The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-08

One Of the laconic phrases that belong
to the history Of the var department
at Washington was the product OF An
drew Johnson's determination to force
the resignation of Secretary Stanton.
This demand came at a time when pub
lie opinion was under the severest ten
sion. Mr.. johnson had defed the re-
publican majority in congress, and al
ready-in the summer Of 1s67-the talk
about impeaching the president mad
been seriously taken up. The presl-
dent could not get on at all with STAN
ton: between the war office and the
white house was an irrepressible con-
flict, and the two men rhie1y involved
were famous for their etubborn refusal
to yield any point.
President Johnson's own words, writ
ten in late years, describe the situa-
ton. He said: IT had rnme to the con-
clusion that the time had arrived when
it was proper for Mr. stanton to retire
from my cabinet. The mutual conf
dence and general accord which should
exist in such a relation had ceased l
supposed that Mr.. Stanton was well ad-
vised that his continuance in the cab
met was contrary to my wishes, Tor /
had repeatedly given MIN so to under
stand by every mode short OF an ex-
press request that he should resign
All men of prominence in public life
knew well enough, at this time, what
President Johnson's wishes We're; the
republican leaders were pressing Stan
ton not to resign. More than that, they
We're exhorting him not TO permit him
self under any circumstances to be
crowded out of the cabinet. These re-
publicans affected a fear that If Presi-
dent Johnson could possess himself OF
the war department he would under
take to enforce his policy with arms;
that he would either COerce congress or
ignore it, and that another civil war
was threatened. Secretary Stanton
stood pat; he was to be relied upon-ln
the modern phase, he was built that
way.
The lines were drawn at length. One
day early in August the president ad-
dressed a note to Mr.. Stanton which
read: Public considerations of high
character constrain me to say that
your resignation as secretary Of war
will be accepted" Secretary Stanton s
answer was sent immediately-there
was a trace of irony in it as well as
of defiance. He wrote to the president:
Il have the honor to say that public
considerations of a high character,
which alone have induced me to con-
tinue at the head of this department,
constrain me not to resign the secre-
taryship of war before the next meet
ing of congress"
President Johnson waited a week. He
then suspended Stanton from the office
of war secretary and sent him a note
instructing him to transfer at once TO
General Grant the property in the GUS
tody of the war department. Stanton,
in his reply, denied the power of the
president to suspend him. He added,
however: LAS l have no alternative,
I submit, under protest, to superior
power"
Many republicans criticised General
Grant severely for having consented to
act as Stantons successor under john
sons appointment. 1t was clear, how
ever, that Grant did not accept Stan
toms Interpretation of the presidents
powers. Indeed, it was always after
wards assumed that Grant was gov
erned in his course at this critical time
by the advice of some of the foremost
men in the republican party: the idea
was that it was far better that the wal
| department be in the hands Of Grant
| than that its control pass to some par.
| isan of johnson, who might use his
authority for sinister purposes.
AS is provided by law, the president
reported to the senate, few days after
it's meeting, his action in suspendins
| Stanton. After considering the case