Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-05

utouuud nhu thho" w th' tap' w y.
Baltimore Police Commissioners IL
that case | did not doubt the technica
right Of Gov. Swami TO remove old com
miasioners and appoint successora Al
the old Commissioners refused TO give up
/ contended that no recourse was lett bu
by appeal 10 the courts. Finding the
| the President ives DESTROYS OF keeping
| Mr.. Stanton out Of office, whether sus
tanned in his suspension or not, TOLD
him had not looked particularly into
the Tenure Of Office bill, but what had
stated was on general principles, and 4
| should change my mind in this pariicu'
lar case, would inform him first. Sub
sequently, on reading the Ten
ure Of Office bill closely, l found
III could not, without violation
Of the law, refuse TO vacate the
Office Of Secretary Of War the mo-
ment Mr.. Stanton was reinstated by the
Senate, even though the President had
ordered me TO retain il, which he never
did. Taking this view Of the subject,
and learning on Saturday, the llth inst,
that the Senate had taken up the subject
of Stanton's suspension, and after some
conversation with Northumberland
Sherman, and some members OF my
staff, in which stated that the law LETT
me no discretion, as 10 my action.
should Mr.. Stanton be reinstated, and |
intended to inform the President /
went to the President for the pur-
pose Of making this decision known,
and did make it so known. In this
/ fulfilled the promise had made in
our last preceding conversation on the
subject The President, however, in
stead OF accepting my view as to the re-
quirements OF the Tenure Of Office bill,
contended that he had suspended Stan.
ton under the authority given him by the
Constitution, and that that authority did
not preclude the idea Of his reporting as
an act Of courtesy as his reason for the
suspension Of Stanton, and that he had
been appointed by the authority given by
the Constitution, and not under the act
of Congress, and ! could not be governed
by the act. ! stated that the law was
binding on me, whether constitutional or
not, until set aside by the proper tribunal
The hour being consumed in each re-
iterating his views on this subject, and
until it was getting late, the President
said he would see me again. did not
agree to call again on Monday, nor at
any other definite time, nor was / sent
for by the President, until the following
Tuesday, from the 18th inst. No doubt
ever entered my mind about the Presi.
dent fully understanding my position,
viz that il the Senate refused to concur |
in the suspension Of Stanton, my duties
as Secretary of War dd interim would
cease, and that Stanton had the right to
resume at once the functions of his Of
fee, and would under the law be indis.
putable, and | acted accordingly. With
Mr.. Stanton | had no communication,
direct or indirect, on the subject of his
during his suspen-
sion. know it had been recommend
ed to the President to send to the
Senate the name of George Cox, of Ohio,
for Secretary of War, and thus save en-
barrassment. This proposition I sin
cerely hoped he would entertain favor
ably. General Sherman, OF my particu.
lar request, went to see the President on
The 18th to urge this. On Tuesday,
Stanton was reinstated as Secretary of
War. General Comstock, who had car
lied my official letter announcing Stan.
.on's reinstatement by the Senate, and
hat had ceased to be Secretary of War
I'd interim, and who saw the President
,pen and read the communication,
brought back to me from the President
, message that he wanted to see me that
lay at Cabinet meeting, after / had
made known the fact that was no longer
Secretary of War dd interim. At this
Meeting, after opening as though / was
. member of his Cabinet, l reminded
lin of the notification ! had al
eady given him, that 1 was no
onger Secretary of War ad interim,
he President gave his version of the con.
-ersation, alluded to already, and said
hat | had agreed to hold on to the office
# Secretary Of War until displaced by
he courts, or resign so as to place the
President where he would have been had
never accepted the office. After hear.
ng the President through, l stated our
substantially as it is given
n this letter. / will add, that my con-
ersation before the Cabinet embraced
Their matters not pertinent here, and
therefore, left out. / in no wise admit
ed the correctness of the Presidents
tatement of our conversation, though to
often the evident contradiction of my
tatement, l said, abiding to our con-
ersation on the subject, the Presi-
ent might have understood me that
-ay." He said, viz: THAT had prom
'ed to resign if | did not resist the rein
| made no such statement.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
(Signed) U. s. GRANT,
General.