Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-27
sECRErARy SrAyrON
His Retirement from the War Depart.
neHt-The Off ice Turaed Over 10 Gen.
i To nd .Frtr

His Retirement from the War Depart.
neHt-The Off ice Turaed Over 10 Gen.
Townsend. .7ft-
Late in the afternoon yesterday, the Secre-
tary sent the following letter to the President ::
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY.
May Do, 1e6S--Sir: The resolution Of the Senate
of the United States, Of the 2lst of February
last, declaring that the President 'has no
power 10 remove the Secretary Of War and
designate any other officer to perform the du-
ties of that Office ad iaterin," having this day
failed to be supported by two-thirds OF the
Senators present and voting on the articles Of
impea chment preferred against You by the
House OF Representatives, 4 have eIiHQuished
charge of the War Department, and have left
the same and the books, archives, papers, and
tary OF War, in care Of Brevet MAJOR General
Townsend, the senior Assistant Adjutant Gen
eral, subject to your direction.
. .- EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
To de President Of the United States.
The following is Secretary Santon's letter
to Ger. Townsend. -f
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY,
May 25, 1e6s.-GeneraI: You will take charge OF
the War Department and the books and papers,
archives, and public property belonging to the
same, subject TO the disposal and direction of
the President. EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
tdnt General
1t will be observed that the Secretary's letter
to the President is not a resignation. and both
his letters are signed by him as Secretary of
War" He does not, therefore, admit that the
President had legal right to remove him, or
that the order issued by the President on the
2lst Of February legally deprived him of the
office.
THE NoMINATIoN of Gen. Schofeld as Sec.
retary of War was taken mp in the Senate to-
day in executive session but its consideration
was objected to, and under the rule it went
over.
1t seems to be believed that the nomination
will be confirmed at the next meeting of the
Senate IN executive session.
General Schofield would not be Obliged to
resign his commission, as some seem 10 sup
pose, IN taking the War Department. He can
take leave Of absence, and select which salary
be will accept, that of General or Secretary of
War.
General Grant. if elected President, could
also take the same course
THE WHITE HOUsE.-Since nine O'Clock this
morning hundreds Of persons, among whom
were many ladies, have visited the White
House, all of whom We're nxious to see the
President. and offer him their Congratulations
and a large number were admitted to his office.
Secretaries Seward, welles, Postmaster Cen
eral Randall, General Hancock, Col Zeilan,
DIR. Rlake, General Miller, and many promi-
nent persons We're among those who called
1t was also noticed that a large NUMBER of ex.
army and navy officers and soldiers visited the
Executive Mansion during the day TO tender
their congratulations.
SOME COMPLAINT has been made of the con.
dition of the north draw of the Long Bridge
which has been comparatively useless for the
past ten days. We learn that the draw is in
such a rotten condition that Commissioner
Michler Hears it will drop to pieces if opened at
all, but proposes to have a new draw con.
sfructed as soon as the appropriation bill gets
through Congress, which will probably be In
q day or two now.
THE LIST of American drinks thought here
tofore to be remarkably complete in its range,
from the gorgeous julep to the salts flying cock.
tail. is unpleasantly enlarged this morning by
the In'eti9sboer. ''The people says the INTEL
h9encer ''ask Congress for drink and they give
tie n serpent, in the form of more than SIX
months foul legislative incubation" This
won't dc! ''lncubated serpent don't souud
wholesome "a beverage.
SENATOR GRIMRs.-The Davenport. Iowa
Washington today has made arrangement. to
return home in Burlington, and upon hi ar.
rival in the State to tender his resignation as
Senator
PERsoNAL.-Senator Grimes left for home
this morning. as also did Senator Dixon.