said I had always been treated kindly by the
President, and felt kindly toward him; that I had always advised
him, whenever any excuse had been given for offering advice, to
avoid all causes of irritation with Congress, and try to act in
harmony with the legislative department; that I regarded the removal
of Mr. Stanton, in the way it was done, as wrong and unwise; that
I understood this proposition as coming originally from the Republican
side of the Senate, and as being accepted by the President in the
interest of peace, and for the purpose of securing harmony between
the legislative and executive departments of the government, and
a just and faithful administration of the laws, including the
reconstruction acts. I added: 'And the President knows from
General Schofield's acts what he means by this,--if, after these
conditions have been fully stated to the President, he sends my
name to the Senate, I will deem it my duty to say nothing on the
subject of accepting or declining the appointment until the Senate
has acted upon it.'

"Mr. Evarts intimated that the above was satisfactory, and the
interview then ended."

I returned to Richmond on Thursday, April 23, being then in command
in Virginia, executing the reconstruction acts. On the 24th the
President sent to the Senate my nomination as Secretary of War.
On the morning of the 26th I received from General Grant a confidential
letter, dated April 25, advising me under the circumstances to
decline the secretaryship in advance.( 8)

To the above letter I sent the following letters in reply:

"(Confidential.)
"Richmond, Va., April 26, 1868.
"Dear General: I regret exceedingly that your advice came too
late. I have already promised not to decline the nomination in
advance of any action of the Senate.

"Yours very truly,
"J. M. Schofield, Bvt. Maj.-Gen.
"Gen'l Grant, Washington, D. C."

"Richmond, Va., April 26, 1868.
"Dear General: I see from the papers that the President has
nominated me to the Senate as Secretary of War. You are aware that
I do not want that office; yet under existing circumstances, if
the Senate should wish me to serve I could not decline. I presume
my nomination will not be confirmed, but have no right to act upon
any such presumption.

"Yours very truly,
"J. M. Schofield, Bvt. Maj.-Gen.
"Gen'l Grant, Washington, D. C."

FAILURE OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

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