The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-17
The stanton Affair.
From the National Intelligencer.

This statement, which we take from
the afternoon papers, of the circum
stances of the rcoccupatiOn of the War
Department 10y the deposed Secretary,
astsnished no one more than President
johnson, who was greatly surprised at
the surrender by General Grant of the
trust reposed in him as Secretary of
War ad interim. The people of the
country will doubtless be startled Mt the
announcement that Mr.. Stanton has so
quietly resumed possession of the War
Department, and will be curious to
know how it was effected. In
justification of the President, We are
at liberty to state the following addi-
tional circumstances, from which our
readers will draw their own cODclu-
sions: Some time after the appoint
meut of General Grant as Secretary OF
War cd interim, he had conversation
with the President upon the subject of
the probability of the refusal of the
Senate to recognize the suspension 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: 4
Shdll III shdN SiNhNA y Wv
my resignation as Acting Secretary, or
let a manGamus be issued against me
to surrender the Office" .E
This conversation was renewed from
time to time; and, on, last Saturday,
when Senator Howard's report from the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs in
favor of Stanton was under discussion,
General Grant was Pointedly asked by
the President if he had changed his
mind in reference to the course he would
pursue if the Senate should refuse to
make StantOn's suspension final, when
he reiterated the promise previously
made, that he would either hand in his
resignation as Secretary of War dd In
term early enough for the President to
appoint his successor, or take any other
action he might deem requisite, o. al
low maudamus to he served upon him
for the surrender of the office; adding
promise TO the President, that he
shOsld hear from him on the subject on
Monday. -rEE .T-.rH a~Fg
Monday passed without the promised
communication. On Monday evening,
after it was known that the Senate had.
passed Howard's resolutions refusing to
recognize the suspension of Stanton as
Secretary of War, General Grant was
present at the reception at the Rxecu-
tive Mansion, where he greeted the
President but mentioned nothing of asy
chang in the determination previously
declared. The President heard nothing
whatever from General Graf upon the
subject until twelve o'clock Tuesday,
two hours after Mr.. Stanton had taken
possession of the War Office, when the
following communication was delivered
to him by Major Comstoek, one Of Gen
eral Grants staff officers:
"HEApQUARTERs ARMIES ". g., ! |
WAsuINGToN, d. c., Jan. IA, lo6o.
"His ErcelleRcy, IRdre,r Johnson, Presi-
dent CHiied States: CO
"SrR: l have the honor to enclose
herewith copy OF official notice received
by me last evening Of the action OF the
Senate of the United States in the case
OF the suspension of Hon. Z. NJ. Stan:
ton, Secretary of War. According te
the provisions OF section two OF. "An act
regulating the tenure of certain civil
Offices" my functions as Secretary of
War ad interim ceased from the moment
of the receipt of the within notice.
81 have the honor TO be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant, ..
! L. s. GRANT, General"