The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-31
GEN. Gra.t and Mr.. johnson.
TIE QUESTION OF vERAoITY IN THE NATTER OF
GIVING UP THE WAR OFFICE.
lFrom the View York Herald, Jan. q. ]

From the New York Herald, Jan e
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-ll P. N.
i have taken some little trouble to get at the
truth through all this complication of assertion,
contradiction and Justification, and though do
not, like the Timess philosopher state il on my
own responsibility" have not the slightest hesi-
tstion IN asserting, on the responsibility OF others,
that the statement I am about TO give is "the
ruth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth" so far as comeatable. On Tuesday, Jan.
ID. Mr.. Stanton was reinststed in the war Office,
and on the same day there was a cabinet meeting,
at which Grant was present, not by request Of the
president, but OF his own free will and motion
Before the meeting Grant had sent a note to the
president informing him of what had occurred.
Tie note was delivered by Col. Comstock who at
the same time remarked that "Grant would him.
self shortly see the president" The latter, In
answer, said he supposed Grant would be at the
cabinet meeting.
This is the only thing that was said on the oc-
cason that could be taken TO mean a request to
Gen. Grant to attend the cabinet council. Grant,
however, though protesting to be no longer sec
rotary of war. went to the council, and was there,
in the presence OF the cabinet. Intercepted as to
why he had broken faith with his superior by sur
rendering the war Office to stanton contrary to
express understanding. 1t has been repeatedly
said that Grant then and there denied that he had
ever had any understanding with the president on
the subject; that he told the president that he
had given him notice Of what he intended to do
on the Saturday preceding, and that he had not
promised TO call again on Monday preceding the
reinstatement. / am sorry that exact justice will
not permit this pretty little fabric Of fasif-
cation to stand. There is on record ire
frsgable evidence to show what Grant
did say and do at that memorable cabi-
net meeting. There is not the slightest doubt
that Grant admitted in the presence Of the cab-
net, in a promise either TO resign the secretary
shipOf war compel Stanton TO get msnd anus
to put him (Grant) out Grant was very much
confused and embarrassed at the meeting, aud
confessed that lie bad reiterated the promise on
the preceding Saturday, when requested by the
president TO give a decided answer one way or the
other. He confessed, also, that he had undoubt
eddy agreed TO wait on the president again on
Monday, and excused himself in a stammering
way by saying that he had been engaged with
Gen. Sherman and "other little matters" that
day, and was thus prevented from keeping the en-.
gagement. He told the president that he was
afraid Of the provisions of the civil tenure of.of
fee bill, and that he did not wish to encounter fine
and imprisonment by opposing Stanton's rein
statement. The president reminded General
Grant that he had said that he 1.-THE
presdent) would bear all the penalties and re-
sponsibility that might be connected with Oppos.
ing Stantons reinstatement under the civil tenure
bill; that, if there should be any fine imprison.
ment resulting from carrying out his 1.-THE presi.
dent's) views in the matter he 1.-THE presIdent)
would suffer them himself, and thus relieve Grant
from any danger whatever. Ii was also pointed
out to General Grant that on the Monday before
stanton's reinstatement he Grant could not have
been engaged with General Sherman, as the latter
had called on the president that day, while Grant
had not done so. To this Grant made no reply.
He was also reminded that he was present at the
presidents reception on Monday evening when
be said nothing whatever to the president about
his change OF views, but greeted Mr.. johnson in
the usual way.
On Friday, January IL, another cabinet meeting
was held, and, after the regular deliberations,
long editorial published in the National Intelli.
gencer of the 18th, giving an account of the I'M
ders'anding between the president and Grant,
and corrOboratng the presidents version of the
affair was read in presence Of Secretary McClin-
toch, Secretary Browning, Secretary Welles,
Postmaster General Randall, and Mr.. Johnson.
Each OF these cabinet officers stated then and
there that the statement of the case as presented
IN that article was correct but that il did not go
FAR enough, nor represent the matter in as bad
shape as the truth would justify. Secretary
Browning remarked that he had kept pretty full
record Of the proceedings OF the cabinet meeting
OF Tuesday and OF Grants admissions at that time,
and that the lntehgencer article stated the truth
when it said that Grant had promised either to
resign and give back possession OF the war Office
to the president in time to place the latter in
the same position as when he appointed
Grant secretary dd interim, or to compel Stanton
TO resort to legal proceedings to obtain possession
under the civil tenure BILL Secretary McCulloch
remarked that he was surprised that Grant acted
in such bad faith Postmaster General Randall
declared that the course of the general astonshed
him that he did not expect TO find him so much
"the sneak" and the decever. Secretary weles
declared that II appeared 10 him the true reason
why Grant promised TO call on Monday, the l4th
was because lie (Grant) thought that the Senate
would pass the reinstating resolution on Saturday,
and that thus the whole question would have been
decided before the interview appointed for NJ IN
day could take place. By that time Grant would
have turned over the war Office to Stanton and
the president could not get possession except by
resort to legal proceedings. The fact that the
vote on this subject did not occur until Monday
spoiled his scheme, and hence Grant did not call
upon the president on Monday. This il the sub
ject of a conversation that occurred between four
members Of the cabinet and the president after
the regular meeting on Friday.