Your note of this day has been received, stating that public considerations of a high character constrain you to say that my resignation as Secretary of War will be accepted.
In reply, I have the honour to say that public considerations of a high character, which alone have induced me to continue as the head of this Department, constrain me not to resign the office of Secretary of War before the next meeting of Congress.
Very respectfully yours,
(Signed) Edwin M. Stanton.
A week later, President Johnson sent the following letter to Secretary Stanton:
Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 12, 1867.
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
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 empowered to act as Secretary of War, ad interim, all records, books, papers, and other public property now in your custody and charge.
In his reply, Secretary Stanton said in part: