The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-22
GENERAL GRAKT IND THE PRESIDENT

The Republican party rely on the strength
of General Grants name to carry them safely |
through the perils of the next presidential
election, but they seem to be doing their best
to deprive his name Of all its efficacy. At
there is one thing more than another That
shocks the public sense of decorum it is the
indecent spectacle of an intrusive and unwel-
come minister forcing himself, by legal tech
nicalities, into the cabinet of an unwilling
executive And when this is accomplished
by trickery and subterfuge, those who par
ticipate in the trickery and subterfuge are
very apt to share the apprehension which is
visited on the principal Whatever party adj
vantage the Republicans may imagine them
selves to gain by Stanton's successful invasion
of the war Office, they must detest the tool
they have used. But if Stantons conduct is
fagitiously and audaciously indecent, he has
at least the excuse Of bitter contest with
the President for extenuation. To gain
a triumph over an avowed enemy may
palliate if not justify acts which, otherwise
would he devoid of mitigating circumstances.
But Gen. Grant cannot urge even this excuse
He pretended to be the Presidents friend,
and, while pretending to be his friend, was
consorting and conspiring with his enemies.
The National Inteligeneer makes this per-
fectly plain by statement of the circum-
stances which appears to be at least quasi
official, and which has not, as yet been con-
tradieted, except by an anonymous tele-
graphic correspondent of the New York Tri-
bune The Intelligencer states that, some
time after the appointment of Gen. Grant as
secretary of war Gd interim, he had a CONVEX
sation with the President upon the subject of
the probability Of the refusal of the Senate to
recognise the suspension of Mr.. Stanton,
when Gen. Grant stated that in such event he
might not wish to identify himself with either
party in the controversy but added, in effect:
81 shall in that event either hand you my resig-
nation as acting secretary, or let mandamus
be issued against me to surrender the Office.
This conversation was renewed from time
to time, and on Saturday, the 18th inst, when
Senator Towards report from the Senate
committee on military affairs was under dis
cussion, 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 Stantons
suspension final, when he reiterated the pro-
mise previously made, that he would either
hand in his resignation as secretary Of war
od interim early enough for the President to
appoint his successor or take any other action
he might deem requisite, or allow a mandamus
to be served upon him for the surrender of
the Office; adding promise to the President
that he should hear from him on the subject
ON Monday.
Monday passed without the promised COM
munication. On Monday evening, after it
was known that the Senate had passed
Towards resolutions refusing to recognize
the suspension of Stanton as secretary of war,
General Grant was present at the reception
at the executive mansion, where he greeted |
the President but mentioned nothing of any
change in the determination previously de-
clared. The President heard nothing what
ever from General Grant 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
to him by Major Comstock, one of
General Grants staff officers
"HEADQUARTERs ARMIES UNITED STATES |
Washington, ID. O., Jan. H. 1868. I |
His Excelney Andrew Johnson President of United
Ststes:
4" Sri have the honor 10 inclose herewith |
copy If official notice received by me Last even. |
ing Of tie action Of the Senate of tho United States
in the case Of the suspension Of the Hon. E. d. |
Stanton. secretary of war. According 20 the pro- |
visions Of section two OF 'An act regulating the |
~ arfa oil nv
~ war I'd interim ceased from the mo- |
ment Of the receipt OF this notice. |
81 have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant, u. S. GRANT,
&c eral.n
a" In EXECUTIVE SESSION. |
SENATE or THE UNITED STATES |
January 10, 1868. |