National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-02-21

pufpOftilS ~ Dt DdScV ul'ou loui
statement and that of the members
of the Cabinet therein named, | find
it only to be but reiteratlon, Only
somewhat more III detail, OF the
many and gross misrepresentation
contained in those articles, and
which my statement OF facts set
forth in my letter of the 2Sth ult.,
was intended to correct and here
reaSscrt the correctness OF my state
ments in that letter, anything III
yours in reply to it TO the contrary
notwithstanding.
[ confess my surprise that the
/ Cabinet officers referred to should SO
/ greatly misapprehend the facts III
/ the matter of admissions alleged To
! have been made by me at the Cabl-
net meeting on the 14th nit. as to
suffer their names to be made the
basis of the charges in the newspa-
per article referred to, or agree to
/ the accuracy, as YOU affirm they do,
/ of YOUR account of what occurred at
that meeting. You know that we
parted on Saturday, the 11th ult.,
without any promise on my pirt,
either expressed or implied, to the
fact that I would hold on to the OF
fee of Secretary of War al interim
agains. the action of the Senate, OF
declining to do SO myself, wouid sur
render it to YOU before such action
was had, or that | would see you
again at any fixed time on the sub
iect. The performance OF the promi-
SaS. alleged to have been made by
me. would have involved Il resist
ancp to the law and an inconsistcn
cy with the whole history of my con.
nection with the suspension OF Mr..
Stanton,
From our conversation aud my
written protest o! Aug. ], 1867,
AGAINST the removal of Mr.. Stanton,
YOU mast have known that my great
est objection to his removal was the
fear that some one would be ap'
pointed in his stead who would. by
opuosition to the laws relating to the
restoration OF the Southern States To
their proper relation to the Govern
= m mt, embarrass the army III the
performance of the duties especially
!, imposed upon it by th" laws, and
that it was to prevent such an ap-
pointmcnt that | accepted the ap-
pointment OF Secretary of War al
) interim. an not for the purpose OF
enabling YOU to get rid of Mr. Stan
ton by my withholding it from him
, in opposition to the law, or. not do
inc SO mvSelt, SurIenderto 10 one. wiio
T. as the statement and assumptions
| in YOUR communication plainly IN
] dicate. was sought for that purpose
2 and il was To avoid this danger as
, we'll as to relieve you from the per
+, sonal embarrassment III which NJ.
: Stanton's reinstatement would place
:, Won, that urged the appointment
| Of Gov. Cox, believing that 1t would
| be agreeable to you, aud also TO Mr.
Stanton, and satisfied chat it was
!, the good OF the country and not tht
/ office the latter desired.
Il On the 18th ult., in the presence
l. of General Sherman, stated to yo'
1t that thought Mr.. Stanton woul,
Il resign. but did not say | woui" al
L wise him to do so. On the lStl
l. did a-rce with Gen. Sherman TO g
and advise him to that course, am
e on the 10th had an interview aloh
+ with Mr.. Stanton, which led me t
l the conclusion that any advice t
+. him of this kind would be useless
NJ and so Informed Gen. Sherman. B'
ne fore consented to advise Mr.. Stai
fe ton to resign understood from Inn
IN a conversation on the sunje'
Ii, immediately after his Reinstatement
". that it was his opinion, that the a'
ht Of Congress entitled "An Act Ten
III porarly to Supply Vacancies III IL
he Executive Department in Ccital
4; Cases" approved Fec. 20, 1868, wa
a repealed by subsequent Legislation
On which materially influenced N
~ action. prcviousto this time la
he no doubt that the law of 1888 W;
still in force, and notwithstandI'
IN. my action. u fuller examination
he the law leaves question III my mn
10. whether it is or is not repealed
1t This being the case | could not nt
III advise his resignation lest the sal
lat danger | apprehendcd from his Ill
'se removal might follow.
de The course you would have IT Il
on dcrstuod agreed to pursue was
violation of law, and that witho
he orders from YOU. while the cOurS,
is did pursue, and which never dou'
OF ed YOU fully undcrst )od, was IN
ers corlance with law, and not IN dl
hat bcdicnce to any orders from my
gc' perior. And now, Mr. Presldel
we when my honor as n soldier and
en-. tcgrity us q man have been so Y
re len,ly assailed, pardon me for sayi
IN that can but regard this whole N
ect tcrirom beginning to end rs an
lin tempt to involve me in the rcslstai
ma. TO law for which sou hesitate to
cnt sume the responsibility IN order I'll
,ct, to destroy my character before
mt country. | am, in u measure, u
ret. tirned in this conclusion by your
'cb. cent orders directing me to disol
cor orders from the Secretary Of w
my superior and your suboriina
Err. without having countermandcd
i authority. With assurance,
I President, that nothing less tina
ron. vindication Of my personal llo
: and character could have indu
q