The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-02-08
THE WAR OFFICE.

WASHINGTON, February 4.-Stanton, in q
letter transmitting CORES pondence between
Grant and the President, says that he has
had no correspondence with the President
since the 18th of August last; has discharged
the duties of the War Office without personal
dent; no orders had been issued from the
Department in the name of the President.
Grants letter to the President, dated jan
uary %, requests the President to give writ
ten instructions, which had previously been
given verbally, that he should not obey any
order from Stanton unless he knew it came
from the President. He says: Il am com
PEELED to ask these written instructions in
consequence of many gross misrepresenta-
tons affecting my personal honor circulating
through the press and purporting to come
from the President, and concerning actions
which occurred either with the President pri-
vately in his office or in Cabinet meeting
what is written admits of no misunderstand-
ing. In view Of the misrepresentation re-
ferred to, it will be well to state the facts in
the cage. Some time after l assumed the
duties of Secretary Of War ad interim, the
President asked my views as to the course
Stanton would have to pursue, in case the
Senate should not concur in his suspension,
70 obtain possession Of the Office My reply
was, IN substance, that Stanton would have to
appeal to the Courts TO reinstate him, illus
|trating my position by citing the grounds
taken in the case of the Baltimore Police |
Commissioners. In that case did not doubt |
|the right Of Governor Swami to remove the |
|old Commissioners and appoint their success
|sors. As the old Commissioners refused to
give up, however, l contended no measure
WAS left but TO appeal to a Court. Finding
|the President DESTROYS to keep Stanton out of
|ofice whether sustained in his suspension or
mot, stated that 1 would look particularly
Into the Tenure of Office bill, and if should
change my mind in this particular case l
would inform him Of the fact. Consequently,
on reading the Tenure of Office bill closely, l
found could not, without violating the law,
cAosV " NdCdtt OI!ICt lle UlOHleut stan |
ton was reinstated by the Senate, even though
the President ordered me to remain, which
he never did. Taking this view of the SUBJ
lect, and learning on Saturday, the 18th, that
the Senate had taken up the subject Of Stan
tons suspension, l had some conversation
With General Sherman and members of my |,
staff, in which l stated the law. When they
eft me decided as to my action should Stan
ION be reinstated, and l intended to inform
he President for the sole purpose Of making =
ny decision known. In this | fulfilled my
promise made in our last private conversation
IN the subject. The President, however, in
tsad Of accepting my view of the require
nents Of the Tenure of Office bill, contended
hat he had suspended Stanton under author
~ given by the Constitution, and could no.
e governed by the Act said the law was
inding ON me until set aside by competent
tribunal. An hour was consumed, each re-
'eratin2 his views on the subject, until. get
ing late. the President said he would sec me
gain. A doubt never entered my mind
bout the Presidents understanding my posi-
on, namely: If the Senate refused to con-
" in the suspension of Stanton, my powers
. Secretary of War ad interim would =
ease'
General Grant then refers to some talk
bout the appointment of Governor Cox Of ~
hio as Secretary of War. He then refers
what took place in Cabinet meeting. He
ys the President gave utterance, in the /
'nversation above alluded to, to certain ex-
essions. stating his understanding that r
rant should hold Office until removed by the =
ourt or till he should resign and allow an
her Secretary to be installed. Grant, after
airing the President through, stated the
nversation as given above, and in no wise -
mitted the correctness of the Presidents y
ltement Of the conversation. i
The President Endorsed on Grants letter
isten order not to obey the orders Of STAN y,
! unless he knew such order was authorized ~
the President. on
Grant replies that under the law he must
~ the orders of the War Department while