Year: 1868

one. lie said that reasoning from
what occurred IN tho case Of the
police in Maryland which he regarded
as a parallel QUE, he was of opinion
aud SO assured you that it would be
his right aud duty, uodcr your ir.
structions, to hold the War Office
after the Senate should disapprovc Of
Mr.. STATIONS suspension, until the
question should be decided upon by
the courts that he remained until
very recently Of that opinion, and
thut on the Saturday before the
Cabinet meeting conversation was
held between yourself aud him in
which the subject was generally dis.
cussed, General Grants statement
was that in that conversation he had
stated to you the legal difficulties
which might arise, involving fne aud
imprisonment under the Civil Tenure
bill, and that he did not care TO sub
ject himself to those penalties; that
you replied to this remark that you
regard the Civil Tenure bill uncon
stitutional, and did not think its pen.
alties we're TO be feared, that you
would voluntarily assume them; aud
you insisted that Gen, Grant should
either retain the oihcc until relieved
by yourself, according to what you
claimed was the original understand
ing between yourself aud him, or, by
seasonable notice Of change Of pur
pose on his part, put you in the same
situation which you would be in ifhc
adhered, You claimed that Gen.
Grant finally said In that Saturdays
conversation that you understood his
views, and his proceedings thereafter
would be consistent with what had
been so understood. Gen. Grant did
not controvert, nor can say that he
admitted his last statement. Ger
tainly Gen. Grant did not at any
time in the Cabinet meeting insist
that he had, in the Saturday couver.
sation, either, distinctly or finally
advised you Of his determination to
retire from the charge of the War
Department, otherwise than under
your own subsequent direction. lie
acquicsced in your statement that the
Saturdays conversation ended with
an expectation that there would be n
subsequent conference on tho subject
which he as well as yourself suppos-
ed could seasonably take place on
Monday. You thcu alluded to the
fact that Gen. Grant did not call
upon Monday as you had expect
ed from that conversation. General
Grant admitted that it was his cx
pce;alion or purpose to call upon you
ON Monday. Gou. Grant assigned
reasons for the omission. He said he
was in conference with Gen. Sherman,
that there were many little matters
to bo attended to. lie had conversed
upon the matter ofthe incumbenoy of
the War Department with Gen Sher
man, and he expected that Gen.
Sherman, would call upon you on
Monday. My own mind suggested u
further explanation but do not re
member whether it was mentioned
or not, namely: Ttat it was not sup.
posed by Grant on Monday that the
Senate would beside the question SO
promptly as to anticipate further ex.
plauation between yourself and him,
if delayed beyond that day. Grant
made another explanation that he
was engaged on Sunday with Sher.
man, aud | think, also, on Monday,
in regard to the War Department
matter, with hope, though he did
not say, in an effort to procure an
amicable settlement of the affair of
Mr.. Stanton aud he still hoped that
it would be brought about | have
the honor to be, with great respect,
your obedient servant,


WM. II. SEWARD.


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