New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-12

sion that IL tho Senate should refuse 70 concur e,
in the suspension. Mr.. stanton would thereby be rem
to act as Secretary OF war ad interim without sutjeetng
himself TO fine and imprisonment and that he came oYJl
views and did SO inform him. That the President re-
Piled that he had not suspended Mr. Stanton under 9
Office bill, but under the Constitution, ana na9
appointed him Grant by virtue OF the authority derived
from the Constitution, &c. That they continued 10 aus
cuss the matter time, and finally he LETT without
conclusion having been reached expecng 70 see
the President again on MONDAY rae n S Nom
day saying that he bad long interview WIN Iep oher
TN was iae and that he did not think the Senate would
act and asked, Did not Gen Sherman can on
do not know what passed between the President and
Gen. Grant Saturday except as learned IL from tne
Tuesday; and the fore going substantially what then
occurred. The precise words used the occasion are
were spoken but the ideas the facts stated
are faithfully preserved and presented ! nave tue
~ o. H. BROWNING.
The President.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Feb. ., 1863
SIR The meeting which You refer Ia your letter was
q regular Cabinet meeting While the members WEI ere
assembling and before the President had entered tne
Council chamber Gen. Grant, coming ill., said TO me
that he was attendance there not member OF the
Cabinet upon invitation, and replied by the inquiry
After the President had taken his seat business went on
several Secretaries When the time for the Secre
ary OF War; Gen Grant sand that he was now there not
Secretary OF War; but upon the Presidents invitation
that he had retired from the War Department slight
difference then appeared about the supposed inyatSn
Grant saying that the officers who had borne ms
letter to the President that morning. announcing ms re-
rement from the War Department had told him shat
the President desired to HIM at the Cabinet ~ winch
the President answered.; that when Gen GRANTS COIL
muncaton was delivered TO him. the President sDp ay
replied that he supposed Gen Grant would DC very yo
at the Cabinet meeting regarded the CONVERSATION
thus begun IS Went On ay gu nf yonr views
regard the understanding OF the Tenure upon winch
Gem Grant had aeted to no hold reS s war y @ay
of answer and explanation. IL was respect
conyersatonaI form as details could only have been
sented by verbatim report SO 1ar AZ Knew no such
eject OF the conversation Certainly you stated that
although you had reported the reasons Tor Mr stanton
wonId not be entitled TO resume the Office OF Secretary
Of War II the Senate should disapproye OF his sus
penson and that you had purpOsed to have the question
tested by judicial process TO be applied to the person who
should be the incumbent OF the Department Under your
between yourself and Cen Grants that when he entered
19e wiT his DpSge5t Il Il G 81
Mr.. santons restoration would be question fgr tne
Gen Gaut you had adyerted TO the understanding thus
haa, aid that Gen. Grant expressed MS cencurenee VI ~
held Gen Grant said lie still adhered TO the same con
sruSt9n Of the aw but sad ne eSsG SsNs Soc s
OF t. so that you should, In any case, DC
placed in the same position in regard to the the
held il ad interim dd not understand Gen Grant as
DENYING nor as explicitly ADMITTING these sas e s
admission OF them was rather indirect aud circumstan
ta though did not understand II 10 DC an ,h oe &c;
the police I'm Maryland, which he regarded as paaie
one he was OF opinion ana 60 INSURED YOU ts' Sod
the Office after the Senate should disappr0ye0i MI
stantOn's suspension until the question should be de-
very recently of that opinion, and mat on
Conversation was held between yourself and him
in which the subject was generally discussed a.
had stated TO you legal difficulties which might arise
involving fine and imprisonment under the CyIl Tenure
bill and that he did not care to subject himself 70 those
penalties; that you replied to this remark that you re-
gared the Civil Tenure bill unconsutohai ana nla mGt
think its penalties were to be feared or that you Woud
voluntarily assume them and you insisted mat Gen:
yourself, according to what You sli and him or by
ncs ~ eners Of prpose on his part put
you the situation which you would pe III u ne
adhered You claimed That Gen. Grant ran mns ssu his
views, and his proceedings Thereafter would ne eos
ent with what had been 80 Understood. Gen Sihn. u
not conroyert nor can say that he admitted his last
Abatement. Certainly, Gen Grant ala HOt az any tlhc
in the meeting insist that he had in the sanr
you of his determination 10 retire from ,he charge
own sbseTeut direction He acquiesced in your state
ment The Saturday, conversation ended Win an e
pectation that there would be SUBSEQUENT Soieress
on the subject which he az well as yourself supposed
could seasonaDy take place on Monday. You then al,
uded TO the fact that Gen Grant did not can upon you
On Monday as you had expected from that conyersa-
ton Gen. Grant admitted that u was ms sxpeeta-
Gen Grant assigned for the omission He said
hs was with Gen. sherman that there were
many little matters 10 be attended TO- He had con-
yersed upon the matter OF the lneumOency OF tne
pected that GEN sherman would call upon you on
Monday Ny mind suggested further explanation,
hut do not remember whether II mentioned not,
namely: That IL was not supposed by Gen. Grant on
Monday that tho Senate would decide the question so
promptly as 10 anticipate further explanation between
Yourself and him, IL delayed beyond that day Gen.
Grant made another explanation, that he was engaged
Sunday with Gen sherman. and think, ALSO Oh Mon-
day IN regard the War Department. matter, with a
hone though he did not IN an effort To procure an
ancable settlement OF the affair OF Mr. stanton, and he
still hoped that ii would be brought about. have the
honor TO be- with great respect your obedent servant
WILLIAM ii. SEWARD.
N, ~ Dead