The Public Record
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, serving from April 15, 1865, to March 4, 1869. A member of the Democratic Party, he was born in Tennessee and became the first president to assume office following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson's presidency was characterized by his strong opposition to the Reconstruction policies implemented by Congress, which aimed to rebuild the South and secure rights for newly freed African Americans. His resistance to these policies ultimately led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1868, although he was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office until the end of his term.
In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 17th February ultimo, concerning the alleged interference of the United States consul at Rome in the late difficulty in Italy, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, containing the…
I transmit herewith a report from the General Commanding the Army of the United States, prepared in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 4th instant, requesting copies of all instructions relating to the Third Military…
In further answer of the resolution of the Senate of the 13th of January last, relative to the appointment of the Hon. Anson Burlingame to a diplomatic or other mission by the Emperor of China, I transmit a report from the Secretary of…
I have this day removed Mr. Stanton from office and designated the Adjutant-General of the Army to act as Secretary of War ad interim.
I transmit herewith a communication from the Chief of the Engineer Corps of the Army, accompanied by a report, in reference to ship canals around the Falls of the Ohio River, called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of…
In reply to the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 19th of December last, calling for correspondence and information in relation to Russian America, I transmit reports and accompanying documents from the Secretary of…
Until further orders from the President, you will assign no officer to the permanent command of the Military Division of the Missouri.
You here admit that from the very beginning of what you term 'the whole history' of your connection with Mr. Stanton's suspension you intended to circumvent the President.
In reply to your communication, I have deemed it proper, in order to prevent further misunderstanding, to make this simple recital of facts.
Copies of the letters which they have addressed to me upon the subject are accordingly herewith inclosed.
You say that a performance of the promises alleged to have been made by you to the President 'would have involved a resistance to law and an inconsistency with the whole history of my connection with the suspension of Mr. Stanton.'
It was to prevent such an appointment that I accepted the office of Secretary of War ad interim.
The extraordinary character of your letter of the 3d instant would seem to preclude any reply on my part.
I will only notice one more statement in your letter of the 3d instant—that the performance of the promises which it is alleged were made by you would have involved you in the resistance of law.
You speak of my letter of the 31st ultimo as a reiteration of the 'many and gross misrepresentations' contained in certain newspaper articles.
The excuse you make in a subsequent paragraph of that letter of the 28th ultimo, that afterwards you changed your views as to what would be a proper course, has nothing to do with the point now under consideration.
As requested in this communication, General Grant is instructed in writing not to obey any order from the War Department assumed to be issued by the direction of the President unless such order is known by the General Commanding the armies…
My order to you had only reference to orders 'assumed to be issued by the direction of the President.'
You knew it was the President's purpose to prevent Mr. Stanton from resuming the office of Secretary of War, and you intended to defeat that purpose.
I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, with the accompanying papers on the subject of a transfer of the Peninsula and Bay of Samana to the United States.
In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 25th of November, 1867, calling for information in relation to the trial and conviction of American citizens in Great Britain and Ireland for the two years last past, I…
To the Senate of the United States: I transmit herewith a report from the Attorney-General, prepared in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 30th ultimo, requesting information as to the number of justices of the peace now…
The advice and consent of the Senate to the transfer, upon the terms proposed in the draft of a convention with the Dominican Republic, are requested.
I submit to the Senate, for its consideration with a view to ratification, the accompanying consular convention between the United States and the Government of His Majesty the King of Italy.
Politicians like Andrew Johnson
