Evening star., 1868-02-22
THE REMOVAL OF MR.. STANTON.
Excitement In Washington.

when we went 10 press with our last edition
yesterday, the Senate was yet in executive ses-
sion over the message Of the President an
pouneing that he had removed Mr.. Stan on
and appointed Gen. Lorenzo Thomas Sec
reiary OF War ad interim. Previous to
going into executive session Senators )
1hayer, Cameron, Chandler and Cattell imme.
diately drove to the War Department and OBJ.
tanned an interview with Secretary Stanton
They expressed to hIm the desire that be would
not surrender his post in obedience TO the order
Of the President until the Senate should act
upon the matter, and Mr.. Stanton indicated a
compliance with their wish The Senators
above named, after leaving Mr. Stanton, had
an interview with General Grant, relating to
him their conversation with Mr.. Stanton. and
suggesting their views as to W hat his conduct
should be in the premises.
AT seven o'clock Mr.. Edmunds offered a
resolution providing for the return Of the mes.
sage 10 the President, and that the Senate do
non-concur in his removal of Mr. Stanton To
this number of amendments were offered:
making the language much stronger condemn
ing the President for trampling on the laws of
Congress and styling his conduct revolution
ary. The debate on these various amendments
was very extended and exciting, and partici-
pated IN by nearly every member of the Senate
q
test agPinst the action of the President
Messrs. Hendricks, Buckalew, Bayard, Dix.
On, ard Johns on the Democratic side de-
Tended the course of the President, claiming
that he certainly had the right to remove if not
20 appoint.
Mr Wilson offered a substitute to Mr Ed
munds resolution the following:
Whereas, the Senate have received and con-
sidered the communication of the President
stating that he has removed Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary OF War, and had designated the Ad-
jutant General of the army to act as Secretary
of War I'D interim; therefore,
Resolr.d By the Senate of the United States, That
under thr Constitution and laws of the United
States the President has no power to remove
the Secretary of War and designate any other
officer to perform the duties of that ONCE.
The following resolutions We're offered by
Senators Corbett and Pomeroy, and warmly
advocated, but II was thought better to couch
the resolution in as moderate a 'one as possible:
50 Resolred, That the removal of the Hon E.
NJ. stanton and the appointment Of Gen. Lo-
renzo Thomas as Secretary Of War dd interin
i an act unauthorized by law, subyersiye of
the provisions Of the Constitution, and, in the
Judgment of the Senate, illegal and VOID.
s.R, solred, That the removal, &C., is an act
unjustifiable on the ground Of necessity to pro-
mote the public interest or preserve the pub
lie properly, and is without precedent in the
history II the Government and violation of
the rights Of the Senate TO advise and consent
TO the qualifications Of persons holding office,
and is hereby declared TO be illegal and void"
The resolution offered by Mr.. Wilson after
debate was adopted by the Senate by vote Of
- ayes TO noes, Judge Edmunds being the
only Republican who voted nay) was trans
mitted to the War Department, and Mr.. STAN
ton emphatically eclared he was impregnable.
AT 9.35 p. m. the doors Of the Senate were
thrown open, and the Senate adiourned-the
executive session having lasted over seven
hours.
In the meantime there were most exciting
rumors anoat as to what was going on at the
other end Of the avenue, among which were re-
ports that the President had autographed to
General Hancock, ordering him instantly to
Washington, and q few moments later another
rumor came that Mr.. johnson had issued an
order 70 General Grant to detail q file Of sol
diers and eject Mr.. stanton by force, and that
General Thomas was TO head the party Of sol.
d,ers. The counter report that General Thomas
was enjoying himself with his children at the
,nasouerade party at Harini's served 10 rebut
,ne ,.tter rumor; and anxious inquiries at the
vs., neuartmeut found Mr.. stanton IN serene
pos.s.iop Of his old 9Usrtssn