The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-25
- INTERESTING CONVERSATION
WITH MIR. JOHNSON.
WHAT HE INTENDS TO DO.
Correspondence OF New York Herald.
WASHINGTON, February 81, 1863.

W ASHINGTON, EeDruary Il, 1868.
After the customary salutations, your
correspondent remarked that the country
vas somewhat taken by surprise by the
Sudden removal Of Stanton and the an.
continent Of Thomas as Secretary ad in
.cin.
The President smiled, and inquired |:
"Well, what do the people say sup.
pose they are surprised; but / have only
done what had determined upon long
ago"
Correspondent: I" The removal, then, is
not in pursuance Of recent determine
ton on your part, Mr.. President 7"
The President: "Not at all, sir. The
people seem to have mistaken my course
altogether in this matter. I never had
but one determination on the subject; but
I have acted carefully, prudently, and
moderately. Perhaps l have been too
slow about removing Mr.. Stanton, but not
because feared the bugbear of impeach-
ment, or that l dreaded anything that
Congress might do. Nothing that body
could attempt or carry out would intimi-
date or surprise me. / know they are
capable Of doing anything. delayed
final action solely to let the country see
aud understand the position Of Mr.. Stan
ton. We first intimated to him that we
would like him to withdraw from our privy
council. He did not take the hint. We
then requested him to resign. He refused.
We then suspended him, under the con-
stitutional power which we have to sus-
pend or remove member of our Cabinet.
The act of suspension was also not in con-
hict with the tenure of Office bill, though
We did not, therefore, recognize its consti-
nationality. AS matter of courtesy, we
sent reasons for our action to the Senate.
That body pretended not to consider those
reasons sufficient, and assumed to reInstato
Mr.. Stanton in office. Well, we still
waited, hoping Mr.. Stanton would see the
propriety Of resigning himself.
'After waiting q reasonable time, VIC
thought proper to-day to order the reno
val Of Mr.. Stanton and to appoint General
Thomas Secretary Of War dd interim.
This is the whole story"
Correspondent: "Was this step dis
cussed in the Cabinet Council, Mr.. Presi-
dent?"
The President: "No, sir; not pre-
cisely. Ageneral policy was agreed upon
some time ago, and the removal to-day is
in accordance Herewith. I have just re-
ceieei copy of the resolution adopted by
the Senate tonight in executive session."
Correspondent: What will the Senate
do, Mr.. President, under that resolution
if YOU still insist upon having General
Thomas act as Secretary I'D Interim"
The President: 81 don't see that they
can 90 anything. The resolution itself is
the end of the matter so far as the Senate
is concerned, unless the House presents
articles of impeachment and the Senate
undertakes to try the Executive, and re-
solves itself into q high court Of impeach-
ment.'
Correspondent: I" Do you think Con-
gross really will attempt impeachment,
Mr.. President
The President: 81 don't know, indeed ;
nor DO l care. 1t would make very little
difference to me-"
Your correspondent here asked what
the President would do in the event of the
passage OF Mr.. Edmunds'S bill of suspen-
sion: TO which the President answered, sub
stantialIy: " Sir, would not obey the law
il they attempted TO suspend me. The
law IS clearly unconstitutional. There is
point against it which you gentlemen OF
the press seem to have altogether over
looked. The bill Of Senator Edmunds to
suspend pending trial would undoubtedly
be an or post facto law so far as my case
would be concerned. Such law is de-
clared unconstitutional by the very Ian
guage Of the Constitution itself. My Of
fence, we will suppose, is the removal of
AR. Stanton. That is an accomplished
fact. Any law prescribing penalty for
that act would be er post .facto, and there
fore unconstitutional. How, therefore, can
Congress legally pass bill of such cha
TactcrHD
Your correspondent remarked that GER
tain Radicals might argue that persist
ence in keeping Mr.. Stanton out of Office
after the Senate declaring his removal
contrary to law, and after the proposed
passage Of Mr.. Edmunds's suspension bill,
would be bringing the question out of the
operation of an &c post .facto law.
The President replied that that could
not alter the case, as the offence charged
would still be the removal of Mr.. Stan.
ton-an act performed before the passage
Of the proposed law.