South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1868-02-21


of tae President to General Grant was sent to
! Congress to-day. The President says
1.-The extraordinary character of your let
I ter of the 3rd would seem to preclude reply,
but the manner in which publicity has been
] given ie-the ccrrespondeucc whereof that
Z letter forms a part, and the grave questions
, involved induce this mode of giving pro-
Z per sequel to the communications wirich
I have passed between Us The statements
of five meinbers ofthe Cabinet, present dur
; ing the conversation on the / tth ), aud cop
les OF their lcttcrs tonne are enclosed.
! - y GU speak of nay letter Of the 3lstult.
I as 4 reiteration of the "many and gross
I misrepTesentitiJns" contained in certain
isnewspapor articles, and re-asscrt tho cor
+ rectness of the statement contained in your
3 coaimunieaiion3o the 18th lritimo, adding
J (and here l. give yourown words "Any-
! thing in yours in reply to IL 10 the contrary
notwithstanding" When a controversy
! upon matters Of fact reaches the point to
" lich this has been brou sht, further asscr-.
! titan or denakbptweon the immediate par
Ties SHOULD cds'se, especially when, upon CT
tker side 1T loses the character of the re-
/ speciful discussion which is required by the
relations in which the parties stand to. each
J other, anil dcgennratcs in tone and temper
la such Il case, if there is nothing TO rely
upon but thaopposing statements, conclu-
siou5 must be drawn from the statements
alone, and from whatever intrinsic proba-
biii;ics they aT1rd in favor of or against eli
Their OF the parties | should not shrink
from this test in this CONTROVERSY but for
tunately it is not left TO this test alone
There were five Cabinet officers present at
the conversation, the details of which in my
letter of the 18th uitimo you allow yourself
to say contains "many and gross misrepre-
sentations." These gentlemen heard that
conversation, and have read my statement.
They speak for themselves, and leave the
proof without word of comment
81 deem it proper, before concluding this
communication, to notice some of thestatc-
ments contained in your letter.
lyon say that performance of the pro-
mise alleged to have been made by YOU to
the President would have involved Gre
Si>tancc 20 law and an inconsistency with
the whole history of my connection with
the suspension Of Mr.. Stanton" You then
state that You had fears the President
would, on the removal of Mr. Stanton, APP
point some one in his place who would en-
harrass the army in carrying out the re-
construction acts, and add at was To pre-
ycnt sach an appointment that | accepted
the Office of Secretary of War al interim,
and not for The purpose of enabling You TO
get rid Of Mr.. Stanton By my Withholding
it from him IN opposition to law, or, not
doing so myself, guaranteeing it to Que who
would, as the statements aud assumptions
in your communication pleasantly indicate
was sought"
''Firs. Of all, you here admit that from
the very beginning Of what you term. "the
whole history Of your connection with Mr..
Slntou's suspension you intended to cir
cumvcnt the President; il was to carry out
itat intent that you accepted the appoint
mcnt; this was in your mind at the time
of your acceptance. IL was not, then. In
obedience t. the order Of your superior, a.
has heretofore been supposed, that you as
sumcd the duties Of tue Office You knew
it was the Presidents purpose 70 prevent
Air. Stanton from resuniug (thc Office Of
Secretary Of Var, and You intended 20 de-
icat That purpose You accepted the Office
not in The interest Of the President. but of
Mr. Stanton. IL this purpose, 50 enter
taiued 5y you, had been confined to YOUR
seif-it, when accepting the Office, You had
done SO with mental reservation ~ frus.
trlfe Che President. lit would have been n
tlcit deception. u the ethics of some Der
sons, suel tyursc - allowable; but YOU
cannot stand even On that iionhbie
ground. Inc 'hi,tory Of your connection
"iih .hi3 transaction a. written b. Yourself
places you in different pr1diclm ont, and
sh ws that you moi only concerted your de-
sigu from Tho President. but induced him
- suppose thot you would carry out bis
purpose ~ keep Mr. Stanton ont 1T Office
by tanning 20 yourself, AFTER an q, tempt at
restoration hy sine Senate. Go as Co require
Mr. Stanton 70 establish his right by iudi-
olal decision.
Qaoda- from Grants letter, Cieprotiden, save.
"Tho poiut i7, that before YOU changed
your views you lgd secretly determined to
10 che very thing you 40 B-tdid-surrcn-
der the Office g. Mr.. Stanton You NAV
have changed your viewsas 10 Che hw. but
YOU certainly did nor change your views as
90 tha course you bad narked 0ut for your
se.f FROM tbs beginning
The President astuts st some ien. .,h te legal
i.y ofhis order TO Grant 70 disregard Stanton e
order. making ths point Chat Grant viii not o.
hey DIE direct orders bat obey Dis indircc, Or
des5. The rrcs.icn. concludes
"Wilhout further comment upon the in
subordinate attitude which you have assum-
cd, ! am o. q loes o. know how you can re-
liesc yourself from obedience 70 the orders