ution of the United States and
the act aforesaid, issue and deliver to one Lorenzo Thomas a letter of
authority in substance as follows, that is to say:

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C.
_February_ 21, 1868.

SIR: Hon. Edwin M. Stanton having this day been removed from office as
Secretary for the Department of War, you are hereby authorized and
empowered to act as Secretary of War _ad interim_, and will immediately
enter upon the discharge of the duties pertaining to that office.

Mr. Stanton has been instructed to transfer to you all the records,
books, papers, and other public property now in his custody and charge.

Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
To Brevet Major-General LORENZO THOMAS, _Adjutant General United States
Army, Washington, D. C._

then and there being no vacancy in said office of Secretary for the
Department of War; whereby said Andrew Johnson, President of the United
States, did then and there commit and was guilty of a high misdemeanor
in office.

ARTICLE III.

That said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, on the 21st
day of February, in the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington, in the
District of Columbia, did commit and was guilty of a high misdemeanor
in office, in this, that, without authority of law, while the Senate
of the United States was then and there in session, he did appoint one
Lorenzo Thomas to be Secretary for the Department of War _ad interim_,
without the advice and consent of the Senate, and with intent to
violate the Constitution of the United States, no vacancy having
happened in said office of Secretary for the Department of War during
the recess of the Senate, and no vacancy existing in said office at
the time, and which said appointment, so made by said Andrew Johnson,
of said Lorenzo Thomas, is in substance as follows, that is to say:

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C.
_February_ 21, 1868.

SIR: Hon. Edwin M. Stanton having this day been removed from office as
Secretary for the Department of War, you are hereby authorized and
empowered to act as Secretary of War _ad interim_, and will immediately
enter upon the discharge of the duties pertaining to that office.

Mr. Stanton has been instructed to transfer to you all the records,
books, papers, and other public property now in his custody and charge.

Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
To Brevet Major-General LORENZO THOMAS, _Adjutant General United States
Army, Washington, D. C._