Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-02-20
EXECUTIVE MANSION,


January TO- 1868.
GENERAL: The extraordinary character OF
your letter Of the 81 instant would seem to pre-
clude any reply on my part; but the manner
in which publicity has been given to the cor
respondence of which that letter forms part,
and the grave questions which are involved, IN
duce me to take this mode Of giving, as pro-
per SEQUEL to the communications which have
passed between us, the statement of the fve
members of the Cabinet who were present on
the occasion Of our conversation on the l4th
ultimo. Copies of the letters which they have
addressed to me are accordingly herewith en-
closed. You speak of my letter Of the list ul-
timo as a reiteration of the many gross mlsrep-
resentations contained in certain newspaper ar
tices. and reassert the correctness of the state
ments contained in your communication OF the
28th ultimo, adding, and here give your own
words, " anything IN yours in reply to the con-
trary notwithstanding" When q controversy
upon matter Of fact reaches the point to which
this has been brought, further assertion or de-
NAL between the immediate parties should
cease, especially where upon either side 1t loses
the character of a respectful discussion, which
is required by the relations in which the parties
stand to each other, and degenerates IN tone
and temper. In such a case, If there Is moth
ing to rely upon but the opposing statements,
conclusions must be drawn from the statements
alone. and from whatever intrinsic probabiIi-
tiesthey afford in favor of for against either party
| should not shrink from this test in the con-
troversy, but fortunately it is not left to this
test alone. There were five Cabinet officers
present at the conversation, the detail of which,
in my letter Of the 2Sth ultimo, you allow your
self to say contains "many gross misrepresen-
tations." These gentlemen heard that conyer-
sation. and have read my statement. They
speak for themselves; and have the proof.
without word Of comment. | deem 1t pro-
per. before concluding this communication, to
notice some Of the statements containedin your
letter. You say that performance OF the
promise alleged to have been made by you to
the President would have involved resist
ance TO law and an inconsistency with the
whole history Of my connection with the sus-
pension Of Mr.. Stanton
You then state that you had fears the Presi-
dent would, on the removal Of Mr.. Stanton, ap-
point some one in his place who would emoar-
rass the army in carrying out the reconstruc-
tion acts. and add, 1t was to prevent such an
appointment that accepted the Office OF Sec
rctarv OF War Gd interim, and not for the pur-
pose of enabling you to get rid of Mr. stanton
bv nv Withholding it from him in opposition
10 law. or. not doing so myself, surrenderIng It
to one who would as the statement and as
sumptions in Your communication plainly indl-
cate was sought.
First of all. YOU here admit that from the
very beginning Of what you term "the whole
history of your connection with Mr.. Stanton:
suspension, you intended to circumvent the
| President. 1t was 10 carry ont that intent that
YOU accepted the appointment This was in
| vour mind at the time Of your acceptance. 1t
). was not then in obedience to the order Of ycur
superior. as has been heretofore supposed, that
YOU assumed the dutieso of theoffice. You knew
il was the Presidents purpose 10 prevent Dir
! Stanton from Tesuming the Office Of Secretary
/ of War. and You intended todefeat that purpose
You accepted the office, not in the interest o
the President but Of Mr. Stanton. If this pur,
pose, so entertained by you, had been cannneC
TO Yourself; if, when accepting this ONCE yo'
had have done so with mental reservation Y
frustrate the President, it would have been
tacit deception. In the ethics Of some person
sucb \ course is allowable. But You canno
stand upon that questionable ground. Th
history" of your connection with your trans
action. as written by yourself, places yoursel
in different predcament, and shows that yo
not only concealed your design from the Presi
dent. but induced him 70 suppose that yo
would carry out his purpose to- keep Mr: Stan
ton out Of Office by retaining it yourself, sfte
an attempted restoration By the ssnate, so