Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-01-30
STANTON AND THOMAS.

General Townsend's connection with
the Adiutant Generals Office continued
long after the suppression of the rebel
lion, but his "reminiscences relating to the
subsequent period are naturally less in
terestiEg than those associated with the
civil war; One of them, however, is
worth quoting. We refer to the account,
of the interview between General L.
Thomas and Mr. Stanton. On Feb. p,
1868, when the former undertook to OBJ
tain possession Of the War Department
to which he had been appointed ad in
term by President Johns II, the author
was an ear witness of the colIoquv that
ensued, Il am" said General Thomas,
Secretary of War ad interim, and am
ordered by the President of the United
States to take charge Of this office" 81
order you" rejoined Mr. Stanton, 'to
repair to your room and exercise your
Office Adjutant General" 81 am" re-
peated General Thomas, Secretary of
War ad interim, and [ shall Lot obey
your orders; but | shall obey the
order of the President to take charge
of this Office" GAS Secretary of War"
said Mr.. Stanton a second time, 81 order
you to repair to your office as Adiutans
General, to which General Thomas re-
turned, 81 shall do not so.'' Then"
pursued Mr. Stanton, you may stand
there if you please, but you will attempt
to act as Secretary of War at your peril"
To which General Thomas replied. 81
shall act as Secretary of War;" and there
the official interview ended. Presently,
however, General Thomas crossed the
Hall to General Schriver's room, and
Mr.. Stanton, followed only by the steno-
grapher, came in after him Resuming
the colloquy, Mr. Stanton and in laugh
ing tone to General Thomas, 80 YOU
claim to be here as Secretary OF War,
and refuse to obey my orders, do your"
General Thomas replied seriously: Il
do SO claim. | shall require the mails of
the War Department to be delivered to
me, and shall transact all the business OF
the department" Seeing that the Gen
eral looked as if he had no rest the night
before, Mr.. Stanton, playfully running
his fingers up through the Generals hair
as he YEARLY leaned back on his chair
said: "Well, old fellow, have you had
any breakfast this morning?" "No," said
Thomas, go0d-naturedly. "NOr any.
thing to drink" "No." "Then YOU
are as badly off as I am, for [ have had
neither " Mr.. Stanton then sent out for
some refreshments, and while the two
were sharing the rejection they engaged
in very pleasant conN ersation, in the
course of which, however, Mr.. Stanton
suddenly and with seeming carelessness,
inquired when General Thomas was go
ing to give him the report of an inspec-
ton of the National cemeteries which he
had latel y made. MIR. Stanton said if it
was not soon rendered it would be too
late for the printers, and he was anxious
to have it 60 forth as a creditable work CT
the department The question had APP
parently 10 special point, and General
Thomas evidently saw none, for he an
swered pleasantly that he would work at
the report that night and give it to the
Secretary. This struck me-" "said
General Townsend" as lawyers ruse
t. make Thomas acknowledge Stanton's
authority as Secretary of War, and that
Ghomes was caught by it. some time
after asked Mr.. Stanton if that was his
design He made no reply, but looked
at me with a mock expression of surprise
at my conceiving such a thing" We
are further told that, before General
Thomas left the department that morn
ing. Mr.. Stanton handed him a letter
forbidding him TO give any orders as
Secretary of War. The General read
and endorsed it as received on that date.
signing the endorsement as Secretary ad
interim, which Mr.. Stanton seeing, he
remarked, laughing. "aere you have
committed another ofense." To this
the General assented, and soon after
went away for the day. The incidents
here related unquestiohably indicate, as
General Townsend surmised, that all the
steps taken by Mr.. Stanton were intended
to place the whole matter in a form
suitable for testing before the highest
tribunel the constionality of the tenure
Ofofice ct.-Ne0 York Sun.