The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-08-29
Telegraphiic
EXECUTIVE MANSION,

Washington, Aug. III
| DEAR SIR:-Before you issue IN
structlons to carry into effect the en-
closed, I would be pleased to hear any
suggestions you may deem necessary
respecting assignments to which the
order refers. Truly yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
To Gen U s Grant,
I Sec'y Of War, ad interim. !.
HID Q'Rs ARMY OF U. s,
Washington, Aug. II, '67.
His Excelleney, A. Johnson; Il ~.
SIR Il am in receipt Of your order
Of this date directing me to appoint
Gen & III Thomas to the command Of
the Fifth Military District, General
Sheridan to the department of Miss.
Iouri, and Gen Hancock to the De-
partment Of the Cumberland and
also your note OF this date enclosing
these instructions: g To carry into
effect the enclosed order. would
be pleased to hear any suggestions
you may deem necessary respecting
the assignments to which tho 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 hundreds of millions of
treasure to preserve the integrity and
Union Of this country, that this or
der be not insisted upon. Tt is an
Enthusiastically expressed wish of the
country that Gen Sheridan should
not be removed from his present com
mand. This is a republic where the
will of the people is the law of the
land. / beg that their voices may
be heard. Gen. Sheridan has per.
foImed his civil duties faithfully and
|intelligcntly. His removal will only
be regarded as an effort to defeat
the laws Of Congress.
1t will be interpreted by the unre-
constructed element of the South,
those who did all they could to
break up this Government by arms,
and who now wish to be the only
element consulted as to the meth
cd of restoring order and as their
triumph. It will embolden them to
new opposition to the loyal masses,
believing that they have the Execu-
tive with them. la3
The services of Gen Thomas in
battling for the Union, entitlo him
to some consideration. He has re-
peatedly entered his protest against
being assigned to either of these mil
itary districts, and especially to being
assigned to relieve Gen Sheridan.
Gen Hancock ought not to be ro-
moved from where he is, as his de-
partment is complicated, and one
which will take new commander
some time to becomeacquainted with.
There arc military reasons, pecuni
airy reasons and above all, patriotic
reasons why this order should not be
insisted on. I beg to refer you to let
ters marked private, which wrote
TO the President, when first consult
ed on the subject oflthis change in
the War Department.. 1t bears up
on tho subject Of his -removal, and 7
had hoped it would have prevented
it. / have tho honor to be with great
respect, Il
Your obedient servant,
U. s. GRANT,
Gen U. S. A., and Sec'y Of War ad
interim. ts Ss u
The President responded at great
length, commencing by thanking
Grant for his promp. attention, at
the Same time saying that more than
a verbal expression of his views was
unexpected. The President proceed
ed to argument in justification Of his
order. declaring that he was not
aware that the question of Sheridans
removal had ever been submitted to
the people for determination, and
that it would certainly be unjust to
the army to assume that in the opin-
ion of the nations Sheridan alone was
not capable of commanding tho
States of Louisiana and Texas.
The Presidentrefers to Gen Thomas
as possessed of great ability, sound
discretion and sterling patriotism,
and whose administration in the de-
partment of the Cumberland will
certainly compare favorably with
that of Sheridan in the 9Th district.
Gen. Sheridan, says the President,
has rendered himself exceedingly OBJ
noxious by the manner in which he
has exercised the powers conferred
by Congress, and still more SO by re
sort to authority not granted by law.
His rule has in fact been one Of alb
solute tyranny, without reference to
the principles ofour Government or
nature of our free institutions. The
state of affairs resulting from the
course pursued has seriously interfered
with the execution Of the acts Of Con-
gress and is alone sufficient tojustify
the change.
The President, therefore, concludes
that Sherldan's removal cannot bere-
garded as an effort to defeat the laws
of Congress, nor construed by the un-
reconstructed element south as q per-
sonal triumph. The latter are familiar
with the antecedents Of the President.
and know he has not Constructed the
faithful execution Of any act Of Con-
gress, and cannot be led to believe
that the Executive is with them and
therefore emboldened to renew oppo-
sition to the loyal masses. The Pres
ident cannot think Gen. Thomas will
hesitate for an instant to obey his or