Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-02-20
THE GRANT-JoHNSoN CORES.
PONDENCE.

We lack space for long documents, and IN
this case can only give the substance of the
FIRST part Of the correspondence.
The President having given verbal directions
70 Gen. Grant not to obey any Instructions Of
Mr.. Stanton purPorting to be by the order of
the President, unless be knew them to have
the sanction Of the Executive, the General
asked to have the order in writing. This was
given, aud Gen. Grant wrote long letter. CIV
ing bis reasons for not obeying the order ana
attempts to explain his failure to surrender his
trust 70 the President, instead Of to Mr.. Stan
ton. and controverts the statement that he had
acknowledged before the Cabinet that he had
pledged himself to give the President timely
warning Of his course.
The President. in his letter Of the 3lst jan
uary, gives history Of the case, and his YER
sion Of what occurred at the Cabinet meeting
on the l4th Of January To that letter Gen.
Grant replied on the Sd instant, and before the
President had time to peruse it. much less re-
ply thereto, the correspondence was hurried in
to Congress. This letter of Gen. Grant was
not only disrespeCtful in tone, but insubordi-
nate in fact. We regret we have not space
for it,
On the first page of to-day's paper will be
found the reply of the President, dated the
10th. which was sent to the House Of Repre-
seniatives on the llth, and shows up beauti-
I fully Grants inconsistencies and prevarication.
/ In the Presidents version Of the conversation
Of the 18th and the then admissions Of Gen.
l Grant. Mr.. Johnson is fully sustained by the
/ FIVE Secretaries who were present.
We subioin the rejoinder Of Gen. Grant, and
the reader cannot fail to observe his backing
down, and lis disclaimer Of INSTRUMENTATION
and disreSpect
LITTER FROM GENERAL GRANT.
The following from General Grant was sent
t, the House Of Representatives Tuesday by
the Presidents
To the House Of Representatives The ac-
cnmpanving letter from General Grant, received
since the transmission 10 the House Of Repre-
SentativeS of my communication Of this date
is submitted 10 the House as a part of the COR
rrspnudence referred to in the resolution Of the
10th instant.
ANDREW Johnson.
Washington, D. c., Feb. II. 1868.
HEApQ'ES Army OF THE UNITED STATES
Washington d. c., Feb, II, 1868.
His Excellcucy A. Johnson, President Of tn,
United States.-Sir: have the honor to ac'
knowledge the receipt of your communication
Of the 10th instant accompanied by the state
meuts Of five cabinet ministers Of their recol-
lection &C what occurred in cabinet meeting
on the l4th Of January.
Without admitting any thing in these where
thew differ from anything heretofore stated by
me propose 90 notice only that portion OF
Your Communication wherein | am charged
with insubordiuation. / think 1t will be plain
To- the reader Of my letter of the 30th Of Jan
uarv that dill net propose 20 diSnbey any L.
gal order Of the President distinctly given. hut
only gave an interpretation of what would be
regarded as satisfactory evidence Of the PreSi-
dents sanction to orders communicated by the
Secretary of War. will say here that your
letter of the 10th instant contains the first in
timation have had that You did not accept
that Interpretation.
Now fr reasons for giving that interprcta-
ton: To was clear To me before my letter Of
January 3Oth was written, that |. the person
having more public business to transact with
the Secretary of War than any other Of the
Presidents subordinates, was the only one who
had been instructed to disregard the authority
of Mr. Stanton where his authority was denied
as agent Of the President.
On the 9th Of January | received a letter
from the Secretary of War copy herewith
directing me To- furnish escort % public trea-
sure from the Rio Grand to New Orleans etc,
at the request Of the Secretary Of the Treasu-
~ 20 him.
laisoSend observation-disclosures showingrecog-
niuonof Mr.. Stanton as Secretary of War by both
/ the Secretary ofthe Treasury aud p NJ Gene
raj. IN AN ofwhich cases the Secretary ofWar had
TO call upon me TO make the orders requested
or give the information desired. and where his
authority to 10 81 Is derived, in my view, as
agent Of che President
With an order so clearly ambiguous as that
I Of the President here referred 20. Il was my
duty D. inform the President Of my interpre;a-
| ton Of IT, and % abide by that Interpretation
until received other orders DiScnimiug any
/ intention now OF beretof3re Of dis1bcying any
/ legal order of the President distinctly commu-
uicated, | remain,
Very respectfully,
Your 0h'dt serv't.
| L. 5 GRANT. Gen.
/ TIE letters accompanying are from the Post
office Department asking fr information with
respect 10 change If military posts, in order
to the protection Of the mails. The next is a
I letter from the Treasury Department asking a
military escort for the trHHSj'1 Of public