Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-02-19
The Grant-Johnson Case.

umns. having taken place between Presi-
dent johnson and Gen. Grant in reference
to the surrender of the War Office to Mr..
Stanton by the latter, We present the fol-
lowing synopsis to give our readers some un-
derstanding of the case.
The accusation of the President is that
Gen. Grant, after a consultation, promised
to hold on to the War Office, against the
judgment of the Senate, so as to force MIR.
Stanton 20 make an appeal to the courts
that afterwards they had another interview,
in which the case was reargued, and the
General, undecided, promised to see the
President. again before relinquishing the
portfolio with which he had been entrusted.
To this accusation Gen. Grant replied
that the President Inexperienced his
meanins-that under the tenure-of- office law
he could not do otherwise then he did-and
that he could but regard this whole matter,
| from beginning TO end, as An attempt to ! Il
volve him in the resistance OF law for which
the President hesitated to assume the res
possibility in orders, and thus to destroy
the Generals character before the country.
Thus stood tho case when first brought to
the notice of the puplic. But the Presi-
| dent was not satisfied to let it res. at this
point--he must introduce the testimony of
his Cabinet officers, for the purpose Of dam
| aging Grants personal reputation for frank
ness and veracity in t he public estimation.
| After incubating their plan of attack for
several days, it was on the 18th revealed to
the public The letter of the President is
characterlstic-forc direct and unmis-
| taxable He charges Gen. Grant with pre-
varication, if not with falsehood. His
vehenence shows how much his temper has
been riled by the action of the General
| Unfortunately for him, the witnesses he ad-
duces to make out his case, fail him they
confirm the Generals s statement in all es-
! sential particulars.
independently Of the President S witnes-
ses, We may ask, what need of so much ar
promises to assume all responsibilities, if
| the General concurred with the President III
| opinion as to the Office Tenure law, and Mr.
Stanton position under it All this goes
to show that the General was widely sepa-
rated from the President in opinion, and
that uncommon pains were used to change
his ideas, SO as to prevail On him to act in
concert with the Administration. What is
thus matter Of inference from the admis-
sions of the Presidents fully confirmed and
established by the statements of Mr. Sew
ard and Mr. Browning. That this may dis
tilctly appear, we deem it best to Gull out
of the deluge OF words, the heart of all they
| really affirm.
Take Mr.. Browning first. He says the
President and the General continued the
conversation for some time, discussing the
law at length, and finally separated without
having reached a definite conclusion, and
with the understanding that the General
would see the President again on Monday. "
| Farther on he says the General finally left
without any conclusion having been reach
ed, expecting to see.the President again on
| moniay.'
That does not sound as if the General had
|
Mr.. Stanton out of the War Ofce. threads
exactly the other way
Now, le. US see what Mr. Seward says as
to the General giving pledge to act in u
nison with the wishes of the President
You claimed that General Grant finally
said in that Saturdays conversation that
you understood his views and his proceed
ings thereafter would be consistent with what
had been so understood General Grant
did not controvert, nor can I sag that he ad
n,itted this last statement" And again
He acquiesced in your statement that the
Saturday conversation ended with an expec
tation that there would be subsequent con
ference ON the subject, which he as well as
yourself supposed could seasonably take
place on Monday.
So, then, according to these witnesses, no
agreement Was arrived at after all that Sat
urday's argument. The General was far
enough from entering into the views Of the
| President, and was so understood. From
this disagreement arose the desire of the
President for another meeting on Monday.
Mr. Browning narrates that Gen. Grant
then proceeded to explain why he had not
called on the President on Monday, saying
he had long interview with Gen. Sherman,
that various little matters had occupied his
time until late, and he did not think the
Senate would act so soon, and asked, did
not Gen. Sherman call on you on Monday?''
| I'm y tgh uorI OF
Grant made another explanation, that he