The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-12
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON.
The Art and Mystery Of
Ingenious Lying,
ILLUSTRATED BIT
The President Of the United States.
Il Politicians Reply to a
SOLdier.

WARRINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE President this
afternoon sent the following letter to the
House Of Representatives, in accordance with
the resolution adopted yesterday.
Executive Mansion, FEB. IL, 1868.
9eneral,-The extraordinary character of
your letter of the Sd inst. would seem to
preclude any reply on my part. but
the manner in which publicity has
been given to the correspondence OF which
that letter forms part, and the grave ques-
tlons which are involved, induce me to take
this mode OF giving as proper sequel TO the
communications which have passed between
us the statements of the five members of the
Cabinet, who were present on the occasion of
our conversation on the 14th ultimo. Copies of
the letters which they have addressed to me
upon the subject, are accordingly herewith
enclosed. .rE s
You speak of my letter of the 3lst ultimo as
a reiteration of the many and gross misrepre-
sensations contained in certain newspaper ar
ticles, and reaSSert the correctness of the
statement contained in your communication
OF the 18th ult., adding-and here give your
own words-"anything in yours in reply to it
10 the contrary, notwithstanding" When con-
troversy upon matters of fact reaches the point
to which this has been brought, further asser-
tion or denial between the immediate parties
She uld cease, especially when upon either side
1t loses the character of the respectful dis
eussion which is required by the relation in
which the parties stand TO each other, and de.
generates in tone and temper. In such a
case, if there is nothing to rely upon but the
opposing statements, conclusions must be
drawn from those statements alone, and from
whatever intrinsic probabilities they offer in
favor or against either of the parties. should
not shrink from this controversy, but fortu-
nately it is not left to this test alone. There
were i've Cabinet officers present at the con-
veTsation, the details of which are given in
10Y letter of the 18th ult,
You allow yourself to say it contains many
and gross misrepresentation. These gentle
men heard that conversation and bavs read
my statement. They speak for themselves
and leave the proof without word Of COM
ment.
deem It proper before concluding this COM
mun'c cation, to notice some of the statements
contained in your letter. You say that per-
forf;ance of the promises alleged to have been
made by you to the President would have in
volved a resistance to law and an inconsisten-
cy with the whole history of your connection
with the suspension of Mr.. Stanton. You then
state that you had fears that the President
wSuld, by the removal of Mr.. Stanton, appoint
sons one in his place who would embarrass
the army in carrying out the Reconstruction
act, and add, ut was to prevent such an APP
pointment that l accepted the Office of Secre-
tary of War dd interim, and not for the pur-
pose OF enabling you to get rid of Mr.. Stanton
py my Withholding IL from him in opposition
70 the law, or not doing so myself, surrender it
70 one who would as the statement and as
sumptions In your communication plainly in
dieate, be sought first of ALL
You here admit that from the very beginning
Of what you term the "whole history" Of your
connection with Mr.. Stanton's suspension. Won
intended to circumyenr the President II was
TO carry out that intent that you accepted the
appointment. This was in your mind at the
time of your acceptance. 1t was not, then. in
obedience to the order of your superior, as has
heretofore been supposed, that you assumed
the duties of the office. You knew it was he
Presidents purpase TO prevent Mr.. Stanton
from Eesuming the Office of Secretary OF War
aud yon intended to defeat that purpose. Yor
accepted the Office not In the interest of tn;
President but of Mr.. Stanton. If the purpost
50 entertained by You had been confined t
yourself If when accepting the office you had