If this could be done in one Department it could with equal justice be done in all, and the extraordinary spectacle would be presented of each Executive Department under the control of an officer, who in matters of personal feeling and in public policy was deadly hostile to the President of the United States.

Even those who insisted most warmly upon Mr.Stanton's being retained in his position, must have seen that such a course would contradict the theory of the National Constitution and be in direct contravention of the practice of the Federal Government.

Every one could see that these circumstances had brought about an unnatural situation--a situation that must in some way be relieved.

It presented a condition of affairs for which there was no precedent, and the wisest could not foresee to what end it might lead.
The issue was brought to a head by the President, who informed the senate on the 21st of February (1868), that in the exercise of the power and authority vested in him by the Constitution of the United States, he had that day removed Mr.Stanton from office and designated the Adjutant-General of the Army--Lorenzo Thomas--as Secretary of War _ad interim_.

The communication was received with great astonishment by the Senate and with loud expressions of indignation against the President.