Year: 1868

w ASHiN"fpN, Nprll 10.


After the recess, the controversy about the
admission Of Gen. Shermans conversation
with President johnson respecting the remoy-
al Of Mr. Stanton was renewed by Senator
johnson, who sent to the chair the following
question TO Gen. sherman in writing


When the President rendered YOU the
office Of Secretary of War ad interim, on
the 27th day of January, 1868, aud on the
2lst Of the same month and year did he at
the very time of making such tender state to
you what his purpose in SO doing was


The managers objected, as being against the
repeated decisions of the Senate but the
question was admiited-2G to -


Wincss-Ile did


Senator Johuson-what did he state his
purpose was?


The managers objected that this was the
very question upon which the Senate had
solemuly decided adversely.


The question .,dmitied-26 to %.


Gen Shcrmau-The President told me that
the relations between himself and Mr.. Stan
ton aud between Mr. Stanton and other Idem-
bcrs of the cabinet were such that he could
not execute the office which he filled as the
President of the United States without max
ins provision an interim for the Office Of Sec
retary Of War, aud that he had a right under
the law, and that his purpose was to have the
office administered in the interests Of the
army and of the country, and he offered me the
6ilice in that view. He did not state to me
that his purpose was to bring it into the
courts directly, but for the purpose Of having
the office administered properly in the inter-
ests of the country and of the whole country.
asked him why the lawyers could not make
4 case | did not wish to be brought as an
officer Of the army into the controversy. His
answer was that il was found impossible, for
that case could not be made up, but said he,
if we could bring the case into court it would
not stand for an hour.


Mr. Butler rehearsed the proceedings on
Saturday and this morning in reference to
to this witness then he said the witness was
sent away, and then one of the judges decided
to put the question to satisfy his own mind (;
of course he was not acting as counsel for
the President that cannot be supposed.


Senator johnson, rising, asks" What
does the honorable manager meant


Mr.. Butler-l mean precisely what | say
that it cannot he supposed that the Senator Is
acting for the President.


Senator Johnson--Mr. Chief justice; 1t
the honorable manager means to impAte that
in anything have done in this trlal' have
been acting as counsel he does not know the
man of whom he speaks. | am here to DIS
charge duty, and that duty propose to dis
charge. know the law as well as he does


Mr. Buter-I again repeat so that my
language may not be misunderstood, that 1t
cannot be supposed that he was acting as
counsel for the President. Having put the
question to satisfy his mind upon something
which he wanted to know, how can it be that
that opens the case so as to allow the Presi-
dents counsel to 90 on to a new examination!
/ Senator Johnson am satisfied. Mr..
Chief Justice | rise to say that | did not
know that the counsel proposed to ask any
questions of the witness, and | agree with
the honorable managers that they have no
right to do any such thing. Sensation in
COURT


Mr.. Stanbery then asked Gen. Sherman it
he had replied fully as to both interviews with
the PRESIDENT