Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-18

The December number of the North Amer
loan Review contains paper by eX.Secr,-
tary Boutwell,, on "Johnson's Plot and Mo
tives." This interesting article makes John
sons general position very clear, and probably
establishes IL about a. it will go into history.
Mr.. Boutwell, gives, also, a vivid account Of
General Grants relation 10 the matter, and
of his firm conduct, which bad 80 much 70 do
with defeating the johnson policy and plot.
Mr. Boutwell, says
Upon my arrival in Washington to attend
the session of Congress which began Deem
Der 3, 1866, l received a letter from Mr..
Stanton asking me to call at the War Depart
ment at the earliest moment possible. l call
ed without delay. He directed me to his
private room, where he soon Joined me.
Without preface he said ~ am more
concerned for the fate OF the country than l
was at any time during the war. His exact
words further cannot recall, but he gave
me to understand that the President had Is.
sued orders to officers of the army, OF which
neither he nor General Grant had knowledge,
aud that there was danger that General Grant
would be sent away from Washington.
At the request of Mr. Stanton, l wrote at
his dictasion the substance of what afterward
became the second section OF the Army APP
preparation Act, approved March 2, 1867.
In that section il was provided that the
head quarters of the General of the Army
should be at the city of Washington, and that
he should not be detailed for service else
where except at his own request or by the
previous approval of the Senate that all
orders and instructions relating TO military
operations issued by the President or Secre-
tary Of War should be issued through tho
General of the Army, or in case of his disa-
bility, through the officer next in command
NJ hot oil nj ipauad in IN Oihur
manner should be null and void, and that the
officer issuing such orders, aud all officers who
might obey them, knowing that they had
been issued in any other manner, should be
alike guilty Of q misdemeanor.
After the election Of General Grant to the
Presidency he gave me an account Of his in
terviews with President Johnson, in reference
to the project of sending the general to Mex
leo in the autumn of 1866. 1t was, in sub
stance this AT casual meeting the Pres.
ident said i may have occasion to ask you
to go to Mexico said, in reply, L am 30
situated that 1t will not be convenient for me
to leave Not many days after this CONVEX
sRtion the President sent for me to come TO
his office. Upon my arrival 1 found Mr..
Seward and the President Mr. Seward
opened his portfolio, aud read long paper
addressed TO me, and containing instructions
for,my guidance in Mexico. When Mr.. Sew
ard had concluded, said to the President,
You know told you that it would not be
convenient for me to go to Mexico The
President then began to argue with me, and
to urge. / as steadily resisted his arguments.
The President grew warm and finally rising
from his chair and striking the table violently
with his fist he said, 1 would like TO know
if there is an officer Of the army who will not
obey my orders = 1 arose, took my hat In my
hand, aud said, Il am All officer of the army,
but am a citizen also. The service you ask
me to perform is civil service, and, as a
citiz N, may accept it or decline 1t, aud
decline it, then left the ROOM"
The distinction thus made by General
Grant left to the President authority to assign
him TO duty As a soldier in any point within
the United States that the President might
select, aud hence the solicitudo of Nc. Stan
ton for the passage Of the section in the Army
Bill Of the . 1 OF March, 1867