Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-05
Honse of REPRESENTATIVES,.


Mr.. Butler, from the Committee on APP
preparations, reported a bill to regulate
the custody and expenditure of public
monies. Ordered to be printed and recon-
mitted.
Mr.. ArnelI offered a resolution reeiting
that an armed organization, known as the
Ku Klux Khan, are committing brutal
outrages and numbering white and colored
Unionists in the counties of Maury, Giles
and Montgomery, Tennessee, and that
great terror and uncertainty prevails there,
and instructing the Committee on Freed
mems Affairs to inquire into such outrages
and adopt the best means for its suppress
sion.
Mr.. Maynard offered resolution as to
the sense Of the House in relation to the
inexpediency of the Grey treaty, and to
regulate the duties on imports, or other
therefrom, established by the statute.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means
The House proceeded to the considera-
ton of the bill from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs concerning the rights of
American citizens in foreign States. The
bill went over. a-rf.-
The Senate bill for the temporary relief of
the poor Of the District of Columbia, was re-
ferred 10 the Committee on the District
of Columbia.
The House proceeded to the consideration
of the bill of Mr.. Julian, from the Commit
tee on Lands, declaring forfeited TO the
United States certain lands granted to aid
in the construction of railroads in Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.
Mr.. Arnell spoke in favor of the amend
ment, excepting from the operation of the
bill the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad
Company. .-
Mr.. Williams asked Mr.. Arnell as TO the
loyalty of the stockholders of that company,
remarking that it appeared from the re-
port of the select committee on Southern
railroads, that at recent election of the
Directors, five ont Of fifteen were certified
to be loyal, six doubtful as to their loyalty,
and four admitted to be Rebels, and the
reason being assigned for the selection of
Rebels, being that no more loyal stock
holders could be elected.
Mr.. Arnell replied that it was not cor
rect, and mentioned the names of several
Of the loyal officials of that company.
Mr.. Trimble asked whether it was not a
fact that the only interest the stockholders
in those roads had was after the mortga-
ges should have been satisfied, and whether
those mortgages were not held by parties in
the North, and who were loyal to the gov
eminent,
Mr.. Arnell replied that it was undoubt
eddy trne.
Mr.. Shanks spoke in support of the bill.
The motion 10 reconsider the vote re-
committing the bill was adopted.
The Speaker presented a communication
from the Secretary of War, transmitting
the correspondence between the President
and Gen. Grant in reference TO the Secre-
tary of War. The correspondence was read
and listened TO with unusual interest and
attention, and was referred to the Recon
struction Committee.
Mr.. Covode asked whether it was in
| order, in view of the straightforward, manly
course of Gen. Grant in that Transaction,
to move a vote of thanks to him.
The Speaker said it was not in order.
The Speaker laid before the House a
communication from the War Department
inclosing the following document:
WAR DEPARTMENT Feb. 4, lS68.-SIR: :
| In answer to a resolution of the HOnse Of
Representatives of the 9Th nit, | transmit
| herewith the copies furnished me by Gen.
Grant of the correspondence he had with
| the President on the subject. have had
no correspondence with the President since
| the 18th August last. After the action of
the Senate, on his alleged reason for my
| alleged suspension from the Office of Secfe-
| tary of War, | resumed the duties of that
| office az required by the act of Congress
and continued in the discharge of them,
without any personal or written commnni-
| ton with the President. No order has
been Issued from this department in the
name of the President with my knowledge,
and have received no orders from him.
The correspondence sent herewith will EN-
brace all the correspondence known 10 me
| on the subject referred to in the resolution
Of the House of Representatives.
/ have the honor to be, sir, with great
| respect, your obedient servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON, g l
Secretary Of War
| TO Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the
House of Representative. 2&
| HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED
| STATES, WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1867
| His Excellency Andrew johnson, Presi-
dent Of the United States-SIR On the
| oath inst. / requeted you to give me in
writing instructions which you had pre-
viously given me verbally, not TO obey any
order from Hon. f. NJ. Stanton, Secretary
| of War, unless j knew it came from Your
self. This written request ! have not re-
! ceived. The message has left doubt in my
mind as to your intention. Toprevent any
possible MISUNDERSTANDING, therefore,
renew the request that you viii give me
written instructions, and until they be re-
ceived l will suspend action on your verbal
ones. / am compelled to ask these in
structions in writing in consequence of the
| many gross Misrepresentation affecting my
personal honor, circulated through the
press for the last fortnight, purporting to
come from the Presidents conversations,
! which occurred either with the President
privately in bis Office, % in Cabinet meet
| ing. What ia written admits OF no mis-
understanding. In view Of the representa-
ton referred to, it will be we'll to state the
| facts in the case.
Some time after assumed the duties of
Secretary of War ad interim, the President
asked my views as to the course Mr.. Stan
| ton would have to pursue, In case the Sen
ate should not concur in his suspension, to
obtain possession of his Office. Ny reply
/ was, in substance, that Mr: Stantop would
have to appeal to the courts to reinstaie
him, illustrating my position by citing the
case of the Baltimore Police Commission
ers. In that case, / did not doubt the
technical right of Gov. Swami to remove
the ola commissioners and sppoint their
snccessors. As the old commissioners had
refused to give up, however, contended
there vas no recourse LEFT but an appeal 10
tbe oourts. 1 had not looked particularly
into the tenure Of office bill, bat what /
had stated vas the general principle, and If
T should change nay mind in this partieu-
lar case. would inform him Of the fact.
subsequently,, on reading shs tenure Of
ofice bill closely, found could not, With
oat a violation Of Law, refuse to vacate the
ofiee Of Secretary Of War the moment Mr.
stanton vas reinststed By the Senate, even
though the President had ordered ne to