Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-02-27
EXCITEMENT AT WASHINGTON,
- y
Usurpation Defeated
TUE PBESlDyET DlSREeiRDS TUE CIVIL TENURE Law,
AND ATTEMPTS sRENGR STANTON N
THE SENATE DENIES THIS
MER.
THE HOUSE RESOLVES TO nmpEAon
IN THE SENATE

.
Presidents private Secretary delivered
to the Senate amessags from Mr.. John
son declaring that he had removed Edwin
M. stanton from the office of Secretary
of War, and had placed Brevet Major
General Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant Cen
eral Of the Army, in his stead until a asuc-
cessor shall disappointed. Senator Conk-
ling was speaking at the time, and the
communication being OF an executive
character, they were not read In open ses-
sion. The purport of the message was
soon ascertained, however, and an inform
al caucus Of the Republicans was held
Immediately, and an Executive session
was decided upon for the purpose Of i'm.
mediate action. "A committee, consist
ing ofSenators Cameron, 'Thayer, Cattell,
and Conness was appointed to visit Sec
retary StaEton and Cen. Grant in the
mean time, and express to them the
desire of the dominant party In Congress.
The Committee after visiting Stanton
and Grant returned to the Senate Chan-
ber and reported that Secretary Stanton
would retain his Office until the Senate
should take action, and that Gen. Grant
would recognize Congress as portion of
the Government, and mt Andrew John
son as sole power. When the Commit
tee hadreported, the Senate Immediately,
at about 8 O'Clock, went into Executive
session, and began the consideration of
the whole subject, remaining in session
until o. o'clock. ..l.a .'.HHdsiA- a uo
At the close Of the Executive session.
the following resolution was sent TO the
President. .,.... ......... ~
IN EFecutice Session, Senate of. the
United .,Stdtes, FEB. Il, 1868. - Whereas,
The senate have read and considered the
communication of the President. stating
that he had removed Edwin M, Stunton'
Secretary of War. and had designated
the Adjutant General OF the army to act
as Secretary of War ad Interim; there
fore, '1r,1 I.e, 5t.Hl slly 81 =, flII.1'Y
Resofued, 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 aud designate any other officer 70
perform the duties Of that office od
interim. alrt &. rifEt o.. I'd, t-f.
IN THE HOUSE. d
AT about 81 o'clock communication
was received from Secretary Stanton
transmitting the Presidents order re-
moving him, and 1t was read by speaker
Colfax, as follows: 81.
WAR DEPARTMENT, +
WAQHJNnTnN CJry L,ah ,oco ,
SIR: Gen. Thomas has lust deiive
to me copy Of the incloset order. which
you VIII please communicate to the
House of Representatives Your obedi-
ent servant, EDWIN NJ. SrANsoN,
Secretary or War.
To the Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Speak er
Of the House of Representatives.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 2l, 1868. I
SIR: by virtue of the power and au-
thority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, you are hereby removed from Of
fice as Secretary of War, and your .func-
tions as such will terminate upon receipt
OF this communication. 80 ..
You will transfer.to Brevet Major Gen,
Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant General of
the Army, who has this day been author
- - " wv 90 'PS.iethy VI w VI Uu HltGTllfl,
all records, books, papers, and other pub. .
lie property now In your custody and
charge. Respectfully yours, 4 - -
ANDREW JOHNSON. President.
ington ID. G. - - 80 '''''
This was the signal In the House, fol
the repeal OF the resolution devoting TO,
morrow to speech-making. The above
communication was referred to the Com.
mittss on Reconstruction, and ut 5o'clock
the House adjourned. -
In the mean time, Gen. Lorenzo
Thomas was arrested by process from the
court, under the fifth section of the civil
tenure act. Charged on the oath of Mr..
Stanton with violating the law; by &C.
oeptlng the Office OF Secretary of War qol
interim. htl ttt III
Az the meeting Of Congress on Satur-
day, the galleries and floor of the House
were densely packed with an excited
multitude, anxious to know what the
action of the House would be upon the
subject Of impeachment. Irt.a (. {.
Mr.. STEVENS. of Pennsylvania, al ten
minutes past two, rose to make q report
from the Committee on Reconstruction
The SPEAKER gave an admonition 10
the spectators in the gallery and TO the
members on the floor to preserve order
during the proceedings about to take
place, and to manifest neither approba.
tion nor disapprobation. figl tl'fIitff
Mr. STRvENs said From the Commit
tee on Reconstruction beg leave to make
the following report: That In additioi,
70 the papers referred to, the committee
find that the Presidents on this 2lst dAy
of February, 1868, signed and ordered n
commission or letter of authority TO one
Lorenzo Thomas, directing and author.
iying said Thomas to act as Secretary oI
War ad interim, and 10 take possession
OF the books, records, papers and other
public property In the War Department
OF which the following Is a copy: 4 3 7
eH 1t ExGcurivE MANSION, !
tWAsHINGNN,oD ID. C., Feb. n, 1858.
SIR; The Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton
having been removed fron office as 'sec.
rstary Of the Department. of the War
you are hereby authorized and empow.
cred 10 act rs Secretary OF War ad
Interim, and will Immediately enter upon
the duues pertaining TO the office. Mr.
Stanton has been Instructed TO transfer
to you all records, books, papers and
other public property entrusted to his
charge. isIih'. ftt tH rf39FH
Respectfully, yours, -
lSlgnedJ ANDREW JOHNSON.
To Brevet Major Gen. Lorenso Thoma.
Adjutant General u. s. A. NelfliV
oiiioial copy respectfully furnished te