Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-02-14
GEN. GRANT and rHE PRESIDENT.


The latest event of public interest has
been the publication Of the correspondence
between the President and Gen. Grant in
relation to the restoration Of Secretary Stan
ton, and the promises alleged 10 have been
made By Grant that he would either resign
his position as Secretary ofWar ad interim,
or compel Mr. Stanton to obtain possession
of the office by legal process, should the
Senate resolve to restore him.
The correspondence on this point, as sub
mitted TO Congress by the Secretary Of War,
embraces two letters from Gen. Grant and
one from the President
The correspondence opens with letter from
General Grant to the President under date OF
January 18th, in which he requests the
President to give him, IN writing, the in
structlou be had previously given him
verbally, not TO obey an7 order from the
Hon. r., NJ Stanton, Secretary of War,
unless he Grant knew il came from the
President He states that he Is induced to
make this request in consequence Of the
many gross misrepresentation that have
circulated through the press purporting to
conversations held with him in his Office or
at Cabinet meetings, and remarks that what
is written admits OF no misunderstanding.
In view of the misrepresentation referred
TO, he states that some time after be assumed
the duties Of Secretary Of war al interim,
the President asked his views of the course
Mr. Stanton would have to pursue TO obtain
possession Of his office, in case the Senate
should not concur in his suspension. He
expressed the opinion that be would have
to appeal 10 the Courts TO re instate him,
but remarked that he had not particularly
looked into the Tenure of-Oiiee bill. Sub
seduently on reading the bin closely he
found that he could not refuse to vacate the
office of Secretary Of War, if Mr. Stanton
was re-instated by the Senate, without vio-
ating the law, even though the President
should order him to retain it, which, says
Gen Grant, he nerer did.
After having come to this decision he in
formed the President of the fact, and long
altercation ensued, in which johnson insis-
ted on his retaining possession Of the Office,
under the plea that be had the right to
make the appointment under the authority
of the constitution, and that consequently
the person appointed could not be governed
by an act Of Congress. This reasoning did
not satisfy Gen. Grant, who replied that
the law was binding on him whether consii-
tutional or not, until set aside by the proper
tribunal. This conversation was on Satrr
day the ] 1th ult., and the Senate then had
the reinstatement of Stanton under cOnsid-
GRAFTON. At its conclusion the President
remarked to Grant that he would see him
again He says positively that be did not
agree 10 call on the President OH Monday
On Tuesday, the day Mr. Stanton re-enter-
ed the Office of Secretary Of War, Grant
officially informed the President Of that fact
Mr. johnson sent back a message BY the
bearer stating that he wanted to see Grant
at a Cabinet meeting that day. At this
meeting the President gave a version Of the
understanding alluded to, in which he sta
ted that Gen. Grant had agreed to hold on
to the Office until displaced by the Courts,
or resign in time to allow the President to
appoint some one else who would do so.
Gen. Grant says he in no way admitted the
correctness of the Presidents statement.
| though to soften the asperity of the contra
| diction he admitted the President might
have understood that be meant to resist the
re instatement. but he further remarks,
made no such promise
The President replies under date of Jan
uary Slst., and says in relation To his first
interview with General Grant on the sub
| jeet of Mr.. Stanton's reinstatement that
they parted with the distinct understanding
that if Grant should come TO the conclusion
that he would prefer not to be q part to the
controversy that would grow out Of resist
anee TO Mr.. Stanton's reinstatement, he
was to notify Mr.. johnson, so as to give
/ him ample time to make another appoint.
ment piior to the decision Of the Senate.
Other conversations we're had between those
parties on this subject, and on Saturday the
lith ult., the President says that General
Grant repeated his promise and they parted
with the distinct understanding that there
should be further conference on Monday.
He says that this engagement was not fulfil.
led, and that he heard nothing from Gran,
until Tuesday, when he received official In
formation from him that in consequence oil
the operations Of the Tenure-of f-ofice bill his
functions as Secretary Of War ad interim,
had ceased. Mr.. johnson. in his account
OF what transpired at the Cabinet meeting
on the l4th, fatty contradiets the statements
OF Gen. Grant, declaring that he (Grant)
admitted that he had agreed to resign, ia
case he concluded not 70 resist Stanton s re-