The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-20
Things In Washington.

Things In Washington.
THE DEMONSTRATION DHF1CULTY-GRANT All
THE PREsIDENT-HLLYER's INTERVIEW wITE
aRANT-aRANT's ExoUsEs-DENIEs he 1s 4
RADICAL.
A letter dated Washington, January 16, te
the Baltimore Gazette, says:
The Stanton embrogio continues to be the
principal topic Of discussion here in oil circles o1
society, and some new developments have been
made as to the true position OF parties during
the interview yesterday between the President
and General Grant. The latter remarked thatit
he had not surrendered the War Department
building to Stanton the Department would
have been run elsewhere; to which MIR. Johnson
replied: eff you had not broken faith ]
would like to have seen him running such
machine" adding, emphatically, "Stanton
can't stay there" It is understood that
General Hillyer, formerly of his staf, has had
substance Of which was reduced to writing
and communicated 10 the President. In that
interview Grant expressed himself as disgust
cd with Radical legislation; that he was no Ra-
deal himself, and never was one; that the Ra-
dical party had endeaYored to use him for
party purposes; that he didn't like to decide
the very questionable law points involved In
MIR. Stanton's case, and thought he was acting
for the best in allowing him to resume his du-
ties as Secretary Of War, but that there was q
provision In the constitution which said the
President was the COMMANDMENTS Chief and
this was 80 easily understood that he should
obey strictly any orders which he might issue.
Such is said to have been the substance Of
General Grants remarks as reported to the
President. The purpose of the President, how
ever, is still in doubt. He has been closely en-
gagged to-day, and has seen but few visitors, al
though the White House has been thronged all
day.
There will certainly be some detection
among the Radicals in the Senate on the Su-
preme Court BILL But this body is really con-
lrolled by the positive and bold action OF a few
intense Radicals, such as Morton, Howard,
Pomeroy and Wilson, who have proven their
ability to drag conservative Republicans with
them, hence the passage Of the bill may be re-
gaIded as certain.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT VACANT.
The National Inteligencer says:
We hear much said since Tuesday morning
about the Secretary Of War being back in
"his Office" Our readers may be assured
there is no such thing, as for as we have been
able to learn. Mr.. Stanton has not been thrust
out Of the building by the police, aud is said to
have sat there now three days, receiving vlsl-
tors and brow-beating clerks and servants, as
was his habit when he was Secretary Of War;
but there is no such officer now. General
Grant had been acting as such officer dd t7ate-
rim, but he abandoned his duty on Tuesday
morning, in aid Of partisan trick, without no.
tice or leave, the War Office becoming thereby
vacant. His written communication, subse-
quently received, was, Of course, Of no signifi-
cance from person who had already ternaina-
ted his official trust by breaking it,
The notion that o man can be Secretary OF
War and exercise the functions Of that office,
or any Of them, contrary to the will Of the
President is equally idle and novel.
How long this whilom functiOnary will be
suffered to indulge the morbid and impotent
of his departed power about the
scone OF his Thousand wrongs and crying
cruelties depends upon the forbearance of the
authority which henceforth conducts the War
Department. But Detective Bakers chief is
not the Secretary of War.
THE oENsURE OF FERNANDO WOOD BY THE HOUSE.
A dispatch to the New York Herald says:
The discussion Of the reconstruction resolu-
lions in the House to-day was attended by
scene Of unusual excitement, and ls likely to
prove but the beginning. OF controversy in de-
bate of the most stirring character. During
the course Of his remarks Fernando Wood,
having characterized the legislation OF Con-
gress since Monday last in terms Of sarcastic
censure, directing his words especially to the
action or the House in its efforts to trammel
the operations of the Supreme Court and to
cast disgrace on tho record OF General Han
cock, proceeded to express his opinions upon
the new reconstruction measure. In the
he sgnalized the bill as o
'tmonstrosity, and the most Infamous act OF all
the Infamous acts of this infamous Congress"
No sooner had his words ceased than MIR.
OF Ohio, who reported the bill
from the committee, sprang to his feet, IN
manifest rage, and in passionate accents call.
ed the gentleman to order, and demanded that
the words just spoken be taken down at the
clerks desk. Mir. Wood, with an air Of imper-
tu1 bable indifference to the excitement which
now prevailed among the members Of both
parties, suspended his remarks, drawing HIM
self up in on attitude OF the most sovereign
In the midst Of this confusion. Mr..
Ross, Of Illinois, Democrat, proposed that
the gentleman from New York change tn, ex-
preston to the "so-called infamous Congress"
A transient laugh spread over the House,
Of the suggestion than in frigid smile, and
look his seat with the utmost GOODNESS. An
effort was made to call out an apology to the
House, but when asked whether he had any
explanation to make, MIR. Wood rose to his
feet, and with q towering sway, said, II have
no explanation to make, sir." This fresh
affront took the Radicals again by surprise,
producing. o sensation felt through the whole
House. Mr.. Dawes, OF Massa chusetts, jumped
up, and in voice combining the tones OF an
extraordinary nasal organization and the se-
pulchral notes Of q woman approM!mating
the maximum allotment Of human life, sang
ont that he had o resolution to offer. The
resolution proved in effect q censure before
tho bar OF the House. Upon this, there was
passage of words between the opposite parties,
during which MIR. Wood, in studied unconcern,
indulged in the perusal of o newspaper which
was lying upon his desk. The resolution was
adopted, and Mr.. Wood, with dignity in his
bearing, appeared before the bar Of the House
and received censure from the Speaker, after
which, bowling with cold formality, he returned
to his seat. The Radicals by force ofnumbers
had been successful, but the disdain which
met their vindictive action recoilel upon them
with stinging effect.