Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-02-11
PRESIDENT Johnson and aenl Grant.

The correspondence between Gen. Grant and
the President, which was communicated to the
House of Representatives, on Tuesday, the 4th
inst, in answer to its resolution, has been pub
Gshed. Reading this correspondence In order
of dates, says the National Latelhgencer, we
find that on the oath ult., Gen. Grant applied
to the President for written instructions rela-
tive to his obedience of Mr.. Stanton orders
He did not like, in matter of SO much conse-
quence, to follow merely verbal directions. On
the 2Sth ult Gen. Grant addressed fresh let
ter to the President, renewing his request for
written instructions In respect to Mr.. Stanton.
On the 2eth ult, the President took up Gen.
Grants first note. and endorsed thereon his
positiye order to Gen. Grant mot to obey any
order from the War Department, assumed to
be issued by direction of the President, unless
such order is known by the General command
the armies of the United States to have been
authorized by the Executive"
But now, Gen. Grant has an afterthought.-
He sees Mr.. Stanton, and upon a communica-
ton whether written or verbal matters not
from that person, proceeds to inform the Pres
ident that he (Gen. Grant, means to believe
that orders from the War Department, preten
ded to be issued on authority from the Presl
dent, are so authorized, and that he will act on
such belief, although the President has ex-
pressly informed him in writing that such spu
rious orders are not, and will not be, issued by
his authority. This extraordinary communica-
ton, the first of its kind, and the most dlscred
liable, perhaps, ever penned by a subordinate,
bears date the 30th ult.
Gen. Grant seems, on the 2Sth ultlmo, to
have felt that the prudent silence he had hlth-
erto pursued on the subject might as well be
exchanged for some sort of vindicatlon. This
he essayed to do, making an issue with the
President of fact, to wit that on the Saturday
preceding his surrender he had not promised to
see the President on Monday, and inform him
what course he meant to pursue further, that
on Tuesday, in the presence of the Cabinet, he
had not admitted this agreement and his Tia
grant breach Of it
To this defence the President replied on the
31st ult., calmly and patiently reciting the facts
avoided or repudiated by Gen. Grants letter,
which have heretofore been fully stated, and
finally clinching the nail by stating that the
interview sustained the President In his version,
and contradicted that of Gen. Grant.
Following this is letter Of Gen. Grant,
dated on the Sd inst, containing nothing specl-
ally new, and rather aiming to show what ten.
Grant could, might, or should have done, than
proving that he had actually done what his
honor as soldier and duty as gentleman I'M
peratively required. 19g
This last letter was delivered, We learn, as
late as two O'Clock P. NJ, on the Sd inst, at
the Executive Mansion. At half past one,. or
thereabouts, of the same day, resolution had
been offered in Congress calling upon the Sec
rotary of War for copies of this correspondence.
1t will be SEEM therefore, that the last letter OF
Gen. Grant and the resolution we're nearly
simultaneous the object evidently being to
close the correspondence with the last word for
Gen Grant, aud rush the papers already copied
into Congress, so as to ioreelose all opportunity
for reply by the President