The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-08

members Of the cabinet who we're then pre-
sent. They, without exception, agree IN 1ts
accuracy.
It ia only necessary to add, thas on Wcdnes-
day morning, the 18th, you called on me, IN
company with Lieutenant General Sherman.
After some preliminary conversation, you aoIs; re-
marked that an article in the National lntelll-
gencer, of that date, did you much injustice.
Ircplied that had not read the Intelligencer
of that morning. You then first told me that
it was Your intention to urge Mr. Stanton 70 re-
sign ,e. =. ..,a
tho article of which you had spoken, ana
between US was substantially correct. On the
18th caused it to be resd-to four OF the hve
members of the cabinet-.A MA were present. a.
our conference or the 14tb. and they concurred
in the general accuracy OF its statements re-
specting our conversation upon that occasion.
In reply to youc communication ! nave
deemed it proper, in order to prevent furtner
misunder standing, to make the simple recital
Of facts.
Very respectfully, yours, -or,,,oN
GENERAL GRANTS REPLY.
Tie answer OF General Grant, dated Febru-
ary Sd (Monday), brings the matter up to
date, and is as follows:
HEApoRs ARMIES OF The UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, D. c., February ., 1868.
His Excelency A. Johnson, President OF the
United Suites Sir-I have tho honor to ac-
kno Wedge the receipt of your communication
of tho 9ist ultimo in answer to mlne of-the
98th ultimo. After careful reading and COM
parlsou of it with the article in the National ln-
telligencer of the 18th ultimo; the article over
initials u. B. g." in the New York World OF
the 9th ultImo, pur 0fHng to be based upon
your statement, and that OF members OF inc
cabinet therein named, ,-ffnd it only TO be but
reiteration-only somewhat more in detail
Of tho s.many and gross misrepresentation"
contained iu these articles. and which my
statement OF the facts SO. forth in my letter OF
the 28th ultimo was intended to correct, anu
here reassert the correctness OF my state
ments in that letter, ANYTHING in yours IN reply
to i. to the contrary ntsWithst andiDg:.
confess my surpriSe-that the o.blnet olil-
cors reierrod to should so greatly misappre-
hond tue facts in the matter VI admissions al.
Logged to have been madc by mo aI the cabinet
meeting of the II II ultlnlo, us TO suffer their
names to be mace the basis OF the charges IN
tue newspaper articles referred to; or agree TO
the accuracy, as you afhrm tney 90, OF your
account of what occurred at that meeting.
You know that we parted on Saturday, the
11th ultimo, without any promise on my part,
either express or implied, to The effect that l
would hold on 10 the Office or Secretary OF war
ad a,,ier,n, against tho action OF tho Senate, or
declining to do so myself would surrender 1t to
you before such action was had, or that would
see YOU again at any fixed time on the subject.
Tie performances Of the promises alleged by
YOU to have been made BY me would have IN
yolyed o resistance OF tho law, and an inconsis-
tency with the whole history OF my connection
with the suspension Of Mr. Stanton. From our
conversation and my written protest OF August
1st, 1867 against the removal OF MIR. stanton,
you must have known that my greatest oblec-
ton to his removal or suspension was the fear
tuat some one wouldLe appointed in hls stead
who would, by opposition to the laws relating
to the restoration Of the Southern States to
their proper relation 10 the government en-
barrass the army in tho performance OF the
duties especially lnpSsed upon it by the laws,
and that it was to prevent SUCH IN appoint
ment that I accepted the appointment, OF Secs
rotary OF War ad a1ter1n, and not for the Pur-
by my withholding it from HIM in opposition
to the law, or not doing 80 mysolf, surrender
it to one who would as the statement and as
sumptlons in your communication plainly indl-
cate was sought.
And 1t was to avoid the danger, as well as to
relieve you from tho personal embarrassment
in which Mr.. Stanton's reinstatement would
place you, that urged the appointment OF
Governor COX, believing that it would be agree
able to you and also to Mr.. Stanton, satisfied,
as I was, that it was the good OF the country,
and net tho Office, the latter desired.
On the 18th ult., i'll the presence or General
Sherman, stated to you that thought MIR.
Stanton would resign, but did not say that l
would advise him to do SO. On the 18th dld
agree with General Sherman to 90 and ADVISE
him to that course, and on tho 18th had an
interview alone with Mr.. Stanton, which led me
to the conclusion that any advice to him OF this
kind would be useless and so informed Gene
raj Sherman. Before consented to ADVISE Mr.
Stanton to resign, understood from him in
conversation on the subject Immediately after
his relnstatement7 that 1t was his OPINION tnat
tho act OF Congress entitled san act temporarl-
ly to supply vacancies in the Executive Depart
ment in CERTAIN cases." approved February 20,
1868, was repealed by subsequent Legislation,
which materially influence my action.
Previous to this time, and no doubt that the
laws of 1868 was still IN fcrce, notwithstanding
my action O. fuller examination Of the law
leaves question in my mind whether 1t ls or
is not repealed. This being the case could
not now advise his resignation lest the same
danger apprehended from his nrst removal
might follow.
Ihe course you would have it understood
agreed to pursue was in violation OF law and
without orders from you; while the course
did pursue and which noyor doubted you fully
understood was in accordance with law, and
not IN dlsoDedence 10 any oruers VI LILY supc-
rior.
And now, Mr.. President, when my honor as
q soldier and integrity as q man have been so
violently assailed, pardon me for saying that l
can but regard the whole matter, from begin
ning to end, as an attempt to involve mo in the
resistance OF law, for which you hcsitated to
assume the responsibility in orders and thus
to DESTROY my character before the country.
am, in measure, confirmed in this conclusion
by your recent orders directing me to dsobey
and your subordinate, without having counter
manded his authority I am to disobey. With
the assurance, Mr.. President, that nothing less
than vndicatlon Of my personal honor and
character could have induced this correspon-
dence on my part, havo the honor to be, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
US. GRANT, General.