Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-17
STANTON.
How lac got his Old Place and
What was Said abOutit.


The Washington special to the Gin
cinnati Commercial (RadicaD contains
an interesting sketch Of the manner IL
which Stanton slid in his old seat II
says;
The keys of the Secretary's private
room in the War Department were
handed to Mr.. Stanton at 10 o'clock, and
he took quiet possession, remaining. there
until A D. M, his usual hours for closing
| his days labor, drawing pay, in the
meantime, to the amount Of nearly $4,000,
for the time during which he has been
suspended. He was visited at III o clock
by General Grant, who remained in con-
ference with him for nearly an hour. de
had interviews with other parties during
the day, and in the afternoon issued an
order to the employees of the Depart
mcnt, informing them that he was again
at the head of affairs.
A petition was circulated in the House
Of Representatives, and signed by every
Republican member, asking Stanton to
remain in the War Office and not to re-
sign, as it had been intimated he Intended
to do Immediately after his reinstate-
ment
Possibly Mr.. Johnson is as much sur
prised at some features of the transac.
ton in the StantOn affair of the past
foriy-eight hours as anybody, for it APP
pears he had an understanding with
General Grant some time ago, renewed
and its details recapitulated from time
to time, and finally repeated on Saturday
last, that he General Grant, would
either hold on to the office as Secretary ad
interim until the rights Of Mr.. Stanton
should be adjudicated in court, in case
the latter should demand possession of
the Department, or else he would give
the President timely notice of his inten-
ton to resign as Secretary dd interim, and
thus enable Mr.. johnson to appoint some
other person to the Office who would
refuse to surrender to Mr. Stanton until
a decision could be had. AS it was evil
dent on Saturday last that the Senate
would not sustain the suspension of
Stanton, the President and Grant had
another interview on the subject, and
full understanding substantially, as
above set forth, was the result. 1t was
also agreed that Grant, in company with
Gen. Sherman, should call on the Presi-
dent on Monday, to Determine finally
whether he would resign as Secretary
ad interim, or continue in the Office,
and test Stanton's right, as before stated.
Gen. Sherman called on the Executive
Yesterday, but General Grant did not.
Meantime, on Sunday last, sugges-
ton had been made to the President by
certain persons, that if the name of ex-
Governor Cox, of Ohio, should be sent to
the Senate for Secretary of War, his
nomination would probably be confirmed
and thus get rid of the Stanton imbroglio
at once. Mr.. Johnson, however, pre-
ferred to have the matter take the course
he had decided it should, especially as he
had no doubt of having the cooperation
of General Grant or another Secretary
ad interim, in the manner before stated.
What caused General Grant to change
his mind, or to depart from the arrange
ment, or why he did not notify the Pres
ident of his intention to surrender to
Stanton, has not transpired fully. The
first notice the President had, however,
of such change of purpose, was upon
receipt of the following note from Gen.
Grant to day, at about half past ii a. M:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF U. ST.
January IA, ls6S.
His Excellency. Andrew johnson. President of
the United States
SIR: have the honor to inclose here
with copy of an official notice received
by me last evening, of>the action of the
Senate of the United States in the case
of the suspension of Hon. E. NJ. Stanton,
Secretary of War. According to the
provisions of section of an act regu-
iating the tenure of civil officers, my
functions as Secretary of War ad interim
ceased from the moment of the receipt
of the within notice. / have the honor
to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, U. S. GRANT, General.
Here follows copy of the resolution
of the Senate.
This letter was handed to the Presi-
dent by one of Grants staff, ju.t one
hour after Grant had surrendered to
Stanton, and, of course, the latter was
in possession of the War Department
that length of time before Mr.. johnson
was advised of what. had transpired.
1t appears that certified copy of the
Senate resolution was served upon Grant
and Stanton last night, about 8 o'clock,
by Colonel Forney, Clerk of the Senate,
in person. A copy was left at the White
House about 9 clock last night; but the
President was engaged at the reception,
and he did not see it until about clock
this morning.
What course will be pursued by either
the President or Stanton, few hours will
determine.