Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-02-14

instatement, and that he also admitted that
he had agreed TO meet him, for the purpose
of taking decisive action, on Monday the
18th inst
He also says that Gen. Grant called upon
him on Wednesday morning the 18th inst,
in company with Gen. Sherman, and re-
marked while there, that an article publish
ed in the National IatelLgencer of that date,
purporting to be a report Of the eonversa-
ton the day before did him great injustice.
After Gen. Grant had withdrawn, johnson
says he read the article in the lateliigmcer,
and found it substantially correct. He af-
terwards caused the article TO be read TO four
of the five members Of the Cabinet, who
we're present and they concuued in the nc
curacy Of its statements,
General Grant replies to the President
under date of February 3rd, reiterating his
former statements and concluding as follows
From our conversation and my written pro-
test of August /, 1867, against the removal of
Mr.. Stanton, you must have known that my
greatest objection 10 his removal was the fear
that some one would be appointed in his stead
who would, by opposition to the laws relating
to the restoration of the Southern States to
their proper relation to the Governme1, EN-
barrass the army in the performance Of the
duties especially imposed upon it by the laws,
and that it was to prevent such an appoint
meht that ! accepted the appointment of Sec
retary I War al interim, and not for the
purpose Of enabling you to get rid of Mr..
Stanton by my withholding i from him IN
opposition 10 the law, or, not doing so myself.
surrender to one who, as the statement and
assumptions in your communication plainly
indicate, was sought and it was to avoid this
doubt, as well as to relieve you ircm the per,
sonnl embarrassment in which MIR. Stanton s
reinstatement would place you that urged the
appointment of Gov. Cox, believing that It
would be agreeable to you and also 10 Alr, stan
ton satisfied as was that Il was the good ofthe
country. and not the office, the latter desired.
On the 18th ultimo, ia the presence OF Gen.
Sherman, | stated TO you that ! thought Mr..
Stanton would resign, but did not say | would
advise him to do so. On the 18th did agree
with Gen Sherman 10 60 and advise him 10
that course, and on the 18th | had an inter
view alone with Mr.. Stanton, which led me TO
the conclusion that any advice TO him OF this
kind would be useless, and SO informed Ten.
Sherman. Before | consented to advise Mr..
Stanton TO resign, | understood from him, in
a conversation on the subject, Immediately
after his reinstatement, that it was his opn
ion that the act of Congress entitled ''An Act
temporarily to supply vacancies in the Execu-
tive Department in certain cases., approved
February 20, 1868, was repealed by subse-
quent legislation, which materially Influenced
his action. Previous TO this time had no
doubt that the Law OF 1863 was still in force,
AID Notwithstanding my action, a fuller ex-
animation of the law leaves question in my
mind whether it is or is not repealed, This
being the case, / could not now advise his
resignation, lest the same danger ! appre
hended from his first removal might follow.
The course you have understood agreed to
pursue was IN violation of law, and that with.
out orders from you. while the course | will
pursue, and which / never doubted you fully
understood, was in accordance with law and
not in disobedieuce to any orders of my su-
perior. And now, Mr. President, where my
honor as a soldier and integrity as man have
been so violently assailed, pardon me for say
ing that | can but regard this whole matter
from beginning 10 end rs an attempt TO in
volve me in the resistance Of law, for which
you hesitated TO assume the responsibility, in
order thus to destroy my character before the
country. | am, in a measure, confirmed in
this conclusion by your recent orders direct
ing me to disobey orders from the Secretary
Of War, my superior, and your subordinate,
without having countermanded his authority,
| am te disObey. With assurance, Mr.. Pres.
ident, that nothing less than yindication OIL
my personal honor and character could have
induced this correspondence on my part,
have he holi''r 20 be, vs~y reaPeotF"lly, your
obedient servant,
q. S. GRANT, General