Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-03-04
rHE .rRksIDknr On THE ISSUE.

THE rREsIDkNT On TIlElIssUE.
The following is the tclegraphic report Of the
Presidents position on the great issue between
himself and Congress, growing out0f the Stan.
ton-Grant afIair. Let him stand % the senti-
ments md resolves expressed, and " win ex.
tort praise md thanks and gratitude from cv.
cry lover ofithe country and Of the Constitu-
tion, in tho land aaaa
NEW York, Feb %. The Hcyulds Wash
ington correspondent had an interview with
President johnson late last night relative to
the removal OF Secretary Stanton. oThe COR
respondent remarked that the country was
surprised at bis action, YI
!. The President smiled and inquired, s'WeA,
what do. the people say?s suppose they are
surprised, but have only done what had de-
terlnined on long ago." da3 EeIagln-s
/ I, Correspondent.-''The removal, then, is not
in pursuance OF q recent determination on your
part, Mr.. President" saigss8 an 9aH
President" Not at all, sir. + The people
seem to have mistakenly course altogether in
this matter. never had but one determine
ton on the subject, but have acted carefully,
prudently aud moderately. Perhaps / have
been too slow about removing Stanton, but not
because feared the bugbear Of Impeachment,
or that delayed because Of anything Congress
might do, Nothing that body could dO--at-
tempt or carry out-would intimidate or sur
prise me- know they are capable of doing
anything. delayed final action solely to let
the country see and understand the position of
Mr.. Stanton. We iatimated to him that we
would like him to withdraw from our privy
council. He did not take the hint. We then
requested him to resign. He refused. We
then suspended him. under the constitutional
power We have to suspend or remove mem.
Der of the Cabinet. The act of suspension was
also not in conflict with the tenure OF Office
bill, and though We did not therefore recognize
its constitutionality, as matter OF courtesy we
sent reasons for our action ~ the Senate That
body pretended not to consider these reasons
sufficient and assumed 10 reinstatc Stanton in
office. Well. we still waited, hoping that Mr.
Stanton would himself sec the propriety Of re
signing. Generals Sherman and Grant offered
10 20 to Stanton aud advise him TO resign, and
here is letter which indicates what they pro-
posed" a# es.
The President read part of letter from
Gen. Sherman, dated jan. 18th, saying that he
and Gen. Grant proposed to 90 to Mr.. Stanton
aud say that for the good of the service and
"
be time to contrive ulterior matters.
The President them continu-d-.'After wait.
ing reasonable time. We to-day thought prop
er 10 order the removal of Mr.. Stanton aud TO
appoint Gen. Thomas Secretary Of War ad
interim. fs=s4.ta a. - G.# s##tf +##
Cor-"Was this step discussed in cabinet
council + .s s sa
Pres-"No sir. not precisely. A general
policy was agreed upon some time ago, and tho
removal to-day is in accordance Herewith.
have just received q copy of the resolution as
adopted By the Senate to night in executive
session" U sa 81
The President here read the resolution. s.
Cor-"what will the Senate do, Mr. Prex.
dent, under that resolution ii you still insist
upon having Gen. Thomas act rs Secretary nd
interim =" -.#f
Pres don't see that they can do any
thing. The resolution itself is the end Of the
matter 10 far as the Senate is concerned. I'M
less the House presents articles of impcach-
n.nt and the Senate undertakes 10 try the Ex.
ecutive and resolves itself into high court Of
Impeachment"
Cor" Do you think Congress really will
attempt impeachment ....s..f
Pres.-"f don't know. indeed. nor do care
It would make very little difference 10 me-"
Correspondents ucTS askcu what kuc IIehl-
dent would do IN the event Of the passage of
Mr. Edmunds' bill Of suspension, to which the
President answered substantially az follows:
!" Sir, would not obey the law il they at
tempted to suspend me. The law Is clearly
Unconstitutional There IL point against It
which you gentlemen Of the prcss seem to have
entirely overlooked. The bin of Senator Ed.
munds to suspend, during trial. would undoubt-
eddy be an ex post facto law. So far as my
case would BE- concerned, such law is de.
clared Unconstitutional BY the very law of the
Constitution itself Ny offence, we will sup
pose. Il the removal of Mr. Stanton. That il an
accomplished fact. Any law prescribing pen
atty for that act would be ex post facto, and
therefore unconstitutional. How. therefore.
can Congress legally pass a bill Of such char.
acser as that" .@.9.s. -.
Correspondent remarked that certain Radi.
Gals might argue that q persistence in keeping
Mr.. Stanton out of Office, after the Senats de-
claring his removal contrary 10 law. and after
the proposed passage Of Mr. Edmunds suepen-
sion bill. would be bringing the question out Of
the operation Of the ex post facto law. e...,
| The President replied, that could not alter
the case, m the offence charged would still be-
the removal of Mr.. Stanton, an act performed
before the passage Of the proposed law. ..a
In reply to inquiry a. to whether the Presi-
dent had seen Gen, Thomas since the interview
Of the latter with Dir. Stanton, he said yea =
and proccedcd to state what had occurred in
that interview. Gen. Thomas, be said. waited
upon Mr.. Stanton, and showed to him the or.
der Of the President removing him and mp.