The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1868-02-13
TWhoIe No. 1855.

tary of War ad interim, against the ae=
ton Of the Senate, or declining to do
SO, would surrender-it to you before
such action was had, or that I would
see yon again at any fixed time on
the subject. The performance of thU
promises alleged to have been made
by me, would have involved q resist
ance Of the laws, and an inconsistency
with the whole history Of my eOnnee-
tion with the suspension Of Mr..
Stanton. '1 sH
"From my conversation and my
written protest of August 1, 1857,
against the removal of Mr.. Stanton,
you must have known that my great
est objection to his removal was the
fear that some one would be appoint
ed in his stead who would, by oppO-
sitton TO the laws relating to the
restoration of the Southern States to
their proper relation to the Governs
ment, embarrass the army in the per-
formanee, Of. the duties especially inn
posed upon it by the laws, and that it
was to prevent such an appointment,
that l accepted the appointment Of
Secretary Of War ad interim, and not
for the purpose Of aiding you in
getting rid of Mr. Stanton, by with
holding it from him in opposition to
law, or not doing so myself, surrender
to OnewhO, as the statement and as-
sumption in your communication
plainly indicates; WAS snught and it
was to avoid this danger as we'll as to
relieve you from the personal embar-
.rassment in which Mr. Stanton's rein
statement would place you, that
urged the appointment of Governor
Cox, believing it would be agreeable
to you and also 10 Mr.. Stanton,
satisfied as I was, that it was the
good ofthe country and not the office
the latter desired.
son the 18th ult., in the presence
of General Sherman. ! stated to you
that l thought Mr.. Stanton would
resign, but would not advise him
to do so. On the 18th, I did
agree with Gen. Sherman to 90 and
advise him to tbat~eourse, and on tho
Fl9lh I had an interview with Mr..
Stanton. which led me to the con-
clusion that any advice would be use
less, and so informed Gen. Sherman.
Before I consented to advise Mr..
Stanton to resign, I understood from
| him, in conversation upon the subject,
Immediately on his reinstatement.
that it was his opinion that the act Of
Congress, entitled 'an act temporarily
to supply vacancies in the Executive,
Department in certain cases." ar
proved February 20, 1863, was re-
pealed by subsequent legislat on,
which !. er Influenced my action
Previous to this time I bad no doubt
that the law of 1868 was still in force,
| and Notwithstanding my action, q
! full examination of the law leaves q
question in my mind whether it is or
is not repealed. This being the case
I could not now advise his resigna-
ton, lest the same danger ] appr6-
hended on the first removal might
follow. The course you understood I
agreed to pursue was in violation Of
laws and orders from you; while the
course I did pursue, and which / never
doubted you fully understood, was in
accordance with law, and not in dis
obedience to any orders Of my superb
or r
FAnd now, Mr.. President, when
my honor as a soldier, and integrity
as a man, has been so violently assail-
ed, pardon me for saying that I can
but regard this whole matter, from
beginning to end, as an attempt to in
volve me in the resistance Of the law,
for which you hesitated to assume the
responsibility, in order thus to destroy
my character before the country. I
am in a measure, confirmed in this
conclusion by your recent orders di-
recting me to disObey orders from the
Secretary of War, my superior and
your subordinate, without having
countermanded his authority, to Is
sue the orders / am to obey.
With assurance, Mr.. President,
THAT nothing less than vindiCatiOn OF
my personal honor and character
could have induced this correspond
Eence on my part, ! have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your tbedient
servant, Z. S. GRANT, Genl.
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