The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-13


InsubordInate attitude which you
have assumed, L am at loss to know
how you can relieve yourself from the
orders Of the President, who is made
by the Constitution, the Commander
ih-Chief Of the Army and Navy, and
is, therefore, the official superior as
well Of the General of the Army as OF
the Secretary Of War.
Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
General u. S. Grant, Commanding
Armies Of the United States, Wash
iugton, ID. G..
I'VE have not space this morning
for the letters from members Of TIE
Cabinet which accompany the Prcsi-
dents letter.-EDs. JoURNAL.l
GENERAL GRANTS REPLY.
The accompanying letter from Gen.
eral Grant, received since the traus-
mission to the House of Representa-
tives Of my communication Of this
date, is submitted to the House as
part Of the correspondence referred to
in the resolution Of the 10th inst.
ANDREW JoHEsoN.
WAsHINGTON, Feb. II, 1868.
HEADo'Rs Army OF u. s.,
WAsHINGTOS, d. C., Eeb. II, 1868. j
. To His Excellencyt Andrew johnson.
President Of the Uptted states;
SIR-I have the honor to aeknOWl
edge the receipt of your communica-
tion Of the 10th lust. accompanied by
the statements Of five Cabinet
Ministers Of their recBllestion
what 3 occurred at the Cabinet
meeting on the 18th Of January.
Without admitting anything contain
ed IN these statements where nthey
differ from anything heretofore stated
By me, l propose to notice only the
portion, Of your communication where
IN | am charged Of insubordination.
I think it will be plain to the reader
of my letter Of the Both Of January,
that [ did not propose to disobey any
legal order Of The President, distinct-
ly given, bat only gave an interDreta-
ton Of what would be regarded as
satisfactory evidence Of the Presi-
dents sanction to orders eommuni-
Gated by the Secretary of War
1 will say here that your letter Of
the 10th inst. contains the first init
nation / have had that you did not
accept that Interpretation. Now for
my reason for giving that interpreta.
tiOn 1t was clear to me before my
letter Of January 30 vas written, that
/, the person having more public
business to transact with the Secre-
terry Of War than any other Of the
Presidents subOrdinates, was the
only one who had been instructed
to disregard the authority Of DIR.
Stanton, where his authority was de-
rived as agent Of the President.
On the 9th of January Ireceiyed
a letter from the Secretary Of War,
(copy herewith,) directing me to fur
nish an escort to the public treasure
from the Rio Grande to New Orleans,
&C., at the request of the Secre.
tary Of the Treasury 10 MIN.
I also send two other Enclosures,
showing the recognition of Mr. Stau-
ton as Secretary of War By both the
Secre tary Of the Treasury and the
Postmaster General. In ali OF which
cases the Secretary Of War had TO
call upon me to make the order re-
quested, or give the information de-
sired, and where his authority to do
so is derived. in my view, as agent OF
the President.
With an order so clearly ambigu
Gus as that Of the President here re-
ferred to, it was my duty to inform the
President of my Interpretation Of It,
and to abide by that Interpretation
until / received other orders. Dis
claiming any intention now, as here
tofore. Of disobeying any legal order
of the President, distinctly communi-
Gated, I remain, very respectfully your
obedient servant,
u. s. GRANT, General"