The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-02-20
Grant and the President.


tween Gen. Grant and the President,
presents no new points. The President
repeats his assertion that he was de-
ceived, and rather coarsely infers that
he was tricked--that Grant tricked him
and that he intended to do 50 all
along. The Cabinet officers, who are
requested to sustain the Presidents
narrative as to what occurred at a Cab
met meeting, scarcely agree. Mr.
Wellcs writes such letter as Mr. JUS
tice Stareleigh would have written had
he been Secretary of the Navy. Mr..
McCulloch and Mr. Randall unequivo-
cally indorse the President, although
Mr.. Randall, much to our surprise, fails
to. notice that Gen Grant acted like
s.liar and a sneak" as he is reported to
have said at the time. Mr.. Seward
makes guarded reply. He gives us
the interesting news that the converse
tion Twas respectful and courteous on
both Sides" and, abiding to Mr. John
sons narrative, says: II did not under
stand Gen. Grant as denying, nor as
explicitly admitting these statements
in the form and full extent to which you
made them" In other words, the Sec
rotary does not commit himself to the
Presidents story, but doubts it in a d.
plomatic way The President con
cindes bv intimating that the General
is insubordinate The Generals reply
is brief, frank, and soldierly The
charge of characterization he utterly
overthrows by showing that, while the
President gave him vague and mean
ingless order. intended to entice him in
to an infraction OF law, the Postm aster
General and Secretary of the Treasury
directly and officially communicated
with the Secretary of War.
SO ends this business. johnson
comes out of it as one willing to wound,
but yet afraid to strike, and recalls
story which one of his strongest sup
porters occasionally tells of him: 1.-The
President" this friend is reported as
saying, sreminds nc OF celebrated
lighting cock / used 10 own. bought
him for his valor and energy He was
a glorious bird, with spurs like arrows
gorgeous feathers, and a lusty, mena-
cling crow--such a crow as might alarm
city. Well, took him TO the pit, and
had him ready for the contest. He on
~ Tapped his wings and crowed, and
then backed up into corner and stood
still. There was no fight in him. He
was too cowardly to fight, and too
plucky to run away. All he did was
crow" We commend this story to the
President as the best commentary we
can make upon his correspondence with
Grant-Tribune.
THE CHARGE OF INsUBoRDINATIoS.
Headquarters Army OF the u. 81
Washin gton. D. c., Feb. II, '6S.
His EreeNeney. ANDREW JOHNSON, Presi-
dent of HE United States.
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge
tho receipt of your communication OF
the 10th inst, accompanied by the state.
inents Of five Cabinet Ministers of their
recollection of what occurred in Cabi
net meeting on the 14th of January.
Withou. admitting anything contained
in these statements where they differ ,
from anything heretofore stated by me-
propose to notice only that portion of
your communication wherein / am I
charged with characterization. l think |
it will be plain to the reader Of my let !
ter Of the 3Oth Of January, that I did !;
not propose to disobey any legal order /
of the President distinctly given, but !
only gave an Interpretation of what !
would be regarded as satisfactory evil
dence Of the Presidents sanction to
orders communicated by the Secretary |.
of War. will say here that your let |
ter Of the 10th inst contains the first /
intimation have had that you did not !
accept that Interpretation Now for /,
reasons for giving that Interpretation: !
It was clear to me. before my letter
of Jan 80 was written, that /, the per- /.
son having more public business to !:
transact with the Secretary of War than |.
any other OF the Presidents subordi- |
mates, WINS the only one who had been .
instructed to disregard the authority Of !
Mr. Stanton, where his authority was .
derived as agent of tho President.
On the 9th of January received . !.
letter from the Secretary of War direct /
ing me to furnish an escort to the pub (.
lie treasure from the Rio Gtande to New !
Orleans, &c. at the request of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to him.
also send two other enclosures
showing the recognition of Mr.. Stanton )
as Secretary of War by both the Score ,
tarv Of the Treasury and the Postmas /
ter General, in all of which cases the
Secretary of War had to call upon me
10 make the orders requested or give
the information desired, and where his
authority to do 30 is derived, in my view,
as agent of the President.
With an order SO clearly ambiguous
AS that of the President here referred to,
it was my duty TO inform the President
Of my Interpretation of it and to abide
by that Interpretation until ! received
other orders.
Disclaiming any intention now or
heretofore of disobeying any legal order
of the President, distinctly communities
ted, 1 remain, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
u. S. GRANT, General.
The New York Tribune gets after one
of the shining lights of democracy in this
fashion: Senator Hendricks, of Indiana,