Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-02-24


the army, to be Secretary of War ad interim
At the same time that he ordered Genera
Thomas to assume this position, he furnished
him with an order to the following effect, o
which, it seems, copy was handed to the in
dividual thereby affected:
'sEXECUTIvE MANSION,
"WAsHINGToN, February 2l, 1868.
"SIR: By virtue Of power and authority
vested in me as President by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, you are hereby
removed from office as Secretary of the De.
partment Of War, and your functions as such
will terminate upon the receipt Of this commu
| nication.
"You will transfer to Brevct Major General
| Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant General Of the
army, who has this day been authorized and
empowered to act as Secretary Of War at ~
term, all records, books, papers, and other
charge. "Respectfully yours,
"ANDREw JOHNSON, President.
''To Hon. EDWIN Nj. STANTON, Washington,
1t appears that General Thomas On rcceiv-
ing his appointment, proceeded at once to the
discharge Of his duties. He went to the room,
lately occupied by Mr.. Edwin M. Stanton, and
| exhibited to him his o~D letter of appoint
ment and the order dismissing Mr.. Stanton
from Office Mr.. Stanton, upon reading these
documents, asked for time to remove his prl-
| vate papers, which was courtcously granted to
him by General Thomas.
In the course Of the morning the President
sent written message TO the Senate, Inform
ing that body that under the Constitution and
laws Of the United States he had in August
last suspended Edwin H. Stanton as Secretary
of War, and had now by the same authority re-
moved him from Office, and had appointed
General Thomas to fill the position. The Sen.
ate very soon after the receipt Of this message
laid aside it's regular order OF business, viz {:
Mr. Trumbups bill to modify the reconstruc.
| ton Iaws-and went into executive session, to
consider the subject mentioned in the Presi-
dents message. After very excited debate,
which lasted until a late hour in the evening,
and many different propositions, some of them
| very violent in their character, the following
resolution was passed by very nearly party
son for a resolution proposed Mr.. Edmunds.
"Whereas the Senate has received and con-
sidered the communication of the President,
stating that he had removed Edwin NJ. Stan
ton, Secretary of War, and had designated the
Adjutant General Of the army to act as Sccre-
tary of War ad aiate15no; therefore
"ReSolved By tile Senate oftbc Untcd States
| That, under the Constitution and laws Of the
United States, the President has not the pow
er to remove the Secretary of War and desig-
nate any other officer to perform the duties Of
that office"
At the same time, Mr.. Stanton was making
his appeal to the House Of Representatives,
hoping probably to evoke the impeac hment
scheme, already twice buried with the honors
of war The following is his letter to MIR. Col
fax, enclosing copy of the order by which he
was dismissed from Office, just handed TO him
by Genera Thomas:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON CRY, February 81, 1868.
''Sir: General Thomas has just delivered to
me copy of the enclosed order, which you
will please communicate to the House Of Re-
presentativcs. Your obadent servant,
EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War
'Hon. Schuyler Coliax, Speaker of the
House of Representatives"
On motion of Mr.. Washburne, this cores
pondence was referred to the Reconstruction
Committee, Mr. Wsshburne kindly remark ing
| that it was a competent committee. The
committee was granted authority to report at
any time" Subsequently, the House decided
to adjourn over until Monday, Mr.. Butler as
signing as reason that they had now two
Secretaries of War-onc by law and one by
usurpation." Mr.. Covode, not to be ou!done.,
offered resolution to the effect that the Presl
| dent be impeached for high crimes and mlsde'
| meanors, and this, after occasionlng some
| mirth, was referred to the Committee on lie
| construction. Int.
On Friday night, q warrant, under the tenure
of Office bill, was issued by Chief Justice "a: ttcl
for the arrest Of Gen. Lorenzo Thomas and 1t
was placed in the hands Of Marshal Goodlng
on Saturday morning tie proceeded to the
residence Of Gen. Thomas, and informed tht
General of the object OF the visit. Gen. Tho
mas immediately prepared to accompany th(
officers, not taking time to hnsh his breakfast
at which he was engaged when the haISha
arrived He was at once taken to the Marsnal 1a
office, where Judge Cartier had arrived. Iht
latter informed General Thomas that be woulc
require bail for his appearance on wednesday
morning at 10 o'clock in the sum Of S., 900.
The arrest was managed very quietly, ano
bnt verv few persons knew Of the affair.
| Gen, Thomas, took the matter quite phllo:o
| phicallv, donped his test uniform coat, ant
nrocecded with Marshal Gooding on foot t
the Citv Hall AS they passed the telegraph
Office dispatch was sent 10 Mr. Stanton, 10
forming him that the arrest, had been made
| las there seems to be some confusion OF name
in the nublic mind, it may be we'll to say il
this connection that Gen. Lorenzo Ihcma
was was during the war Adiutant General, and il
| March, 1862, was dispatched to the Southwest
to organize regiments of colored troops. Th
officer of the same name, who figured s.
prominently at Chattanooga, Nashville. AM
other points at the West, and since the wa
has heen in command in Tennessee, Is Genera
George H. Thomas.
The bail of $1,000 was furnished by MessrS
George R. Hall, (coachmakcr,) and Elias ~
Eliason, (tanner,) of Georgetown.
It is understood that NJ. Carpenter, esq, G
Wisconsin, will appear for Mr.. Stanton.
Gen. Thomas left the court house abon
half nast ten o'clock, and with his counsel, II