memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第111章
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in military half…dress； with large head； full face； short neck； and evidently a man of strong physique。 He did not speak English； but spoke Spanish perfectly。 We managed to carry on a conversation in which I endeavored to convey my sense of his politeness in inviting me so cordially up to the city of Mexico； and my regret that the peculiar duty on which I was engaged did not admit of a compliance； or even of an intelligent explanation； at the time。 He spoke of the whole Mexican business as a 〃sad affair；〃 that the empire necessarily fell with the result of our civil war； and that poor Maximilian was sacrificed to his own high sense of honor。
While on board the Susquehanna； on the 1st day of December； 1866； we received the proclamation made by the Emperor Maximilian at Orizaba； in which； notwithstanding the near withdrawal of the French troops； he declared his purpose to remain and 〃shed the last drop of his blood in defense of his dear country。〃 Undoubtedly many of the most substantial people of Mexico； having lost all faith in the stability of the native government； had committed themselves to what they considered the more stable government of Maximilian； and Maximilian； a man of honor； concluded at the last moment he could not abandon them； the consequence was his death。
Failing to hear of Juarez； we steamed up the coast to the Island of Lobos； and on to Tampico； off which we found the United States steamer Paul Jones； which； drawing less water than the Susquehanna； carried us over the bar to the city； then in possession of the Liberal party； which recognized Juarez as their constitutional President； but of Juarez and his whereabout we could hear not a word； so we continued up the coast and anchored off Brazos Santiago； December 7th。 Going ashore in small boats； we found a railroad； under the management of General J。 R。 West； now one of the commissioners of the city of Washington； who sent us up to Brownsville； Texas。 We met on the way General Sheridan； returning from a tour of inspection of the Rio Grande frontier。 On Sunday； December 9th； we were all at Matamoras； Mexico； where we met General Escobedo； one of Juarez's trusty lieutenants； who developed to us the general plan agreed on for the overthrow of the empire； and the reestablishment of the republican government of Mexico。 He asked of us no assistance； except the loan of some arms； ammunition； clothing； and camp…equipage。 It was agreed that Mr。 Campbell should； as soon as he could get his baggage off the Susquehanna； return to Matamoras； and thence proceed to Monterey； to be received by Juarez in person as； the accredited Minister of the United States to the Republic of Mexico。 Meantime the weather off the coast was stormy； and the Susquehanna parted a cable； so that we were delayed some days at Brazos； but in due time Mr。 Campbell got his baggage； and we regained the deck of the Susquehanna； which got up steam and started for New Orleans。 We reached New Orleans December 20th； whence I reported fully everything to General Grant； and on the 21st received the following dispatch：
WASHINGTON； December 21；1866。 Lieutenant…General SHERMAN； New Orleans。
Your telegram of yesterday has been submitted to the President。 You are authorized to proceed to St。 Louis at your convenience。 Your proceedings in the special and delicate duties assigned you are cordially approved by the President and Cabinet and this department。 EDWIN M。 STANTON。
And on the same day I received this dispatch
GALVESTON； December 21； 1866。 To General SHERMAN； or General SHERIDAN。
Will be in New Orleans to…morrow。 Wish to see you both on arrival； on matters of importance。 LEWIS D。 CAMPBELL； Minister to Mexico。
Mr。 Campbell aarived on the 22d； but had nothing to tell of the least importance； save that he was generally disgusted with the whole thing； and had not found Juarez at all。 I am sure this whole movement was got up for the purpose of getting General Grant away from Washington； on the pretext of his known antagonism to the French occupation of Mexico； because he was looming up as a candidate for President； and nobody understood the animus and purpose better than did Mr。 Stanton。 He himself was not then on good terms with President Johnson； and with several of his associates in the Cabinet。 By Christmas I was back in St。 Louis。
By this time the conflict between President Johnson and Congress had become open and unconcealed。 Congress passed the bill known as the 〃Tenure of Civil Office〃 on the 2d of March； 1867 （over the President's veto）； the first clause of which； now section 1767 of the Revised Statutes； reads thus： 〃Every person who holds any civil office to which he has been or hereafter may be appointed； by and with the advice and consent of the Senate； and who shall have become duly qualified to act therein； shall be entitled to hold such office during the term for which he was appointed； unless sooner removed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate； or by the appointment with the like advice and consent of a successor in his place； except as herein otherwise provided。〃
General E。 D。 Townsend； in his 〃Anecdotes of the Civil War；〃 states tersely and correctly the preliminary circumstances of which I must treat。 He says： 〃On Monday morning； August 5； 1867； President Johnson invited Mr。 Stanton to resign as Secretary of War。 Under the tenure…ofcivil…office law； Mr。 Stanton declined。 The President a week after suspended him； and appointed General Grant； General… in…Chief of the Army； to exercise the functions。 This continued until January 13； 1868； when according to the law the Senate passed a resolution not sustaining the President's action。 The next morning General Grant came to my office and handed me the key of the Secretary's room； saying： ‘I am to be found over at my office at army headquarters。 I was served with a copy of the Senate resolution last evening。 I then went up…stairs and delivered the key of his room to Mr。 Stanton。〃
The mode and manner of Mr。 Stanton's regaing his office； and of General Grant's surrendering it； were at the time subjects of bitter controversy。 Unhappily I was involved； and must bear testimony。 In all January； 1868； I was a member of a board ordered to compile a code of articles of war and army regulations； of which Major…General Sheridan and Brigadier…General C。 C。 Augur were associate members。 Our place of meeting was in the room of the old War Department； second floor； next to the corner room occupied by the Secretary of War； with a door of communication。 While we were at work it was common for General Grant and； afterward； for Mr。 Stanton to drop in and chat with us on the social gossip of the time。
On Saturday； January 11th； General Grant said that he had more carefully read the law （tenure of civil office）； and it was different from what he had supposed； that in case the Senate did not consent to the removal of Secretary of War Stanton； and he （Grant） should hold on； he should incur a liability of ten thousand dollars and five years' imprisonment。 We all expected the resolution of Senator Howard； of Michigan； virtually restoring Mr。 Stanton to his office； would pass the Senate； and knowing that the President expected General Grant to hold on； I inquired if he had given notice of his change of purpose； he answered that there was no hurry； because he supposed Mr。 Stanton would pursue toward him （Grant） the same course which he （Stanton） had required of him the preceding August； viz。； would address him a letter claiming the office； and allow him a couple of days for the change。 Still； he said he would go to the White House the same day and notify the President of his intended action。
That afternoon I went over to the White House to present General Pope； who was on a； visit to Washington； and we found the President and General Grant together。 We made our visit and withdrew； leaving them still together； and I always supposed the subject of this conference was the expected decision of the Senate； which would in effect restore Mr。 Stanton to his civil office of Secretary of War。 That evening I dined with the Hon。 Reverdy Johnson； Senator from Maryland； and suggested to him that the best way to esc
