National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-02-21
The Grant-Johnson Correspondence.

The letters laid before Congress
by Secretary Stanton, in response to
n call for thcm from the House, are
decidedly spicy. They show that
whatever have been the relations
between Gen. Grant and the presi-
dent heretofore, they are now any
thing but friendly. Secretary Stan
ton, in transmitting the letters to
the House, on the ith inst, says he
has had no personal correspondence
with the President since the Eth OF
August last, but that the accom-
panying letters are copies fur ished
by Gen. Grant. which the General
reports to he all the correspondence
on the subject. :,
Gen. Grants first letter, dated
Jan. 10Th, asks the Presto ent for the
instructions iii writing, which John
son had previously given him verbal
ly. not to obey any order from Sec.
Stanton unless he knew that IL came
from the President himself. Gen.
Grant assigns rs reasons the many
mis- representations III circulation
about the matter for what rs WIT
ten admits Of no MISUNDERSTANDING
He proceeds to rehearse the circuin-
stances: that the President was
anxious to keep Stanton out OF tie
office. and consulted MN (fralit)
about it; that on examination ot the
/ Tenure of Office law, Grant found
! lie could not legally refuse to vacate
/ the Office if Stanton was rc-iliStateu
by the Senate; that he went. on the
lith of January. and told the preSi-
dent so; that the President held the
contrary view, and after long diS-
cussion promised to see Grant again,
but did not till the next Tuesday,
until which time, Gen. Grant says:
"-a doubt never entered my
mind about the Presidents fully M
derstanding my positlon,--nainely {;
That ifthe Senate refused To con.
cur liz the suspension OF Mr.. stanton,
my powers as Secretary OF War al
iaterim would cease, and Mr.. Stan.
toms right to resume at once the
functions of his office would under
the law be indisputable,-and ! act,
ed accordingly with Mr.. Stanton"
At the Cabinet meeting that day,
the lith, Gen. Grant was summoned
AS a member. and reminded the
President that he was no longer a
member. The President gave his
version of the discussion with Gen.
Grant three days previous, and
Grant made his counter.statement,
of which hc says:
IL in nowise admitted the correct
ness Of the Presidents statement OF
oar conversation. though TO soften
the evident contradiction OF The
staten ent gave, | said. alludlnS tf
our first conversation OF tie subject
the President might have under
stood me the way he said, namely
that | had promi 5cd to resign II
did not resist the reinstatement.
made no such promise
; Gen. Grants letter of Jan. 3oth
: acknowledges the receipt OF the III
.structions in writing which he ha'
asked for, and says that Whi'c stan
IONS orders to the army are 10
= counteru,anicd he shall conSl'E
orders ''by direction Of the Pres
dent rs authorized by the EXecu
tive
President Johnson's letter OF tn
3lSt gives his statement of the ell
l. cumstaDces, saying that at a prev
GUS interview the distinct unue'
standing was reached that Grai
~ ~ should resign his office. if 1t hecah
apparent the Senate would relhS'al
- Stanton. before such reinstatement
:, that at the interview of the lltl
&C Grant again said lac would do HS "
fore stated that the President migi
appoint somebody else, or else hol
The office against Stanton TIL IL
courts should decide the question
that Gen. Grant failed to have
meeting with the President c
Monday us agreed, and OF TuesdN
to rave IN the Office to Stanton. III
vi President says:
j., you thur in disregard of the II
- derstandng between us, vacated Il
Office without having given me II
ticc of your intention t. do 80.
II is but lust. however, to say that
:, your communication you claim IN
."t YOU did inform me of your purpo
md and thus fulfilled the promise ma
wv, w, in our last proceeding conversati
II, on the subject"
About the Cabinet meeting, t
President says his recollection
dametrically opposite to that
:, Gen. Grant, and that other membt
of the Cabinet agree with him IL
. ia he asked Gen. Grant If the arranI
ing ments and understandings aoo
est named were not made, and G'
We. Grant admitted that they WEI
that on the 18th, Gen. Grant co
llained of an article on the subj
IN the Intelligcnccr, as doing h
much injustice, but that on examil
one ton of the article the Presid,
OH found il to be substantially core
II. and that four of the five Cab
~ ~ mclnucfs present S"'' " was corI'
b, han To this Gen. Grant replied Il
Ian, 3d. as follows, which closes the G
IL lespondence, thus far;
m. GEN. GRANTS CONCLUDING LETT
%e. . HID. Qrs. ARMY OF THE Y. s.,
WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. ., '6s'
To His Ercellcncy Andrcic Johns
D.....Ia,x ~ tL, Tnifed Siafes.