The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-02-28
FREMONT SANDUSKY COUNTY, OHIO FRIDAY FEBRUARY g. 1863

timated to him that we would like him
to withdraw from our privy councils.
He did not take the hint. We then
requested him to resign and he refused.
We then suspended him under the con-
stitutional power, which we have 70
suspend or remove a member of oul
cabinet. The act of suspension was
also not in conflict with the tenure OF
Office bill, though we did not therefore
recognize its constitutionality as mat |
ter Of consistency. We sent reasons for
our action to the Senate, but that body
pretended not to consider these reasons
sufficient, and agreed to re-reinstate
Mr. Stanton in Office We still waited
hoping Mr.. Stanton would see the pro-
priety of resigning himself.
The President then continued. After
waiting reasonable time, we thought
proper to delay the order for the re-
moval of Mr.. Stanton, and TO appoint
General Thomas Secretary of War, ad
interim, this is the whole story.
Cor.-"Was this step discussed in
the cabinet council, Mr.. President"
Pres" No sir, not precisely; a
general policy was agreed upon some
time ago, and the removal to-day is in
accordance Herewith. I have just re-
ceived copy Of the resolution adopted
by the Senate tonight in executive ses-
sion. The President here read the reso-
luton printed elsewhere"
Cor" What will the Senate do Mr..
President under that resolution if you
still insist upon having Gen. Thomas
act as Secretary ad interim"
Pres.-"I l don't see that they eau do
anything, the resolution itself is the end
of the matter, so far as the Senate is
concerned, unless the House presents
articles Of impeachment, and the Senate
undertakes to try the executive and re-
solves itself into a high court of inn
peachment."
Cor.-"Do you think Congress really
will attempt impeachment, Mr.. Presi-
dents"
Pres.-"1 don't know, indeed, nor do
l care. 1t would make very little differ
ence to me"
The correspondent here asked what
the President would do in the event of
the passage of Mr.. Edmund's bill of
suspension, to which the President an
swered substantially:
Sir, I would not obey the law if
they attempted to suspend rue. The
law is clearly unconstitutional. There
is point against it which you gentle
men Of the press seem to have alto
gether overlooked. The bill of Senator
Edmunds to suspend preceding trial
would undoubtedly be an expost facto
law, SO far as my case would be con-
cerned. Such law is declared uncon-
stitutional by the very language of the
constitution ITSELF Ny offence, we will
suppose, is the removal of Mr.. Stanton.
THAT is an accomplished fact. Any
law prescribing penalty for that act
would be expost facto, and therefore
unconstitutional. How, therefore, can
Congress legally pass bill Of such
character
Cor.-"Remarked that certain Radicals
might argue that persistence in keep
ing Mr.. Stanton out of Office after the
Senate declaring his removal contrary
to law and after the proposed passage
of Mr.. Edmunds suspension bill, would
be bringing the question out Of the
operation of an expost facto law"
"The President replied that that
could not alter the case, as the offence
charged would still be the removal of
Mr.. Stanton, as an act performed be-
fore the passage of the proposed law.
In reply to an inquiry as to whether
the President had seen Gen. Thomas
since the interview of the latter with
Mr.. Stanton, the President said that be
had, and proceeded to state what ac-
cording to his information, had occur
red at that interview. Gen Thomas,
he said, waited upon Mr.. Stanton and
showed the Presidents order removing
Mr. Stanton and appointing Gen.
Thomas as Secretary of War Gd inte-
rim. Mr.. Stanton read the order and
asked Thomas whether he would be
obliged to vacate the Office forthwith.
Thomas said his instructions were to
assume control Immediately. Stanton
then said he would like to have time
to arrange and take away his papers
and documents, to which Thomas re-
piled that considerable time would be
allowed for such purpose. No time,
however, was fixed for Mr.. Stanton to
finish his arrangements.
The President repeatedly expressed
his utter Indifference as to what course
Congress might adopt on the impeach-
ment question, and in answer to part
ing remark of your correspondent that
the President might sleep soundly, in
spite of the threatened impeachment,
he said, laughingly;
81 don't think my slumbers will be
much disturbed by that fear. l shall
sleep soundly and awake refreshed"