Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-02-26
Mr.. Johnson's New Usapation:
ATTEMPTED REMOVAL OF SEC
RETARY STANTON. f.
STANTON REFUSES 10 VACATE
TWO WAR DEPARTMENTS At
WASHINGTON
ldj. arn. Thomas arrested and held to Bat.
GREAT EXCITESsLST

Is
We copy below accounts given by Wash
ington correspondents of Mr.. .tohnson's new
rebellion against the laws
WASHINGTON, Friday, Feb. 2ist, 1868
More excitement has been witnessed he,e
to-day than at any previous time since thu
assassination of President Lincoln. Until
after the hour OF noon, everything was as quiet
and sleepy as usual. The Senate was calmly
debating the subject of Reconstruction, while
the House was lazily engaged on private bills.
4 resolution had Just been passed to devote
tomorrow session to debate only. when
Mr. Iohnson's coup d'etat was announced.
At about - O'Clock the Presidents pri
vate Secretary delivered TO the Senate q mes
sage from MIR. johnson. declaring that he
had removed Edwin NJ. Stanton from the Of
nee of Secretary Of War, and placed BreVet
Major General Lorenzo Thomas. Adiutant
General of the Army, in his stead until a sue
cessor shall be appointed. Senator Conklilg
was speakinn at the time, and the comnuli
cation being of an executive character, thy
were not read in open session. The purpof
of the message was soon ascertained. how
ever. and an informal caucus Of the Repu-
licans was held Immediately, and IN Execu-
tive session was decided upon for the purpost
Of immediate action. \ committee. consist
ing Of Senators Cameron, 1haver, Catteil,
and Conness, was appointed to visit Secretary
Stanton and Gen. Grant in the mean time,
and express 10 them the desire d tie DOM
nant party in Congress. This Committee im-
mediately called upon Mr.. Stanton reaching
his Office al about , o'clock. Finding him iii
quiet possession Of the Office, they said it was
the desire Of the Congress Of the United
States that he should remain firm and I'M
II, l..
against the usurpation of President johnson.
but T. continue II obey the laws and they
would support him. Secretary >tantan re-
piled that he had received President John
sons order relieving him from duty but that
he cDnld nos recognize il. unless the Senate
concurred. This satisfied the Committee,
and after conversation with Secretary Stan
ton on private matters, they visited Gen.
Grant. They found the General in his Office,
and in as few words Is possible asked him
what course he would take should 1t become
necessary for him to act. He declined t. ex-
press any opinion officially, but the Commit
tee understood that he could not and would
not recognize the President = order rc zarding
Stanton. should the Senate fail to agree with
I the same. The Committee then returned t. the
Senate Chamber, and reported that Secretary
Stanton wouli retain hi@ Office until the Sen
ate should take action. and that ten Grant
would recognize Congress So = portion of the
Government. and not Andrew johnson a- thc
sole power VI hen the Commit lee had re
ported, the Senate Immediately, ~ about :
clock, went into Executive session. and he
gan the consideration Of the whole subject.
remaining in session until - o clock.
The removal soon became generally known,
and the whole Capitol was thrown into the
greatest excitement. The House from ,
O'Clock until 3, presented ii scene tha5 has
not been witnessed since the war times when
the news of a great victory or de'c1t ~ 7
arms was announced. The current business
was generally suspended. Members gathered
in knots about the floor and cloa 1-r'oIn- cX-
citedly discussing the subject. All SORTS "a
rumor= were ahoat. Prominent members sat
down and wrote letters t. Secretary Stanton
To stand firm and refuse u Well while -.re-
raj Representatives left their places and
called on him in person There was direct
relesraphic communication between The Capri
tai and the War Office. bv which means
Congress was kept informed 81 matters ~ the
latter point
At about :, - o'clock 81 communication
was received from Secretary Stanton, trans
hitting the Presidents order removing hlm.
and 1t was read ~ Srcakrr C"li.A. 't~ fol-
lows
YAK DErARIuEx-.
W Aen.>GroN CRY. Feb. 2l IS6o
SIN. zen Yhonos bqs INST loliv.r.3' -
me-. "a co,v Of The enclosed ,r,l.- ,rl;.,b VIM
viii rlease communicate T., th, Unu.s If
Rcnre-sntatives Ynnr Incident. s.rton+
Fr,-f>- N Sr,>ra,-
Sa.rot.,7.,- or \Yar
IL tie lion Schuyler Colftx, Speaker Of
the House Of Representatives.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASnINGToN, u. C., Feb q, ieoo.
va.ted in me a. President hr the Cnnst,t,i-
ti,n and laws Of the United States. won are
hcre}v removed from ois.e a. Secretary al
War. and your functions As snch viii tcrlni-
nate upon receipt of this communication.
Iou will transfer 70 Rrcvet Major Cien
Loreuzo Thomas. Adiutant General of IN,
Army. who has this dav been authorized Z.
ac, a. Secretary OF War'0I iufel35s. An roc
ords backs 1,aucr-. and other t,lbii,. urof.
crt y now IN xonr cnstod>- and rf-,ro,
PSI ,tr,Ilv vn,,.
A.nerv !ou<so< prc>ia,.,.,
-. ti,,, Edwin II Stanton Wa.b;n,.+,.,,
- &
rbis ,,,.. ti,,- A,ou,I f.r ,L.. ij,u.,. g., -
;. ,...,,,;.r b,s;pn-s to-,ooe,o,, and .n NJ
p+Is-- ,-.+,,,., 10 ,...,l,,+;,, l.+; =.
,,,.,,.C,,- 70 .,aecl ,al;,,, OIL w., ,7,lo3
- ooll a.. ,ba oas o,,J >.,s III -
ner1oor,+s 1-iar tho ,-,t.. 49, .,l,,,.1 T., J..
+al-or Mr. pill of N,;cc ,ns,. ,r4 LA
:. Few member in favor al iua,....eI,,ne,,r
vota YEA ana those onnos.a H.. :. Se..rrt.,r,
Stanton Communication n,ea,tin, M
sent 70 the Recommendation Corp,uirr.. /,
49, -. ID, - ~ i0c,,,,,..,., n
iourn. and the y eas and Nags called Pri
waite caucusing and the comparing OF note
was still kept up among melnbers. The iious.
refused to adjourn. and members WHO al,
ootbu.;.sfic a. 5,ope,.l.Deot ,,,,,,r..,.-f Il!
opportunity to get in n resolution accusin.
7 johnson OF high crimes and misdcmcanor-
and calling tor his impeachInent. Mr.. Co