Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-22
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, ID. O., Feb. 81, 1868.

WASHINGTON, ID. O., Feb. Il, 1908. }
SIR: BY virtue of the power and au-
thority vestedin me, as President, by the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, you are hereby removed from Of
fee as Secretary of War, and your func-
tions as such will terminate upon receipt
of this communication. You will trans
fer to Brevet Major General L. Thomas,
Adjutant General of the Army, who has
this day been authorized to act as Sec
rotary Of War ad interim, all the records,
books, papers and other public property,
now in your custody and charge.
Respectfully yours,
TSigned1 ANDREW JOHNSON,
President
To Hon. E. M. Stanton.
The President sent to the Senate
to-day the following nominations: Geo.
B. Mcclellan, as Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary to Eng
land James R. Hubbell of Ohio, as
Minister Resident to the Republic of
Ecuador.
Major General Geo. II. Thomas is to
be Lieutenant-General by brevet
The members of the National Demo-
cratic Committee met informally this
morning. 1t seems to be understood
that the committee appointed by the
Chicago National Convention will hold
private meeting, at which many prelimi-
nary matters will be considered. Among
the most important, are: Whether the
regular sessions of the committee shall
be open to the public, and as to the
power of the irregularly appointed
members from the Southern States.
The preliminary meeting will be called
by August Belmont, of New York, and
will probably be held tonight New
York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and st.
Louis are the competing cities for the
Convention. 1t was finally decided at
the informal preliminary meeting this
morning that the National Democratic
Committee appointed at Chicago should
meet tomorrow at their room, with
closed doors, to arrange the details which
are to govern the regular meeting.
The Committee on Elections has agreed
that Mr.. Butler, the member elect from
Tennessee, could not take the oath pre-
scrbed by Congress, owing to his having
occupied a seat in the Legislature of
Tennessee, and taken an oath to support
the Confederate Government; but as he
was unquestionablY loyal to the United
States Government all the time, the
committee will recommend that the
House pass joint resolution, similar to
that passed by the Senate in the case of
Mr.. Patterson, of Tennessee, emitting
that part of the Congressional oath re-
quired to be taken by the members of
both branches. The committee will make
this report on Monday.
CoYGREssIoNAL,-In the Senate, Feb
ruary Il, Mr.. Sumner presented petit
ton from the negroes of Kentucky,
praying that, since slavery has been
abolished, law be passed, or the
Constitution amended, so that no State
shall abridge the privileges of any citizen
of the United States.
Mr. Patterson, of Tennessee, intro
duced bill for changing the time of
holding District and Circuit Courts in
Tennessee. Referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
The Senate then took up the special
order, which was the bill to amend the
reconstruction acts, SO that majority of
the votes cast shall decide the elections,
and to allow persons registered to vote in
any part of State, but without reach
ing a vote the Senate went into executive
session.
House.-To-morrow will be devoted to
debates only.
The Speaker presented the following
letter, which was read and referred to the
Committee on Expenditures 10 the rost-
Office Department:
PosrOFFIcE DErARTMESI.
February q. lsoe.
Hon. Schuyler COlfax, Speaker House Of Rep
re1entatives:
SIR: | have Just read with astonish-
ment the details Of some testimony IN
the Daily Globe, tending 70 implicate
me in letting contracts for carrying
Southern mails. have never heard oil
these men who testify before. No maH
ever approached me with any such
propositions as are indicated in that ties.
timony. / never heard Of such a project
before. / never DO business in that way
nor any Of that kind Of business, and
ask a thorough investigation, not only 10
he manner indicated in that testimony
but in every other transaetion Of TIC
Postoffce Department since ] have been
connected with il. I also respectfully
ask that this investigation be open ano
published to the world, II this u th'