Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-02-26

mems fB nQL LetIer, dnliHtHy W. yOJe W IL
ply to IL to the contrary noft1ithssdnding.-
| confess my surprise that the cabinet OF
ficers refer red to should so greatly misappre>
hend the facts in the matter Of admissions
alleged to have been made by me at the Cab
met meeting on the l4th uIt., as TO suffer
their names to lie made the basis If the
charges in the newspaper article referred to,
or sgree TO the accuracy, as you affirm they
do, Of your account Of what occurred OF that
meeting. You know that We parted on Sat-
uTday, the llth ult., without any promise on
my part, either expressed or implied, TO the
effect that | would hold on to the office Of
Secretary Of War Gd interim against the ac-
iion Of the Senate, or declining to do so my
self would surrender it to you before such
action was had,or that would sec sou az a 10
al any fixed time 90 the subject. The per-
formance Of the promises, alleged TO have
been made by me. would have involved q re-
sistance Of the law, and an Inconsistency
with the whole history of my connection
With the suspension of Mr.. Stanton. From
oar conversation and my written protest OF
August l, 1867, against the removal OF Mr..
Stanton you must have knowa that my great
est objection to his removal was the fear that
some one would be appointed in bis stead
who would, by opposition TO the laws relat-
ing to the restoration Of the Southern States
to their proper relation TO the government,
embarrass the army in the performance Of the
duties especially imposed upon it by the
laws, and that il was to prevent such an ap-
pontment that accepted the appointment Of
Secretary Of War nd interim, and not for the
purpose Of enabling you TO get rid Of Mr..
Stanton by my Withholding it from him IN
opposition 10 the law or, not doing so myself
surrender 10 one, who, as the statements and
assumptions in you Communication plainly in
dcate was sought /; and it vas to avoid this
danger as we'll as to relieve you from the per.
sonal embarrassment in which Mr.. Stanton's
resignation would place } on that urged the
appointment Of Governor Cox, believing that
II would be agreeable to you and also to Mr.
Stanton, satisfied as | was that it was the
good Of the country and not the office the
latter desired. On the 18th ult., in the pres
ence of General Sherman, stated to you
that thought Mr. Stanton would resign but
but did not say that would advise him TO
do So On the 18th Ibid agree Nth GeneT-
al Sherman to go and ddrise him TO that
course, and on the 10Th bad an interview
alone with MI. Stanton, which led me 10 the
cuncIusitp that any advice 10 him of this kind
would be useless, and so informed General
Sherman. Before | consented to advise Mr..
Stanton to resign | understood from hun, in
a conversation on the subject Immediately
after bis reinstatement, that it was bis Opin>
ion that the &C, If Congress entitled IAN act
Temporarily to supply vacancies in the Exec
ntive department in certain cases." approved
February, 20, 1868, was repealed W sub>e-
Gueut legislation, which materially Influenced
tat hi m Il ha n
doubt that the Law of 1862 was sill in force,
and notwithstanding my action fuller exam
animation of the law leaves question in my
mind whether it is or is not repealed. This
being the case ] could not now advise his
resignation lest the same danger ] apprehend-
ed from his first removal might follow. The
course you would have il understood agreed
10 pursue was in violation of law, and that
without orders from you, while the course |
did pursue. and which | never doubted you
fully understood, was not in disobedence TO
any orders Of my superior.
And now Mr. Pre- resident, when my honor
as a soldier and integrity as man have been
30 violently assaled, pardon me for saying
that can bu, regard this whole matter, from
beginning to end. as an attempt TO inr0tre
me IN the resistance 0f tGu TOR phich you
! tesitated 10 assume the responsibility, 10 or
der thus TO destroy my character before the
country. / am in a measure confirmed in
:hls conclusion by your recent orders direct
ing me to disobey orders from the Secretary
Of War, my superior and your subordinate,
without having countcrmanded his authority
! am to disobey.
With assurance, Mr. President, that moth
ing less than vIndIcatiOn of my personal
honor and character could have induced this
CORES pondence on my part, have the honor
| 10 be, very respectfully. your ohedient serv
! ant, u ,, GRANT, General.
S. The President to Genera! Grant:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 10, 'C8.
| general The extraordinary character
| Of your letter Of the Sd instant, would seem
to preclude any reply on my part. But the
manner in which publicity has been given to
| the cnrrespOndence of which that letter form
ed part, and the grave questions which are
involved, induce me to take this mode ol
! giving, as proper sequel 10 the cOmmunica-
| lions which have passed between US, the
statement Of the five members OF the Cabinet
who were present nn the occasion of our con.
versatlon Of the l4th ult. Copies Of the let
ters which they have addressed to me upon
the subject are accordingly herewith enclos'
| ed.
.'You speak Of my letter Of the 3lst ult
| as O reiteraiinD Of the many and gross mis-
| representations contained IN certain newspa-
| per articles, and reassert the correctness oI
| The statements contained in your communica-
liOn Of the 2Srh ult., adding, and here | give
| your own words, any thing IN yours in reply
! 20 it to the contrary notwithstanding. When
ever a coDtrOversary upon matters of fact
reaches the point to which this his been brat
| further assertion or denial between The Ims
mediate parties should cease, especially where
upon either side it loses the character of the
respectful discussi n which is required by
ibe relation in which the parties stand 10
each. .other, and degeneratcs in tone and ten
per. In such a case, If there is nothing To
rely upon but the opposing statements con-
illusions must be drawn from these state,
ments alone, and from whatever intrinsic
probabilities they afford ~ favor Of or against
either Of the parties. should not shrink
from this test in the controversy /; but for.
tunately, 1t is not left to this test alone
There were FIVE Cabinet officers present al
| the Conversation, the details of which, in my
letter of the 28!h ult,, you allow yourself t,
say contains many and gross misrepresenta
iions. These gentlemen heard that conveI sa
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