The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-16
rho War Department. General
Grants Conduct.
The following facts appear in the Wash.

URANUS SohNuCss
The following facts appear in the Wash.
;nrton papers of yesterday:
At Q o'clock Tuesday morning the
,,en acting Secretary of War, General
Gar cant, came to the War Department as
u.nal, and, after arranging some papers,
tr~led the door Of the private office Of the
ssrrptarv of War, and taking the key
S him, proceeded to the headquarters
os the army, nearly opposite to the War De-
nariment. About halE-past 10 O'Clock Mr..
f,win NJ. Stanton appeared at the War
nrnar,mcnt, and proceeded Immediately
- The office usually occupied by the Sc.
crctary of War. Finding the door locked,
be took seat in the ante-room, where he
VAS the recipient Of many warm congratu-
is,ions from senators and members Of the
Unpsn of Representatives, who had assem-
Mod apparently to see what would take
lace. Mr.. Stanton appeared to be in un-
nspallv fine spirits, and conversed freely
with all around him.
Tpon the arrival of Mr.. Stanton, Genc.
al Dent, the acting Adjutantt 4eneral Of
General Grant as Secretary Of War I'D
interim, hurried over to the headquarters
If the army to inform General Grant OF
the fact, and to obtain the key to the Sec
rftarv's Office. In few minutes he re-
armed, and placed the key in the hands
If Adjutaut- General Townsend, who, in a
cor, of "present arms" style, delivered it
N 10 Secretary Stanton.
As soon aS the reinStated Secretary was
fs:riy ensconced la his office the Radical
.sembers of the Tennessee delegation in
congress waited upon him in body to
n-e>eut their congratulations and to ask
him TO use his influence to continue the
operations of the Freedmen'S Bureau in
the StstcS Of Tennessee and Kentucky
after the 10Th of February next, at which
time. By order of the President, 1t ceases
in those States. Mr.. Stanton replied that
50 long as he had any power he would use
!, to protect the weak, and would do his
best to have the request carried out. He
further stated that it would be few
DAVIS before matters would commence to
run right in bis office.
General Grant soon entered the Secre-
tarv's Office, when the latter appeared q,
the door and shook the General warmly
by the hand, and both passed IN.
I, is understood that General Grant and
Mr.. Stanton were closeted together on
Monday evening after the passage OF the
Senate resolution.
During the interview between General
Grant aud Mr.. Stanton General Dent
transferred his desk to General Pelouze,
who had occupied it during the latter part
0: Mr.. S,antonS former administration Of
the Department, and General Hardie gave
up his position to General Shriver.
At few minutes past 3 O'Clock an order
Vas issued by Mr.. Stanton informing the
employees Of the War Department that he
Mr.. S. had again taken possession of the
portfolio Of the War Office. At O'Clock
Mr.. Stanton left the War Department for
lis residence. 1t is understood that Mr..
Stanton, during the day, transacted no
official business whatever except to draw
his salary of $4,000 for the time he was
out Of Office.
The National I,teuigencer says that the
circumstances of the occupation of the
War Office by Mr.. Stanton astonished nc
one more than President Johnson, who was
greatly surprised at the surrender by Gen
tral Grant of the trust repOSed IN him a.
Secretary Of War dd interim. The lnteH'
qencer continues: "The people Of the
country will doubtless be startled at the
aununcation that Mr.. Stanton has so our
city resumed possession of the War De-
partment, and will be curious to know how
il vas effected. In justification of the
President, we are at liberty to state the
following circumstances, from which oul
readers will draw their own conclusions
Some time after the appointment of Gene
raj Grant as Secretary of War ad interim
he had conversation with the President
upon the subject Of the probability OF the
refusal Of the Senate to recognize the sus'
pension of Mr.. Stanton, when General
Grant stated that in such event he might
not wish to identify himself with either
party in the controversy, but added, in
effect: /" | shall in that event either hand
you my resignation as Acting Secretary, or
let mandamus be issued against me to
surrender the Office"
This conversation was renewed from
time to time, and on Saturday last, when
Senator Towards report from the Senate
Committee Oh Military Affairs in favor OF
Stanton was under discussion, General
Grant was pointedly asked by the Presi-
dent if he had changed his mind in refer
cnCe to the course he would pursue
il the Senate should refuse to make
Stanton's suspension final, when he re-
iterated the promise previously made, that
he would either hand in his resignation as
Secretary of War I'D interim early enough
for The President to appoint his successor,
or take any other action he might deem
requisite, or allow naanda1nuS to be
served upon him for the surrender of the
oliCe, adding a promise to the President
that he should hear from him on the sub
jet on Monday.
Monday passed without the promised
communication. On Monday evening, after
II vas known that the Senate had passed
Noward'S resolutions refusing to recognize
The suspension Of Stanton as Secretary OF
War, General Grant was present at the
reception at the Executive Mansion, where
lie greeted the President but mentioned
nothing Of any change in the determine
lion previously declared. The President
heard nothing whatever from General
Grant upon the subject until II O'Clock
Tuesday, two hours after Mr.. Stanton had
taken possession Of the War Office, when
the following communication was delivered
10 him by Major ComStock, one Of General
Grants staff officers:
"HEADQUARTEKs ARMIES UNITED STATES, !
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. IA, 1868.
" lis ExceReacy Andre,o johnson, President
gMe United States:
"Sir,-I have the honor to enclose here
WIKI copy of official. notice received by
lie last evening Of the action Of the Senate
l,.,iA IL ~ 6o