The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-12
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, !
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Fahrl1arv e 1863.

Sir,-I am in receipt of yours of yester-
day, calling my attention to correspond
ence between yourself and General Grant
published in the Chronicle newspaper, and
especially to that part Of said correspond
ence which refers to the conversation be-
tween the President and General Grant
at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday the
l4th of January, and requesting me to
state what was said in that conversation.
In reply, submit the following state
ment: At the Cabinet meeting on Tues
day the l4th day Of January, 1868,
General Grant appeared and took his
accustomed seat at the board. When he
had been reached in the order of busl-
ness, the President asked him, as usual, ii
he had anything to present. In reply, the
General, after referring to note which he
had that morning addressed to the Presi-
dent, enclosing copy OF the resolution of
the Senate refusing to concur IN the rea-
sons for the suspension of Mr.. Stanton,
proceeded to say that he regarded his
duties as Secretary of War ad interim ter
minated by that resolution, and that he
could not lawfully exercise such duties
for moment after the adoption of the
resolution by the Senate. That the reso-
luton reached him last night, and that
this morning he had gone to the War
Department, entered the Secretary's
room, bolted one door on the inside,
locked the other on the outside, delivered
the key to the adjutant, and proceeded to
the headquarters of the army and ad-
dressed the note above mentioned to the
President, informing him that he General
Grant, was no longer Secretary OF War
ad interim. The President expressed great
surprise at the course which General Grant
had thought proper to pursue, and address
sing himself to the General, proceeded to
say, in substance, that he had anticipated
such action on the part of the Senate,
and being very desirous to have the con-
stitutionality Of the tenure-of- office bill
tested, and his right to suspend or remove
member of the Cabinet decided by the
judicial tribunals of the country, he had
some time ago, and shortly after General
Grants appointment as Secretary OF War
ad interim. asked the General what his
action would be in the event that the Se.
nate should refuse to concur in the sus.
pension of Mr.. Stanton, and that the
General had then agreed either to remain
at the head of the War Department
till decision could be obtained
from the court, or resign the offlce
into the hands of the President before the
case was acted upon by the Senate, so as
to place the President in the same sltua-
tion he occupied at the time OF hls
(Grant's) appointment. The President
further said that the conversation was re-
newed on the preceding Saturday, o.
which time he asked the General what he
intended to doif the Senate should un
dertake to refnstate Mr. Stanton. In reply
to which the General referred to thell
former conversation upon the same SUP
iect, and said ayou understand my position
and nv conduct will be contormaoie :: q
that understanding" that he the General
then expressed q repugnacy TO peins
made party to'a Judicial proceeding say
ing that he would expose himself 70 ! nne y
and imprisonment by. doing SO, as ms con con
tinuing to discharge the duties OF secre.aI.
of War ad interim after the Senate snoul. L
have refused to concur in the suspensasol as
of Mr. Stanton would be q violation OF w