The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-15
VIVA, may be Expec,ed nren, taisn,.

II has been plain from the beginning OF the
present session of Congress, that the admins
tration ofthe recons truction laws would hence
forth be mainly withdrawn from the slippery
hands Of the President and entrusted TO the
General oil the Army Of the United States
1t is important to know therefore what Gener-
al Grants policy is likely to be, and In this
point OF view the dispatches, orders and yar;-
Gus communications laid before the House Of
representatives Friday by the Secretary OF
War, are exceedingly interesting. We select
from the mass of papers all which bear Gener-
al Grants signature. Glib +u sz.rs -.,...
On the I'd April General Sheridan telegraph
ed to Grant, saying, II fear shall be obliged
TO remove Governor Wells of this State, who
is impeding me as much as he can. On the Sd,
General Grant replied, advising no removals
at that time of governors Of States, because the
question of tie powers of the military COM
m?nders was then undor consideration In the
Cabinet.
On the 9TH April General Sheridan announc-
ed that he was about to begin registration in
New Orleans, and asked for a decision as to
the extantloi tho Acknowledgement under the re-
construction act General Grant replied next
day, Your question has been submitted to
the Attorney General. No decision yet re-
oeived. Go on, giving your interpretation to
tho law. till an answer is given"
In bay Gen. Schofeld forwarded his order
regarding registration, asking Grants opinion
oft. Gen. Grant replied, May o. that he ap-
proved the order, but thought the boards had
better not be confined too strictly by rules, but
should be allowed IN cases of doubt to use some
discr elton go
In the the third district, after Governor
Jenkins's tdress to the people of Georgia in
which he advised nopacton under the militia
ry bill, and during his absence in Washington.
where he was urging the INDUCTION application,
General Pope wents far as to write an order
deposing him from office, without naming bis
successor, which he forwarded to General
Grant for his approval. Before receiving any
reply, however, Governor jenkins returned and
made such explanations and gave such pledges
to General Pope that BIO withdrew the contcm.
plated order. General Grant on the 5th June.
forwarded the order to the Secretary of War
with the following endorsement:
Respectfully forwarded 10 the Secretary cf
war for his Information. The telegraphic dis.
patch here enclosed saows that Governor
Jenkins OF Georgia has given such pledges 10
tue commander Of the Sd district, as to induce
hlii u withhold, for the present. the suspen.
sion OF The Governor. The conduct of Cover
nor Jenkins demonstrates, however, how posi-
os ii as 10 the dscontentsd cetl officers of recon-
stucted States TO defeat the las,s Of Congress, If
1.daders to suspend their Functions in sonic ,cau
1t seems clear to me that power is given In the
Dill for the more efficient government of the
rebel States, to use OF. not, at the pleasure Of
commanders, the provisional machinery set up
to WHICH the reconstructed act applies. There
being doubt, however, on this point, I resDact-
fully ask al early opinion on the subject. If
tne power OF removal does not exist with tho
G'3tri't commanders, then it will become
necessary to take refuge under that section of
the bill which authorizes military Commissions.
U. $. GRANT.