The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-02-28
Stanton Refuses TO Give I'D the
Office.
ARREST OF GEN. THOMAS.
IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRES
IDENT.
THE DEBATE AND VOTE.

tional Capitol as well as throughout the
entire country, the past few days, oc-
casioned by the removal by President
Johnson and the placing of Brevet Ma
jOr-General Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant
General of the army in his stead until
a successor shall be appointed. Imme-
diately on being informed of the
fact an informal caucus of the Repub-
licans of the Senate was held
when a committee was appointed to
visit Secretary Stanton and express to
him the desire of the dominant party in
! Congress. The committee found Mr..
Stanton in the quiet possession of the
office and told him it was the desire OF
| Congress that he should remain firm
and unyielding in the execution of his
| trust Mr. Stanton said he had receiv-
| ed President Johnson's order relieving
him from duty but he could not recog-
nize it, unless the Senate concurred.
! Gen. Thomas soon after he was noti-
fed of his appointment proceeded TO Mr..
Stanton's quarters to obtain possession
of the office, when he was informed by
| Mr. Stanton that he would think the
matter over and give him an answer
| Thomas retired.
Executive Session OF the Senate.
| The Senate went into Executive ses-
sion about 3oclock in the afternoon and
| after seven hours discussion adopted the
| following resolution which was deliver
ed to the President at 10, 80 pm:
In ErecutiUe Session, Senate ofthe Uni
ted States, Feb 81, 1885, Whereas, the
Senate have read and considered the
communication of the President, stating
| that he had removed Edwin NJ. Stanton.
Secretary of War, and had designated
| the Acknowledgement of the army TO act
as Secretary of War Gd interim there
fore.
Resolved, BY the Senate of the United
States, that under the Constitution and
laws of the United States the President
has no power to remove the Secretary Of
War and designate any other officer to
perform the duties of that officer dd IN
term.
Precautions at the War Department.
ate by vote of % ayes to nays, was
transmitted to the War Department,
and Mr.. Stanton emphatically declared
that he was impregnable. Summoning
the officer in command of the military
guard at the depar ment he ordered him
to see that every door was locked except
the one at the west end of the building,
and TO bring the keys to his room. No
one was 10 be permitted to enter the
west door except by his order. The Off
Ger, one armed veteran, promised ODE
dience.
Among the members or congress who
were at the department after midnight
were Gems. Farnsworth and Pile, and
Hon. Samuel Hooper Gen. Schenck
and Hon. Norman b. Judd remained
with Mr.. Stanton until in the morn
ing, and Gen. Thayer, Senator from Ne
braska, passed the night there.
Charge against GEN. Thomas.
At one o'clock Saturday morning Hon.
David X. Carter, Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of the District of Column
bia, a personal friend of Mr.. Stanton,
visited the Department. Mr. Stanton
made ali affidavit that Gen. Thomas had
given him document in which he had
signed himself Secretary Of War dd in
of the Tenure of Office Act of Congress,
and Judge Carter issued IA bench war
rant for the General 5 arrest. This war
rant was placed in the hands of Marshal
Gooding. 1t was understood that Gen.
Thomas was at masked ball with la
dies OF his family and it was decided not
10 have the arrest made until this morn
ing. About four o'clock in the morn
ing, Mr.. Stanton and Senator Thayer
ensconsed themselves on two lounges to
obtain, if possible, little sleep. Not |
long after the tramp of soldiers was |
heard approaching from the direction
of the White House, but it proved to be |
the relief guard. BY seven o'clock Gen. |
Farnsworth, Mr.. Judd and other Con- |
gressmen arrived, and Mr.. Stanton had |
quite levee as he discussed the break |
fast which had been sent to him from |
his house.
Arrest and Ball of Gen. Thomas.
Meanwhile U. S. Marshal Gooding,
accompanied by deputy Marshal Phillips |
and Mr.. Morgan Chandler, went at an |
early hour to the heuse of Adjutant Gen.
Thomas, at the corner of 10th and H |
streets. The General came into the hall |
ana the Marshal formally arrested him,
but told him that he would not hurry |
bis departure. The General finished |
his breakfast put OH his best uniform
coat and the party left on foot for the
Marshafs Office at the City Hall. AS
they, passed the telegraph office dis
patch was sent to Mr.. Stanton inform
ing him that the arrest had been made.
Judge Carter was waiting at the Mar
shal's office and he informed General
Thomas that he should require bail to
Une amount of 5000 for his appearance
al Court on Monday, February "a, at 10
o CLOCK am. The General Immediately
dlspatched messenger to the Attorney |
General. In about an hour bail to the
amount ofS5000 was furnished by George
X. Hall of this city and Elias A. Eliason
OF Georgetown, personal friends of Gen.
Thomas. 1t is understood that Matthew
NJ. Carpenter of Wisconsin will be the
Generals legal adviser
Scene between stanton and Thomas.
About 11:30 a. M, Gen. Lorenzo
Thomas just having been released ON
bail by Judge Carter presented himself
at the door and told Mr.. Stanton he
would like to see him, Mr.. Stanton re-
quested him to proceed with anything
be had to say. Gen. Thomas remarked
that hehad come to discharge the duties
Of Secretary of War dd interim, having
been ordered to do soby the President of
the Uuited States. Stanton replied
that he could do no such thing and or
1ered him to his 70 ON to perform his du-
ties as Adjutant General. Gen. Thomas
replied that he had been ordered by the
President to act as Secretary of War and
be intended to do it. Mr.. Stanton again
replied that he should not, and again
ordered him TO his own room and denied
the power of the President to make any
such order.
Gen. Thomas said he would not go
that he would obey the orders of the
President and not the orders of Mr..
Stanton.
Mr.. Stanton remark ed: "As Secretary
of War, order you TO return to your
own place as Adjutant General
Gen. Thomas-"I shall not do SOL
Mr.. Stanton-"Then you may stay
There as long as you please, if the Presi-
Dent u orders, but you cannot act as Sec
Gen. Thomas-ssI shall act as Secre-
tary of War;
Ven. Thomas then withdrew into a
'ooln opposite-G Gen. Shriver's room.
b;n, stanton Immediately followed
S SIN. Alter some Conversation Mr.
bs ara 90 SAID Then you claim to be
n us as secretary Of War and refnse to
obey my orders Pr. @A~ ae1osc "