744 



UNITED STATES. 



Senator Sherman, of Ohio, said : " I heartily 

 commend your organization, and only regret 

 that I cannot accept of your invitation." 



The following resolutions were adopted : 



1. It is the duty of Congress, under the national 

 Constitution, to protect the equal voting rights of all 

 loyal American citizens, regardless of their complex- 

 ion, for the reason that to admit the rights of a State 

 to limit the franchise to one class admits its right to 

 limit it to any extent, an abuse effectually guarded 

 against by the Constitution in requiring that the 

 United States shaH guarantee to every State in the 

 Union a republican form of government. 



2. That with this duty placed upon it by the fun- 

 damental law of the Eepublic, the Congress that has 

 prescribed a code of equal rights for nine States 

 lately in rebellion cannot, in reason or in justice, 

 withhold its patient audience nor its swift and thor- 

 ough relief from the States, a majority of whose 

 people have always faithfully adhered "to the Ee- 

 public. 



3. That this action of Congress, demanded by 

 constitutional authority, would be not only an act of 

 justice to individuals, and a measure of protection in 

 the border States, but a bond of unity to the Eepub- 

 lic in reasserting the rights of man as proclaimed by 

 the Declaration of Independence. 



4. That we respectfully urge Congress to act 

 bravely and thoroughly in the adoption of whatever 

 measures they may determine to be requisite for the 

 establishment of peace and prosperity throughout 

 the whole land, and AVO expect them to repose full 

 faith in the courage, loyalty, and intelligence of the 

 masses of the people, who regard no perils as more to 

 be shunned than timidity and indifference in their 

 representatives, and who will always sustain Congress 

 in their efforts to establish by law the most thorough 

 development of true republican institutions. 



5. That while we affirm the constitutional power 

 and duty of Congress, by statute, to secure to the 

 States a republican form of government, yet we ear- 

 nestly urge upon Congress to present to the States for 

 their adoption an amendment to the Constitution of 

 the United States, providing that no State shall dis- 

 franchise any citizen because of race or color, and 

 thus put beyond the danger of political changes the 

 fundamental rights of American citizenship. 



The other resolutions approve the action of 

 Congress in the reconstruction of the Southern 

 States ; acknowledge the patriotic services of 

 E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, and call upon 

 Congress to reinstate him ; applaud the ser- 

 vices,' prudence, and firmness of General Grant, 

 and declare that the country looks to him to 

 execute the Reconstruction Acts of Congress. 

 The tenth resolution is as follows : 

 10. That it is the duty of the House of Eepresent- 

 atives, as the paramount necessity of the approach- 

 ing session, to present articles of impeachment to 

 the Senate for the trial of Andrew Johnson for high- 

 treason and misdemeanors against the Constitution 

 and the laws passed in pursuance thereof; for the 

 usurpation of the powers delegated to the legislative 

 department of the' Government; for obstructing, 

 hindering, and delaying the reconstruction of the 

 States lately in rebellion : for the removal of faithful 

 officers in violation of the law ; the indecency and 

 indecorum of his public admini.stnition ; the perverse 

 obstinacy by which he intensifies the disloyalty of 

 unrepentant rebels, and the persistent opposition to 

 the will of the loyal people of the nation. 



On August 12th the Secretary of "War, Mr. 

 Stanton, was suspended from his office by 

 order of the President. The order of the 

 President was as follows: 



EXECUTIVE MANSION, | 

 "WASHINGTON, D. 0., August 12, 1867. f 

 SIR : By virtue of the power and authority vested 

 in me. as President, by the Constitution and laws of 

 the United States, you are hereby suspended from 

 office as Secretary of War, and will cease to exercise 

 any and all functions pertaining to the same. 



You will at once transfer to General Ulysses S. 

 Grant, who has this day been authorized and em- 

 powered to act as Secretary of War ad interim, all 

 records, books, papers, and other public property 

 now in your custody and charge. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



ANDEEW JOHNSON. 

 To the Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Washington, D. C. 



The following is the reply of the Secretary : 



WAR DEPARTMENT, ) 



"WASHINGTON CITY, August 12, 1867. f 



SIR: Your note of this date has been received, in- 

 forming me that, by virtue of the power and author- 

 ity vested in you, as President, by the Constitution 

 and laws of the United States, I am suspended from 

 office as Secretary of War, and will cease to exercise 

 any and all functions pertaining to the same, and also 

 directing me at once to transfer to General Ulysses 

 S. Grant, who has this day been authorized and em- 

 powered to act as Secretary of War ad interim, all 

 records, books, papers, and other public property 

 now in my custody and charge. 



Under a sense of public duty, I am compelled to 

 dany your right, under the Constitution and laws of 

 the United States, without the advice and consent of 

 the Senate, and without legal cause, to suspend me 

 from office as Secretary of War, or the exercise of any 

 or all functions pertaining to the same, or without 

 such advice and consent to compel me to transfer to 

 any person the records, books, papers, and other 

 public property in my custody and charge. But, in- 

 asmuch as the General commanding the armies of the 

 United States has been appointed Secretary of War 

 ad interim, and has notified me that he has accepted 

 the appointment, I have no alternative but to submit, 

 under protest, to superior force. 



Very respectfully, yours, 

 EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. 

 To the PRESIDENT. 



The order to General Grant authorizing him 

 to act as Secretary of War ad interim was as 

 follows : 



EXECUTIVE MANSION, ) 

 WASHINGTON, D. C., August 12, 1867. J 



SIR: The Honorable Edwin M. Stanton having 

 been this day suspended as Secretary of War, you 

 are herebyauthorized and empowered to act as Sec- 

 retary of War ad interim, and will at once enter upon 

 the discharge of the duties of that office. 



The Secretary of War has been instructed to trans- 

 fer to you all records, books, papers, and other public 

 property now in his custody and charge. 

 Very respectfullv, yours. 



ANDEEW JOHNSON. 



General ULYSSES S. GRANT, Washington, D. C. 



Subsequently, on December 12th, the Presi- 

 dent sent to the Senate the following explana- 

 tion of his reasons for the removal of the 

 Secretary of War : 



On the 12&i of August last, I suspended Mr. Stan- 

 ton from the exercise of the office of Secretary of War, 

 and on the same day designated General Grant to act 

 as Secretary of War ad interim. The following are 

 copies of the Executive orders : 



EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 12, 1867. 



SIR: By virtue of the power and authority vested in me, 

 as President, by the Constitution and laws of the United 

 States, you are hereby suspended frou office as Secretary of 

 War, and will cease to exercise any and all functions per- 

 taining to the same. 



