The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-18

Y
dav). the 18th, and asked me to go in
person to the White House to urge the
President to send in the name of Gen.
Cox.
| did so, saw the President, and in
ouired if be had seen Mr.. Reverdy
johnson the day before about Gen. Cox.
He answered that he had, and thought
well of Gen. Cox, but would say no
further.
Tuesday, Jan. IA, 1868, came, and
with it Mr.. Stanton. He resumed pos
session of his former Office; came into
that where Gen. Sheridan, Gen. Augur,
and [ were at work, and greeted us very
cordially. He said he wanted to see
me when at leisure, and at halfpast 10
a. m. | went into his office and found
him and Gen. Grant together. Suppos-
ing they had some special matters of
business, | Withdrew, with the remark
that was close at hand, and could come
IN at any moment.
In the afternoon | went again into
Mr.. Stanton's office, and we had long
and most friendly conversation, but not
one word was spoken about the tenure
ofoffice matter. | then crossed over
Seventeenth street to the Headquarters
of the Army, where | found Gen.
Grant, who expressed himself as by no
means pleased with the manner in
which Mr.. Stanton had regained his
office, saving that he had sent a messen-
ger for him that morning as of old,
with word that " he wanted to see him."
We then arranged TO meet at his office
the next morning at half-past nine, and
60 together to see the President.
AN ATTACK on GRANT.
That morning the National Litel6-
seacer published an article accusing
Gen. Grant of acting in bad faith to the
President, and OF having prevaricated
in making his personal explanation to
the Cabinet, so that Gen. Grant at first
felt unwilling to 90, out we went. The
President received us promptly and
kindly. Being seated, Gen. Grant
said:
Mr. President, whoever gave the
facts for the article of the Mtettigencer
of this morning has made some serious
mistakes"
The President said "Gen. Grant, let
me interrupt YOU just there. ! have not
seen the Iateiligencer Of this morning,
and have no knowledge Of the contents
of any article therein
Gen. Grant then went on: "Well,
the idea is given there that have not
kept faith with you. Now, Mr.. Presi-
dent, remember, when you spoke to
me on this subject last Summer, | did
say that, like the case of the Baltimore
Police Commissioners, l did suppose Mr..
Stanton could not regain his Office ex-
cept by process through the courts. .
To this the President assented, saying
be remembered the reference to the
case of the Baltimore Commissioners"
when Gen. Grant resumed: 4" | said if /
changed my opinion | would give you
notice, and put things as they were be-
fore my appointment as Secretary of
War nd interim"
We then entered into a general
friendly conversation, both parties pro-
fessing TO be satisfied, the President
claiming that he had always been most
friendly to Gen. Grant, and the latter
insisting that be had taken the office,
not for honor or profit, but in the gen
eral Interests of the Army.
As we withdrew, at the very door,
Gen. Grant said: "Mr. President, YOU
should make some order that we of the
Army are not bound to obey the orders
of Mr.. Stanton as Secretary Of War"
which the President intimated he would
do.
No such "orders" were ever made !;
many conferences were held, and the
following letters are selected out of a
great mass to show the general feeling
at the time:
1921 K STREET, WASHINGTON,
Jan. 2-, 1865; Saturday. {
To THE president: j neglected this morn
ing TO say that had agreed to 90 down to
Annapolis to spend Sunday with Admiral
Porter. Gen. Grant also has to leave for
Richmond ON Monday morning at u a. III.
At conversation with the General after
our interview. wherein / oBeTed TO go with
him on Monday morning to Mr.. Stanton.
and to say that il was our joint opinion he
should resign, it was found impossible by
reason of ms lGen. Grant going to Richmond
snd my going 10 Annapolis.
The General proposed this course He viii
call on you Tomorrow and offer to 90 to Mr..
Stanton TO say, Tor the good of the Army and
of tie country, he ought to resign. This Oh
Sunday. On Monday / will again call on
you, and, if you think it necessary, ! will do
the same, viz 90 TO Mr. Stanton and tell
him he should resign
If he wlll not, then it will be time TO con-
tTive ulterior measures. In the meantime il
so happens that no necessity exists for pre-
cipitatlDg matters. Yours truly,
w. 7. SHERMAN, Lieutenant General.
DEAR GENERAL: On the point of starting
] have written the above. and viii send a
copy Of IL TO the President Please retain
this, that IN case OF necessity may have a
copy. The President ceaIl, stated to me
that he relied on US in this category.
Think OF the pTOprietv OF your putting in
writing what YOU have Ia say to-morroyr exer