The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-12
Testimony OF Secretary Browning.
DEPARTMENT or rffr ISrLRioR,
Ii IAAa

WAsHyGfos, ~ c., Feb. g. 1865. J
am in receipt OF yours OF yesterday calling my at.
ten.on to a correspondence between yourself and Gen.
cra Grant published in the Chronice newspaper and
especially to thai part OF SAID correspondence which
resers TO tho conversation between the President and
General Grant a, Cabinet meeting Tuesday the
18th Of January aud requesting 10 state what was
said in that conversation. la reply submit the follow
ing statemcnt;-
Al the Cabinet mselnc Tuesday, the lsih of Janu-
ary 1865 Geseral Grant appeared and took his accus
toned seat al the BOARD When he had becn reached,
IN The order OF business, The President Asked higi,
usual II be had anything TO present In reply, the
General after referring TO note which lie had tba'
morning addressed to the President enclosing copy Of
,hs resolution the senate refusing a. In the
reasons for the suspension OF Mr. santon TO
az regarded his duties secretary Of War I'd
.ayir terminated, by that resolution anu that he could
not lawfully such duties for moment after he
adoption Of the resolution BY the Senate that he reso
hi ion reached him last night and that this morning he
had gone 10 the War Department, entered the 5ecre-
tarys ROOM bolted dsoF the inside locked the
other on the 0utsde del vsred the key 70 the Ad utant
General and proceeded to the OF the army
and addressed the note above mentioned 10 the
rresaent iuior"il, Sn him ,na, ne >, Genera raj
;ne,1@. The Presldeni expressed great surprise al
tho sause which General Grant had thoasai proper 10
pursue and, addressing himscN 10 tho General pro-
cecded 10 cav substance that he bad anticipated such
action in the senate and being very ee.irous 10 have
the constutonay Of the Tenure OF Office bill tested
and lIs rch. 70 suspend or remove member Of the
cahine, decided BY the judicial tribunal % the country
be had time ago and shortly AFTER General Grants
sppolu rnen as Secretary OF War rt,rR asked the
General what his action would lie IN tho event that the
Seuats should refuse TO IN The suspension OF
Nj Stanton, aud that tho General had then agreed
either to remain al the head Of the War Department
mi decision could be obtained from ihe court or re-
sign the ONCE the hands OF The President before
Inc case was acted upon by the senate 20 A. 20 place
the President Ia he same situation - he occupied At
the zine or his lt,Tznt ~ appointment.
The President further saId that the conversation was
renewed the preceding saturday, AZ which TINE ho
The 1apsrs be ute Ddcd 90 do ~ the senate
should undertake 70 renstx'e MI stanton ia reply 90
which the Genarel rosrec % thof Tor ne conversation
ppou the same sGhect ana said You an dets'and my
p.sitlon and conduct viii be clnfcfinsb.a 10 mat
nnaerstsndug:N that re the General, then expressed
repurnance 70 belns made a parry 10 ludeisi pro.
oeedng saving that be would expose himself 70 one
and Imprisonment by doing So ~ NE continuing 70 us
charge tne dulles Of Secretary Of War al ,f, after
,hs should have refoscd TO concur IA ts snspen
slon OF Mr. Stanton would he violation o. the
! Tenure OF Office bill thai IN fepy " TINS
bs tths Prcsidentl informed GENERAL Grant be hsd MOI
suspended Mr. stanton under tbe tenure o. um.s biiL
In, nv ylrius Of the powers conferred him ~ the
oonetiuop and that TO tbs One AND impflson mebt
no ,,he pres,dcnt would pay whatever hne was Imposed
and submit Ia whatever imprisonment might os silndt
.ssus b o, the GsDers thai they continued the con-
ysrsaton for some time, discussing the law ~ length,
thu, they npsllv separated v,hou, having reached
the General would wee the prssdsnt again on hends 4
Ia reply General Grant admitted thai the conversa
had occurred aud said that q, the trs conveTsseI ~
had sivsn "a No bw opinion 70 the Preside " ~, II
zoe event q scn.sonsusrsne. BY we ssotNs =
py the cosft ths, Nj stanton would have te, appeal
the eouvs 10 rs,nsts,s him N once; that ths GINS
| would vsrAn in IN .hey could be dispfred ssd Vi
,Soszh, 20 ssd had ssrssd .Ss, Il he Ssa change HI
| mad be would no,fs the President y time 70 snshl
I'm 70 make another .ppVntnsnt Bat ~ ,hs time 2
-: na *. az" 'S.. . sS S.% su s's
"a usssoSyss s"s thAt .hlz had Isaae-d hln W d