The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-12

Presidcnt Johnson 10 General Grant.
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1858.
GxSERn--The extraordinary character OF your Ioter
or the Sd instant would seem 10 preclude any reply
my part, but the manner which publicity has been
given TO the correspondence OF which that letter forms
part and the grave questions which are involved in
duce me 10 take this mode Of giving proper sequel
70 the communications which have passed between
the statements OF tho two members Of the Cabinet who
we're present the occasion OF on tho
l4h u Copies of the letters which they have addressed
10 NE upon the subject herewith enclosed
You speak OF my letter OF the 3lst ut reeration
OF The many and gross Misrepresentation contained In
certain newspaper articles aud reassort tho correctness
OF the statements contained IN communication Of
the 2sh ult., adding-and here give your words
anything in yours in reply TO to the contrary
wAhsandng." When controversy upon matters of
fact reaches the point which this has been brought
further assertion denial between the immediate par
ties should cease especially when upon either side 10
loses tho character OF the respectful discussion which
required by the relation In which the parties stand
each other and degenerates in and temper In such
a case, II there 10 nothing to roly upon but the
opposing statements, conclusions must be drawn from
those statements alone and from whatever intrinsic
probabilities they afford in favor Of against either Of
the parti should not shrink from this controversy
But fortunately IL not lett TO this test alone. There
were five Cabinet officers present at the conversation
the details OF which, in my letter OF the 2Sth uL. you
allow yourself 10 say contains smany and gross misrep
resantations." These gentlemen heard that
ton and read my statement They speak for them.
selves aud leave the proof without ord Of comment
deem 1t proper before concluding tins communIca
letter You say that performance OF the promises al
legged 10 have been made by 10 the President would
have involved resistance TO Law and an Inconsistency
with the whole history OF my connection with the
pension OF Mr. Stanton You then state that you had
foars tho President would the removal OF Mr. STAN
ton, appoint some one in his place who would emoarass
the army in carrying out the reconstruction acts and
add 1T was to prevent such appointment that
ceped the pllce OF secretary Of War al Interim, and
not for The purpose OF enabling you TO get rid OF Mr.
Stanton by my Withholding ii fron him, In opposition
one who would, as the statements and assumptions
IN your COMMUNICATION plainly Indicate was
the very beginning Of what you term 'be whole his
tory OF your connection h Mr. Santons suspension,
you intended TO circumyent the President II 10
carry out that intent that you accepted tho appoint
meas This was IN your mind al the limo Of your
cepance II was not then, in obedience to the order
your SUPERIOR has heretofore been supposed that
you assumed the duties OF the office You knew il
was The Pre5idents purpose 10 prevent Mr. Stanton
from resamieg the oice Of Secretary OF War; ana you
1ce not in the interest Of tho President but OF Mr.
stanton. II this purpose, 90 entertained by you, had
been confined TO yourself, II when accepting office
you had donc with mental reservation TO Illustrate
the President, II would have been tact deception In
the ohcs OF some Persons such crime Ia allowable but
you cannot stand even upon that questionable ground
The history o: your connection with this transaction, as
ment and shows that You not only concealed your do.
from tho President, bat induced him 70 suppose that
you would carry out his purpose TO keep Mr. Stanton out
OF Office by retaining il yourself after an attempted
restoration by the Senate, 80 to require Mr. stanton
10 establish his right by judicial decision
l now give that part OF this history as written by
yourself IN your letter OF the 2sh ut :'Somc time
after assumed The duties o. Secretary OF War I'D
interim, tl.e President ASKED inc my as 10 the
course Mr. Stanton would have to pursue In the
Senate should not concur In his suspensop 10 obtain
possession OF his ONCE. My reply In substance that
MIR. stanton would have sprea. 20 the courts
to reinslae him, Illustrating my position BY citing the
ground had taken Ia the case Of the Baltimore Police
Commissioners Now al that time, a you admit in
your letter the Sd instant, held The olce the
very object Of defeating an appeal 70 the courts In
that letter you say that ia accepting the offce
tive was 10 prevent The President from appointing some
other peraon who would retain posse ION and thus
make judicial proceedings necessary. Yon knew the
President unwilling trust the once with
who would not, BY holding 4, compel Mr stanton 70
in this interview some time after YOU ', &C.
cepted the olice the President, not content
with your silence, desired expression OF your
views end you answered him that Mr. stanton "mouId
have 10 appeal 10 thecoursf " the President had
posed confidence before he knew your views, and
that confidence had eeon violated mlght have been
said he made mistake; but vocation or confidence
rspossd saferr that conversation mistake OF his
Of yours II 10 tie fact only that needs bs stated
that ut az dse OF this conversation y0u did not intend
to hoi the Office with the purpose o. forcing Mr. stan.
ton into court. but did hold It then aud accepted
4 prevent that course from being carried out Ia other
words you said to tho President, that 10 the proper
course" and you said yourself, =. have accepted this
| Office. and nov hold il TO defeat tina, course 7
Tie excuse you make ia afubsequens paragraph OF
that letter Of tho 18th ui,imo, that afterwards you
| changed your views TO what would be y proper
coarse moth ing 20 40 w, the point under
sheraton. The point H. tsa. before you changed your
views you had secretly determined 10 DO the very thing
which At last you dld-sanonde the Office 70 Nj. STAN
ton You may have changed your We've as 20 the law,
but certainly did not change yoHg views as 20 the
you had marked OFT fof Yourself from the be-
4 ginning .- . -.
Of The III instant that the performance OF the promises
/ which 10 is alleged we're made bv YOU would have 10
| VOWED you IN tho resistance OF law. know OF no
out your promises In good faith rendered your resgna
ton when you concluded not 70 pe made party In any
nymci Ia this conclusion by your orders direct
ng disobey orders from the Secretary OF War my
superior and your subordinate without having counter
| manded his authority 10 Issue the orders an ~ ais
| obey. On the 2<tb MI you addressed mote to tns
President requesting in writing an order given you yer
stanton as Secretary OF War until you knew from
| the President himself that they were MS orders
| ON the goth, IN compliance With your request,
| did give you instructions In writing not 70 obsy
| any order from the War Department assumed 10 u
order lie known by the General commanding th'
| armies OF the United states 10 have been author
issd by the Executive There are SON. orders which
Secretary Of War may Issue without the authority OF th'
| President There are oherS which be issues amply NJ
the agent Of the President aud which puport 10 bo
direction OF the Ires dent For such olderg tue Pest
dent /. responsible, and be should therefore know ant
understand whas they are before swing ouch direction
Accompanies tho published correspondence TIA, he Ia
| had no core pondsnce with the President snce .h
i2th Of August .ass apd be iarhs' s Az. Wa =
| has continued 20 dicharge Thorn Without anl
personal or written communication with no Pres idsn,
and ne adds orders have been Issued from this do
pat,mcn, n the name VI the President wlth my know
lodge, and have received no orders from HIN
| IA thus seems that Mr. Stanton nov discharges tn
duties OF the War Department without any reference Y
me President and withous using his name. NJ otds
10 voa had only reference TO orders assumed 10 be ssIe
BY the President. II would appear from Nr stanton
letter that you have received no such order from him
In your note 10 the President OF the 18th ultmo,
which YOU acknowledge the rceelp, OF the written crds
| OF the Goth you say that you have been informed y
Mr. stanton that he has not received any ordsf nihn
hie authority 70 issue orders 70 the army "a
| cordlng 10 the practice Of the department., an
| vtats that while this authority 70 the War pspsr'
| ment 10 not countermApded, u will Be satslactor
| evidence 10 me that any orders issued from the wa
Department by direction Of he President are suthorlss
| BY the Erecuiven The President issues sn ORDER
you TO obey no order from the War Department pufpo
ing to DO made ''by tho direction Of the President
until you have referred 10 10 him for bis spprovsk 10
yspy that you have received The Presidents ordsr an
L fl~ts~~ MI ffUfl linz IN