The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-02-25

lished correspondence. The three points,
specified ID that letter giving your recol-
lection Of the conversation are correctly
stated. Very respectfully,
s G1DEoN WELLEss
REPLY OF sEoRETARY M'cULLooH. 8
TREAS. DEPARTMENT, Feb. 6, 1868.
SIR; | have received your note of the
9Th inst, calling my attention to the cor
between yourself and Gen.
Grant as published in the Chronicle Of
yesterday, especially to that part Of it
which relates to what occurred in the
Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the 18th
ultimo, and requesting me to state what
was said in the conversation referred to.
/ cannot undertake to state the precise
language used, but T have no hesitation
in saying that your account Of that COM
yersatien as given in your letter to Gen.
Grant, under date of the 31st ultimo,
substantially, in allimportant particulars,
accords with my recollection Of it. With
great respect, your obedient servant,
- HUGH MoCULLooH.
REPLY OF POSTMASTER GENERAL RAM
DALI.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 1868.
SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of
the 9th February, calling my attention to
the correspondence published in the
Chronicle between the President and
Gen. Grant, and especially to that part Of
it which refers to the conversation between
the President and Gen. Grant at the Cab
met meeting on the 14th of January, with
q request that I state what was said in
that conversation. .sE.e.
In reply, I have the honor to state
that I have carefully read the correspon,-
dence in question, and particularly the
letter of the President to Gen. Grant, da.
ted January 81, 1868.
The following extract from your letter
of the 31st of January to, Gen. Grant is,
according to my recollection, of the cor. .
versation that took place between the
President and Gen. Grant at the Cabinet
meeting on the 18th Of January last:.
In the presence of the Cabinet, the
President asked Gen. Grant whether, in
the conversation which took place after
his appointment as Secretary Of War dd
interim, he did not agree to either remain
at the head of the War Department and
abide any judicial proceedings that might
follow the inconvenience BY the Senate
in Mr.. Stanton's suspension, or should he
not wish to become involved in such a
controversy, to put the President in the
same position with respect to the Office as
he occupied previous to Gen. Grants ap-
pointment, by returning it to the Presi-
dent in time to anticipate such action by
the Senate.
! This Gen. Grant admitted.
The President then asked Gen. Grant
if, at the conference on the preceding
Saturday, he had not to avoid misun-
derstanding, requested Gen. Grant to
state what he intended to do. And fur
ther, if in reply to thatinquiry, be (Gen.
Grant, had not referred to their former
conversations, saying that from them the
President understood his position, and
that his (Gen. Grants action would be
consistent with the understanding which
had been reached.
To these questions Gen. Grant replied
in the affirmative. The President asked
Gen. Grant if, at the conclusion of their
interview on Saturday, it was not under
stood that they were to have another con-
ference on Monday before final action by
The Senate in the case Of Mr.. Stanton9-
Cen. ;.rant replied that such was the un-
derstapding, but that he did not suppose
the Senate wocld act so soon; that on
Monday he had been engaged in a con
ference with Gen. Sherman, ana was oc-
cupied with many little matters, ana ask
ed if Gen.. Sherman had not called on
that day.
I take this mode of complyingsw with
the request contained in the Presidents
letter to me, because my attention had
been called to the subject before, when.
the conversation, between the President
and Gen. Grant was under consideration.
Very respectfully, Jour obedient servant,
ALEXANDER w. RANDALL,
Postmaster General.
REPLY OF SECRETARY BROWNING.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, I
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 6, 1868.
am in receipt of yours of yesterday
calling my attention to a correspondence
between yourself and Gen. Grant, pub
lished in the Chronicle newspaper, and
to that part of said correspon-
dence which refers to the conversation
between the President and Gen.. Grant at
the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the 14th
of January, and requesting me to state
what was said in that conversation. In
reply I'submit the following statement:
At the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday,
the !4th day of January, 1868, General
Grant appeared and took his accustomed
seat at the board. When be had been
reached in the order of business, the
President as usual asked him if he had
anything to present. In reply, the Gen
eral, after referring to note which he
had that morning addressed to the Pres
ident, enclosing copy of the resolution.
of the Senate refusing to concur in the
reasons for the suspension of Mr. Stan
ton, proceeded to say that he regarded
his duties of Secretary Of War ad int
rim terminated 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
resolution reached him last night, and
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