Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-02-20

might be adjudged against him tn
General that they continued tn
conversation for some time, dis
cussing the law at length, and fl
nally separated without having
reached definite conclusion, anC
with the understanding that the Gen
eral would sec the President agaiI
on Monday.
In reply, General Grant admitted
that the conversations had occur
red, and said that at the first con
versation he had given it as hi'
opinion to the President, that II
the event of non-concurrence by
the Senate in the action ofthe Pres
ident in respect to the Secretary O.
War, the question would have tC
be decided by the Court; that Mr.
Stanton would have to appeal tC
the Court to reinstate him in office
that the ms would remain in unit
they could be displaced, and the
outs be put in by legal proceedings
and that he then thought so, ant
had agreed thatif he should change
his mind he would see the President
in time to enable him to make an,
other appointment; that at the time
of the first conversation he had moi
looked very closely :nto the law
that it had recently been discussed
by the newspapers, and that this
had induced him to examine il
more carefully; that he had come
to the conclusion that if the Senate
should refuse to concur in the sus-
pension, Mr.. Stanton would there
by be reinstated, and that he Grant
could not continue thereafter to act
as Secretary ad interim, without
subjecting himself to fine and i'm
prisonment; that he c)me over on
Saturday to inform the President
of this change in his views, and did
so inform him.
The President replied that he
had not suspended Mr.. Stanton un-
der the Tenure of Office Bill, but
under the Constitution, and had APP
pointed him Grant by virtue Of
the author ty derv.d from the
Constitution, &c. that they con.
tinued to discuss the matter some
time, and finally lie left without any
conclusion having been reached,
expecting to see the President again
on Monday. He then proceeded
to explain why he had not called
on the President on Monday, say.
ng he had a long interview with
General Sherman, and that various
title matters had occupied his time
until late, aud he did not think the
Senate would act so soon, and ask
ID, "Did General Sherman call on
you on ModayY" 7"
l do not know what passed be-
.ween the President and General
irant on Saturday, except as !
earned it from the conversation be-
,ween them at the Cabinet meeting
IN Tuesday; and the foregoing is
substantially what then occurred,
The precise words used on the oc-
,asion are not, of course, given eX-
Ictly in the order in which they
we're spoken, but the ideas express
d and facts stated are faithfully
reserved and presented.
/ have the honor to be, sir, with
reat respect, your obedient ser
ant, 0. II. BROWNING.
% the President
FROM SECRETARY SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT or STATE
WAsHINdTON, February 0, l68i
SIR--The meeting to which you
efer in your letter was n regular
'abinct meeting. While the mem
ers were assembling, and before the
resident had entered the council
hambcr, General Grant, on coming
\, told me that he vas not in at
enhance as a member Of the Cabi-
ct, but upon invitation, and re
lied by the inquiry whether there
,as a change in the War Depart
,ent After the President had tax
n his seat, business went on in the
sual way Of hearing matters sub
fitted by the several Secretaries -
Ehen the time came for the Secre.
Try of War, General Grant said
nat he was there, not as Secretary
War, but upon the Presidents
lvitation; that he had retired from
he War Department. A slight diff
renee then appeared about the sup
osed invitation, General Grant say
Ig that the officer who had borne
Is letter to the President, announc-
Ig his retirement frohfAtife War
apartment, had told him that Pres
ent johnson desired to see ,liwE,
the Cabinet Smeetng : Fo which
e President answered that when |
eneral Grants communication was
,livered to him, the President sim
y replied that he supposed Gener'
Grant would be very soon at the
lbinct meeting,
! regarded the conversation thus
gun as an incidental one, quite I
rmal. Itconsisted of a statement t
l your part, Of your views in re- I
lrd to your understanding Of the {
nure upon which General Grant !
ID assented to hold the War De !
Irtment ad interim, nnd his replies
way of answer and explanation.
was respectful and courteous on 4
,th sides. Being in this oonver-
tional form, its details could only
.vo haon nresnPved nv reTb0fiDl q