsistency with the
whole history of my connection with
the suspension of Mr.. Stanton. From
our conversation, and my written pro-
test Of August 1st, 1867, against the re-
moyal Of Mr.. Stanton, YOU must have
known my greatest objection to his re-
InoVal was the fear that some one would
De appointed In his stead who would,
oy opposition to the laws relating to
the restoration of the Southern States
70 tnelr proper relations to the goVen-
ment, emoarrass the army in the per-
formance of the duties especially inn
posed upon it by the laws, and that it
was to prevent such an appointment
that | accepted the appointment of
Secretary Of War ad interim, and not for
the purpose Of enabling you to get rid
of Mr.. Stanton by with holding it from
him IN opposition to the law, or not do
ing so myself surrender to one who, as
the statements and assumptions in your
communication plainly indicate, sought
1t, and it was to avoid this danger, es
wei. as to relieve you from the personal
embarrassment in which Mr.. Stanton's
reinstatement would place you, that
urged the appointment of Governor
Cox, belie7eing it would be agreeable
to you and also to Mr.. Stanton. Salts
fed as was that the good Of the coun-
try and not the Office the latter desired
on the 18th ult., in the pr esence Of Cen
eral Sherman, I stated TO You I thought
Mr.. Stanton would resign, but did not
say would advise him do 80. On
the 18th 1 did agree with Gen. Sher-
man to go and advise him to that course,
and on the 10th had an interview
alone with Mr.. Stanton, which led me
to the conclusion that any advice would
be useless, and so informed Gen. Sher-
man. Before consented to advise
Mr.. Stanton to resign I understood
from him, in q conversation on the SUBJ
| ject Immediately on his reinstatement
that it was his opinion that the act Of
Congress entitled an Act to temporari-
| ly suppl vacancies in the executive
department in certain cases, approved
1 February Goth, 1868, was repealed by
subsequent legislation, which materially
influenced my action. Previous to this
time 1 had no doubt that the law Of
I 1868 was still force, and nothEitstand- =
ing my action fuller examination of
the laws leaves question in my mind
whether it IS or Is not repealed. This
being the case, could not now ADVISE
his resignation, lest the same danger
apprehended on the first removal
might follow. The course you have
understood agreed TO pursue was in vi
olation of law and of the orders from
you; while the course 1 did pursue,
and which never doubted you fully
understood, was in accordance with
law, and not In cisohedfence with any
orders of my superior. And now, Mr..
President, when my honor as asoldier,
and integrity as a man, have been so
violently assailed, pardon me for say
ing that / can-but regard this whole
matter from beginning to, end, as an
attempt to involve me in resistance of
the law for which you hesitated to as
sumo the responsibility in order thus
to destroy my character before the
country. l am in 3 measure confirmed
in this conclusion by your recent orders,
directing me to disobey orders from the
Secretary of War, my superior and
your subordinate. Without having
countermanded his suthority,I en- o.
dered to disobeY. -.
With the assurance, Mr.. Presldent,
that nothing less than 3 vindicatlon OF
nv personal honor and character could
haYe induced this correspondence on
my part, 1 have the honor to be, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
u. S. GRANT, General