The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-02-11
Tho esrant-Johnson Correspondence
and its Probable Results.


and the facts and circumstances con-
neoted with it, make up a case, a
iamentapie; case of political demoral-
iaation wholly unprecedented in the
history OF the United States. In the
first place, we find this correspou-
dence submitted to Congress by Mr..
Stanton, with q letter. in which he
says that since his resumption of the
War Department., he has been and is
discharging the duties of his office
"without any personal or written
communication with the President.
This is an extraordinary state of
things, and it wears an ugly and for
bidding countennnce. It breaks up
the Executive Department. into two
divisions-one division under the
President and the other entirely de-
tached from him, but in full comma
nicn with Congress; and this conflict
Is now approaching solution to
which we shall presently refer.
In the next place, General Grant,
not satisfied with the verbal orders of
the President in reference to orders
emanating from the War Depart
ment, asks January 25) for written
instructions, and says, II am COM
PEELED to ask these instructions in
writing, in consequence of the many
gross ;a!sreprasen Ii t6tions uffectiro ny
personal honor circulated through
the press for the past fortnight, and
purporting to come from the Presi-
dent" &c. "What is written" con-
tinues General Grant, "admits of no
misunderstanding" He then pro-
ceeds to state his recollection OF what
he said, what he suggested and what
he did in anticipation Of n vote from
the Senate re-instating Mr.. Stanton
as Secretary of War, the material
point Of all which is this: that he
General Grant, made no promise
to resign the War Department in
season to admit of another appoint
ment, if he did not himself resist tho
reinstatement of Stanton. 81 made
no such promise" The President
in his reply, very positively affirms
that there was distinct understand
ing of this sort, and with consider
able detail gives the chapter and
verse, and directly charges that the
General, ''in Disregard of the under
standing between us, vacated the
Office, giving it mp to Stanton with
out having given me notice of yonr
intentions to do So" Gen. Grants
avarment that he did give the notice,
the President insists, does not alter
the fact. But the Generals offer,
twice made. to appeal to Stanton to
resign, Mr.. johnson accepted "as Il
sort of reparation. TO clinch the
nail as to the understanding Oh the
14th, the President says, "I have to-
day, January 81, read this nara.
tion of what occurred on the 14th
inst, to the members of the Cabinet
who were then present." and that
"they. without exception, agree in its
accuracy"
Gen. Grant. in his answer Febru-
ary 81 to "this simple recital of facts, u
says it is but reiteration more in
detail of the "many and gross mis-
representations" of certain newspa.
pers, "and here" continues the Ge.
neral, II re-assert the correctness OF
my statements i'll that letter, (January
| Ho,J Any IHiuS III yours III reply 10 III
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
He confesses his surprise, too, "thai
the Cabinet officers referred to should
so greatly misapprehend the facts. >
Then, after restatement of his re-
collection of the facts, the General,
as to his motives and purposes in this
business, lets the cat out of the bag.
He was afraid that the removal OF
Stanton might be followed by some
appointment which would cmbarras,
the army i'll the performance of its
duties under the reconstruction laws
and he says "that it was to prevent
such an appointment that L accepted
the appointment of Secretary of Wal
at Interim, and not for the purpose Of
enabling you to get rid of Mr.. Stan
ton" And again, says Grant, "tht