The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-02-13
GRANT VS.. JOHNSON.

Fl
has taken place between Gen. Grant
and President Johnson, in regard
to the re instatcment. Of the
Secretary of War We have no
space for all the correspondence and
must content ourself by giving the
most important extract FROM the
first letter of Gen. Grant, and his
final reply. Here is that part of
Grants first letter which contains a
frank history Of his actions in the
Stanton matter:
1 'sSome time after assumed the
duties of Secretary of War, al IN
term, the President asked my views
to the course Mr.. Stanton would
have to pursue, in case the Senate
should not concur in his suspension,
to obtain possession of his office
NV reply was, i'll substance, that Mr.
Stanton would have to appeal to the
courts to reinstate him, illustrating
my position by citing the grounds
l had taken in the case of the Bal
timore Police Commissioners. In
that case did not doubt the tech
nical right of Governor Swami to
remove the old Commissioners and
fappoint their successors. As the
Old Commissioners refused to give
up, however, | contended that no
resource was left but to appeal to
the Courts. Finding that the Presi-
dent was desirous of keeping Mr..
Stanton out Of the Office, whether
sustained in the suspension Or not,
| stated that l had not looked par
ticularly into the Tenure of Office
bill, but that what l had to state
was general principle, and, if l
should change my mind in this par
ticular case, would inform him of
the fact. Subsequently on reading
the Tenure of Office bill closely, l
found l could not, without violation
Of the law, refuse to vacate the office
of Secretary of War the moment
Mr.. Stanton was reinstated by the
Senate. even though the President
ordered me to retain, whick he never
did. Taking this view of the sub
ject, and learning on Saturday, the
1ith inst, that the Senate had taken
up the subject of Mr.. Stanton's re-
moval, after some conversation with
Lieutenant General Sherman and
some members of my staff, in which
| stated the law left me no discre-
ton as to my action should MIR.
Stanton be reinstated, ] intended to
inform the President. | went to the
President for the sole purpose of
making this decision known, and did
make it so known. In this [ full
filled the promise made in our last
preceding conversation on the sub
ject. The President, however, in
stead of accepting my view of the
requirements Of the Tenure Of Office
bill, contended he had suspended
Mr.. Stanton under authority given
by the Constitution, and that same
authority did not preclude him for
reporting as an act of courtesy, his
reasons for the suspension to the
Senate; that having been appointed
under authority given by the Con-
stitution, and not under act of Con-
gress, I could not be governed by
the act. I stated that the law was
binding on me, Constitution or not,
until set aside by the proper tribu-
nal. An hour was consumed, each
reiterating his views on the subject.
until getting late, the President said
he would see me again. / did not
agree to call again ON Monday, nor
at any other definite time, nor was I
sent for by the President, until the
following Tuesday. From the 11th
inst, until the Cabinet meeting on
the 14th, doubt never entered my
mind about the Presidents fully I'M
derstanding my position, namely !:
That if the Senate refused to concur
in the suspension of Mr.. Stanton,
my powers as Secretary of War, ad
inkerans, would cease, and Mr. Stan
toms right to resume at once the
functions of his office, would, under
the law; be indisputable, and 1 acted
accordingly with him.
The President, in a lengthy letter,
denies what GenaGrant says. The
General then re-opens his battery
and sends the President the follow
ing volley:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE US, J
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
February 3, 1861
TO His ErcelleneN Andre,o Johnson, Presi-
dent ej the United Statss:
SIR-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your communica-