New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-12

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direction Of the President authorized by the Execu
tive"
The President issues order to you TO obey no order
from the War Department purporting TO be made "by
the direction Of the President you have referred 1t
him for his approval You reply that you have received
the Presidents order, and will not obey It, but will obey
order purportng TO be given by his direction 'f it
comes from the War Department" You will obey no
direct order of President but will obey his indirect
order. II, you say there has been practice In the
War Department orders In the of the Pres
dent, without his direction does not the precise order
you have requested and received change the
tce to the General OF the Army Could not the Pres
dent countermand any such order Issued to you
from the War Department. II you should receive
an order from that Department issued in the
name Of the President TO do special act
and an order directly the President himself not to
do the act is there doubt which you are to obeyf
You answer the question when you say to the President
in your letter Of the Sd ns the Secretary Of War Is my
superior and you subordinate" And yet you refuse
obedience TO the superior out Of Difference to the subor
dinate
without further comment upon the insubordnate at
titude which you have assumed, am at loss 10 know
how you can relieve yourself from the orders Of the
President, who is made by the Constitution the Comman-
dernChief OF the Army and Navy and s therefore. the
official superior well OF the General Of the Army as of
the Secretary Of War Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON
Gen. L. s. Grant, Commanding Armies Of the United
States, Washington, D. c.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER TO THE CABINET.
Cory Of Letter addressed 10 each Of ne henbes q NE
Cabinet present at The Conversation betrccn me Pfest
dent and Gen grant on The 1ih Of January 1868.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
SIR: The Chronicle OF this morning contains a CORE
spondence between the President and Cen Grant re-
tion OF the HOUSE of Representatives. beg TO call your
s e et pc s SRa fPefb G S e
President and Gen Grant, at the Cabinet meeting on
Tuesday the 18th OF January and TO request you to state
what was said In that conversation.
Very respectfully yours, ANDREW JOHNSON.
THE LETTERS IN REPLY.
SIR Your note OF this date was handed 70 me this
evening My recollection 81 tho conversation or me
%Ssss Of il t Se e P%mo
the published eorresPondeoee The three points spee
''''0H ''' ''''''' ''"''D' ~ ''' GiDEoS wE1Lrs
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Feb. 6, 1868.
BR have received your Of the 5th inst calling
my attention the correspondence between yourself
and Gen Grant. published in me Chronicle Of yester
day especially TO that part OF IL which relates to what
occurred in the Cabinet meeting Tuesday, the i4h
utmo ana relgeS,ng e 70 snno " nnde %s 70 n
the precise language used, but have no hesitation IN
saving that your Of that conversation as given
in your letter Gen Grant under date OF the Sst ut
mo- substantially In all important particulars, aecords
dent servant, HUGn McCULLocH.
To the President
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON, Feb. Z, 1868.
SIR am Ia receipt Of your letter Of the 6th Of Febru
ary calling my attention TO the published
and especay TO that part Of IL which refers
yersaon between the President and Gen Grant at the
that stale what was said in that conversations reply
have to state that have read carefully the
letter Of the President 70, Gen Grant. dated
January ge i Is S c JANUARY % Gem Grant IL
according my recollection Of the conversation that took
met meeting ON the 18th OF January In the
OF the Cabinet the President asked Gen Grant
secretary OF War ad interim he did not agree ether 20
remain at the head OF me war t papco uo
curronco by the Senate In Mr. santons SUSPENSION, OF
yesy 10 put the President In the same position with re-
spcct to tho he occupied previous TO Gen Grants
appointment by returning IL to the PRESIDENT III tme 10
anticipate such action by the Senate. This Gen
Grant admitted d. hs eS ise preeeGns ssaT
day he had not, 10 avoid Misunderstanding requested
Gen Grant what he intended 20 do And further
IT, In reply % that inquiry, he Gen Grant, had NOT re-
fcrrcd their former conversations, saying that nom
Gen Grants) action would be consistent with the
which had been reached To these questions
asked H. at tho conclusion OF their interview
saturday It was not undsfstocu that they Mere 10
by the Senate In the OF Mr. stanton Gen Grant re-
pe that sucn the understanding but that he ddno
snppose the senate would soon that Monday he
had been engaged III conference with Gen. sherman.
Gen Sherman had not called on that day. take this
mode complying with the request contained in the
called 10 the subject before when tho conversation be-
the President ana Gen. Grant las under eOnsuer
Very respecfaly y9uT osedient servant
To the President
DErAETAEsr OF TIE INTERIOR. WAsnEGToN d. c.
lam in receipt OF yours yesterday, calling my atten-
ton to "a correspondence between yourseH eld Del'
Grant published in The Chronicle newspaper aud espee
ally that part Of said correspondence which reIersto
the between the President and Gen. Grant
nd reoaens me to State what Was said that
sation. In reply submit the following statement AZ
1868 Gen Grant appeared and took his accustomed
seat the Board When he had been reached ID me
he had anything to present In reply the General after
referring 70 note which be had that morning S addressed
the Senate refusing to concur N the reasons Tor the
eared his duties as Secretary OF War al interim
minated by that resolution and that he could not law
OF the resolution by the Senate that the resolution
reached him last night and that this morning 10, he had
boted one door on the inside locked tne other on
and proceeded to tho Headquarters Of tho Army aud adj
dressed the note above mentioned to the fresdept IN
Of War ad inierm The President expressed great
surprise at the course which Gen. Grant had thought
proceeded to say In substance that he had anticipated
such action by the Senate, and being very DESTROYS
the Cabinet decided BY tho judicial Tribunal Of the
try he had some time ago and shortly after Gen. Grants
appointment Secretary of War ad interim, asked the
. %@dd nsa 20 IN the s OF M
Stanton and that General had then agreed either TO
remain at the head OF the War Department till decision
could obtained from the Couyt resign the Office into
the hands OF the President before the case acted
npon by the Senate place the President In tho
same situation he occupied at the time OF his Grants)
The President further said that the conversation was
renewed the preceding Saturday. at which time he
asked the General what he intended TO do II the Sen
ate should undertake to renstate Mr. Stanton In reply
10 which General referred their former
ton upon the subject and said You understand
my POSITION and my conduct win be conormable TO that
understanding" that he the General then expressed