The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-08-27
FROM WASHINGTON.


Seward and Randall viii have to leave the |
Cabine.. Hancock goes to New Orleans
Swayne will succeed Pope, and Meade or
Candy will replace Sickles.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18th, 1867. !
DEAR Sin: Before you issue instructions to
carry into effect the enclosed / would be
pleased to hear any suggestions you may
deem necessary respecting the assigns to
which the order refers.
Truly Yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
TO Gen. U. S. Grant, Sec. War, ad interim.
The official order of removal has been
heretofore published
The following is Gen. Grants reply to the
President:
HEADoRs ARMY OF THE U. s.,
WASHINGTON, Aug II, 1867.
His Excellency, Andrew johnson, President OF
the United States:
SIR: am in receipt of your order of this
date, directing me to appoint Gen. G. II.
| Thomas to the command of the Fifth Mill
tary District, Gen. Sheridan to the Departs
ment Of Missouri and Gen. Hancock to the
| Department of the Cumberland; and also
your note of this date enclosing these in
structions to carry into effect the enclosed
order. You say: 81 would be pleased to hear
any suggestions you may deem necessary re-
specting the assignments to which the order
refers" ] am pleased to avail myself of
this invitation to earnestly urge, in the name
of the patriotic people, who have sacrificed
hundreds of thousands of lives, and thou-
sands of millions of treasure, to preserve the
integrity and Union of this country, that this
order be not insisted on. 1t is an upmistak,
able wish of the country tha. Gen. Sheridan
should not be removed from his spresent com
mand. This is Republic where the will Of
the people is the law of the land. / beg that
their voice may be heard. Gen. Sheridan
has performed his civil duties faithfully and
intelligently. His removal will only be re.
garded as an effort to defeat the laws Of Cons
gress. 1t will be interpreted by the unrecon>
structed element in the South, those who did
all they could to break up this Government
by arms, who now wish to be the only element
consulted as to the method of restoring or,
der, as their triumph. 1t will embolden them
to new opposition to the will of the loyal
masses, believing that they have the Execu-
tive with them. The services OF General
Thomas in battling for the Union entities
him to some consideration. He has repeat,
edly entered his protest against being as
signed to either Military District or assigned
to relieve Gen. Sheridan: Gen. Hancock
!. ought not to be removed from where he is
!. His department is q complicated one, which il
will take q new commander some time to be-
come acquainted with. There are many rea>
sons, pecuniary reasons, and above all patri-
i otic reasons, why this order should not be in
sisted on. beg leave TO refer to letter
made private which wrote to the Presiden,
when first consulted on the subject Of a
change in the War Department 1t bears
). upon the subject of this removal. hoped il
/. would have prevented it.
have the honor to be, with great respect
your obedent servant U. S. GRANT,
i General y. S. A., and Sec'y Of War od
l. interim.
The President responded at great length
!. commencing by thanking Gen. Grant for his
!. prompt attention, at the same time sayinl
that more than a verbal expression of hi,
views was unexpected. The President ther
s, proceeds to argument in justification of hi
order, declaring he was not aware that the
question of Sheridan's removal had eve
u been submitted to the people for determine
ton. and that it would certainly be unjnst t.
e. the army to assume that in the opinion 0
the nation Sheridan aoue was capable O
commanding the States Of Louisiana aut
b. Texas. The President referred to Genera
Thomas as possessed Of great ability, SCUM,
discretion and sterling patriotism, and who's
e. administration of the Department of tn
Cumberland will certainly compare favorabl
with that OF Gen Sheridan in the Fifth Dis
trict.
Gen Sheridan, says the President, has rer
i, dered himself exceedingly obnoxious by tn
manner in which he has exercised even tn
powers conferred by Congress, and still NOR
st. SO by a resort to authority not granted
IS. law, nor necessary to its faithful and eficieI
execution. His rule has in fact been one
II absolute Tyranny, without referense to II
w. principles of our government OF the natul
of our free institutions. The state OF affair
.. resulting from the course pursued has ser
' ously interfered with the execution of Il
acts of Congress, and is alone sufficient
90 justify the change.
The President therefore concludes tn
Sheridan's removal cannot be regarded as
Sc effort to defeat the laws of Congress, nor
construed by ythe..unreconstructed element
the South as triumph. The President ju
sc tiiies his action on constitutional ground
and Considers that he is performing the W
of the nation in discharging the duty req1ir
,se. BY the supreme law of the land; and, in co
cusion, says he fails to perceive any mlit
~, precautionary or patriotic reasons "
st. the order should not be carried into ede
He also reminds Con. Grant that. in the t
instance. Sheridan was not considered
'au. MIN ltne ITeslueut] IA tue iuau lol tho "
:. mand Of the 9th District, and adds taat III
-. has strengthened his convictions.
icy ;rs A Washington special says: The Presid'
repudiates about two-thirds of the views
tributed to him in the alleged interview W
o. him as described in the Boston Post, q
at, :. which is generally discredited by those b
ter informed.
Representative Washburne, of Illinois,
rect, rived here to-day direc. from Europe, G
, siderab,y improved in health
z y The continued indisposi,lon Of Secret
use. Browning prevents the nomination OF +
Master for Chicago.
The President has decided that in c
'use. Gen. Hancock cannot be Immediately sen
relieve Gen. Sheridan, the latter will be
dered to turn over his command to the u
ouse. officer in rank in his District. This
place Gen. Hartsuf or Gen. Mower in 81
rect idan's place. II is understood that the OF
Of Gen. Sheridan published this morn
{, making further removals, has been the es
ON, ing cause of this haste to close Sherid
labors.