Next summer also, in fulfillment of our promise to the Sioux, I must go to Fort Phil Kearney early in the spring, so that, unless I can spend the next two months at home, I might as well break up my house at St. Louis, and give up all prospect of taking care of my family.

For these reasons especially I shall soon ask leave to go to St. Louis, to resume my proper and legitimate command.  With great respect,

W. T. Sherman, Lieutenant-General.

[Inclosure]

Washington, D. C., January 25, 1868.

My dear general:  I am quite clear in the opinion that it is not expedient for the President to take any action now in the case of Stanton.  So far as he and his interests are concerned, things are in the best possible condition.  Stanton is in the Department, got his secretary, but the secretary of the Senate, who have taken upon themselves his sins, and who place him there under a large salary to annoy and obstruct the operations of the Executive.  This the people well enough understand, and he is a stench in the nostrils of their own party.

I thought the nomination of Cox at the proper juncture would have been wise as a peace-offering, but perhaps it would have let off the Senate too easily from the effect of their arbitrary act.  Now the dislodging of Stanton and filling the office even temporarily without the consent of the Senate would raise a question as to the legality of the President’s acts, and he would belong to the attacked instead of the attacking party.  If the war between Congress and the President is to go on, as I suppose it is, Stanton should be ignored by the President, left to perform his clerical duties which the law requires him to perform, and let the party bear the odium which is already upon them for placing him where he is.  So much for the President.

As to yourself, I wish you as far as possible to keep clear of political complications.  I do not think the President will require you to do an act of doubtful legality.  Certainly he will not without sanction of the opinion of his Attorney-General; and you should have time, in a questionable case, to consult with me before called upon to act.  The office of Secretary of War is a civil office, as completely so as that of Secretary of State; and you as a military officer cannot, I think, be required to assume or exercise it.  This may, if necessary, be a subject for further consideration.  Such, however, will not, I think, be the case.  The appeal is to the people, and it is better for the President to persist in the course he has for some time pursued—­let the aggressions all come from the other side; and I think there is no doubt he will do so.  Affectionately, T. Ewing.

To—­Lieutenant-General Sherman.

Library room, war department,
Washington, D. C., January 31, 1868.

To the President: