The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-02-27
TELEGRAPHIC.

I
/ Washington, Feb. %
l An important movement wa
made late last night in the johnson
Stanton cmbroglio'
| Application was made, on oath be
| fore Chief Justice Carter, for the ~
rest Of Gen. Thomas, for violation o
the civil tenure law. At first th,
Judge did not think he had the pow
or, but became convinced to the con
trary and decided 70 issue the writ
Gen. Thomas therefore will proba
bly, be arrested to-day by virtue o
the 5th section of the civil tenur'
law.
The first intimation Sec'y. Stanton
had Of his second suspension, was q
noon. Gen Thomas eLtered hi,
room and presented the President'l
order. A good natured conversation
ensGed, during which Mr.. Stantor
said, do you want me to vacate a
once? Gen Thomas replied, oh no
II have notified the president Of my
acceptance, and you can get YOU
private papers together and turr
over the Office to me say tomorrow
morning. Gen Thomas says, he un
derstood Sec'y Stanton to acquiesce
in this, but the latter maintains that
he has no intention whatever yield
ing to Adj. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas
except By superior force. This will
probably be proven to be true.
New York, Feb. %.
The Hcrald's Washington CORES
pondcnt, had an interview with Prest
Johnson late last night, relative to
the removal Of Sec'y Stanton. Atthe
meeting the President inquired, .swell,
| suppose they are surprised; but
have only done what I had delermin-
ed upon. Incver had but one deter.
mination on the subject. But / have
acted carefully, prudcntly and modcr-
ately. Perhaps / have been too slow
about removing Mr.. Stanton; but not
because l feared the bug bear Of i'm
peachmcnt, or that dreaded any
thing that Congress might do. Moth
ing that that body could attempt or
carry out, would intimidate or sur
prise me. l know they are capable
Of doing anything. l delayed final
acton solely to let the country see
and understand the position Of Mr.
Stanton. We first intimated to him
that we would like him to Withdraw
from our Privy Council He did
not take the hint. We then request
ed him to resign; he refused. We
then suspended him under the consti-
tusional power which we have to sus-
pend or remove . member Of our
cabinet. The act of suspension was
also not in conflict with the tenure
of Office bill, though we did not there
fore recognize its constitutionality.
As matter Of courtesy, we sent res
sons for our action to the Senate
That body pretended not to consider
these reasons sufficient, and assumed
to reinstate Mr. Stanton in Office
Well we still waited, hoping Mr. s..
would see the propriety Of rcsignirg
himself. General Sherman and Grant
offered to 60 to stanton and advise him
to resign. Here is q letter which in
dicates what they proposed.
Washington, Sat-, Jan. 1e.
! neglected this morning to say
that had agreed to go down to An
napolis to spend Sunday with Admir-
al Porter. Gen. Grant has to leave
for Richmond, on Monday morning At
six q. m. At . conversation with the
Gen., after our interview, wherein !
offered to 60 with him ON Monday
morning to Mr. Stanton, and say that
it was our opinion he should resign.--
It was found impossible, by reason
ofhis going to Richmond, and my go.
ing to Annapolis. The Gen proposed
this course: He will call on you to-
morrow and offer to go to Mr. Stanton
to say for the good Of the service Of
the country, he ought to resign. On
Sunday or Mon. Twill call on you, and
ifyou think it necessary, / will do the
same; call on Mr. Star ton and tell him
he should resign. IF no will not
then, it will be time to contrive utter
ior measures. In the meantime it al
90 happens that no necessity exists for
prccipitating matters.
Yours truly,
w. T. SHERMAN.
The President then continued after
waiting reasonable time: We thought
proper to-day 10 order the removal Of
Mr.. Stanton, and to appoint General
Thomas Secretary Of War ad interim.
This 10 the whole story.
CorrespondeDt-Was this step dis
cussed in the Cabinet council. Mr.
President :
The President; 20 sir, not precisely.
A general policy was agreed upon
some time, ago, and the rem0valto-da
is in accordance herewith. have inst
received . copy Of the resolutions
adopted BY the Senate tonight in ex-
eoutive session.
Correspondont-What will thcSen.
ate do, Mr.. President, under that res
olution, ifyou still llinsist upon having
Gen. Thomas act as Secretary ad in
tosina.
Presiednt--I don't see that they
can do anything; the resolution itself
is tho end Of the matter 30 far - the
Senate is concerned, unless tho House
presents articles ofimpeachment, and
the Senate undertakes to try the exec
utive, and resolves itself into high
court ofimpcachment.
Correspondent-Do you think Con-
gress really win attempt impeach-
ment Mr.. President .
g Presidcnt-I don't know, indeed,
nor do / care, it would make very lit
tie difference to me.
Correspondent-Heasl asked what the
President would do in the event Of
the passage Of Mr.. Edmunds bin Of
suspension, to which the President
answered: Sir, I wouldnot obey the
law If they attempted to suspend me,
The law is clearly unconstitutional,
There is . point against it which you
gentlemen Of the pross seem to have
altogether overlooked.
The bill Of Senator Edmunds to
suspend the pending trial would un.
doudtedly be an &c post facfo law.
So far as my case ID concerned, such
law is declared unconstitutional BY
the very language Of the constitution
itself. NV offence we will suppose,