Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-12-26

question was asked, "Is the military
to interfere to prevent the process of
thoc courtsY" This question was asked
at time when the civil courts were
in the full exercise of their authority,
ard the answer sent by telegraph on
the same 2Sth Of August, was this !;
"The military will be expected to sus-
tain and not 10 interfere with the
proceedings of the courts"
The same 2Sth Of August the fol-
lowing telegram was sent to Mr.
Stanton by Major-General Baird, then,
owing to the absence of Gen. Sheridan,
in command Of the military at Now
Orleans:
Hon. EDWIN N. STANTON, Secretary Of War;
SIR; A convention has been called, with the
sanction Of Covrrnor Wells, to meet nerc on Mon
Gay. The Lieutenant Governor and city nuthori-
ties think ii unlawful, and propose break It up
by arrcsting the delegates. have given no orders
The subject. but have warned the parties | could
not c0unienance or permit such action without in
struetion 10 that effect from the President. Please
instruct me at once by telegraph.
The 2Sth of August was on Satur-
day. The next morning, 29th, this
dispatch was received by Mr.. Stanton
at his residence in this city. lie took
no action upon it, and neither sent
instructions TO General Baird himself
nor presented it to me for such instruc-
tions On the next day, Monday. the
riot occurred. ! never saw this dis.
patch from Gen. Baird until some ten
days or two weeks after the riot,
when, upon my call for all dispatches
with view to their publication, Mr..
Stanton sent it to me. These facts
all appear in the testimony Of Mr.
Stanton before the Judiciary Commit
tee in the impeachment investigation.
On the 3Oth, the day of the riot
and after it was suppressed, Gen.
Baird wrote to Mr.. Stanton a long
letter, from which make the follow
ing extract:
"sIR IL have the honor TO inform you that {
very serious riot occurred here to-day. ] had no
been applied to by the Convention for protection
I thA tut AtltuANuhlAA huhtANvl anu Aut Mhlui LAN
freely consulted with me, aud l was so fully con
WINGED il was so strongly the interest Of the city
authorities TO preserve the peace In order 10 pre-
vent military interference that did not regard al
outbreak as a thing 10 be spprehonded. Th'
Lieutenant Governor had assured me that even !
a writ OF arrest was issued by the Court the Sher
ii would not attempt to serve it without my per
mission, and for to-day they designed 10 suspend
il. / enclose herewith copies OF my correspond
/ ha nj .f n - d.
Lieutenant Governor claims to have received irou
the President. | regret that no reply to my dis
patch 10 you Of Saturday has yet reached me
General Sheridan is siill absent in Texas"
4 The dispatch of Gen. Baird of tn,
2sth asks for immediate instructions
and his letter of the Both, after detail
ing the terrible riot which had JUS
happened, ends with expressions o
tnerot that the inafrnctions which b.
asked for were not sent. 1t is not tn,
fault, or error, or omission of the Pres
ident that this military commandel
was left without instructions, but fol
all the omissions, for all errors, for al
failures to instruct where instruction
might have arrested this calamity
the President was openly aud persist
emily held responsible. Instantly
without waiting for proof Of the delin
queney of the President, he was her
aided in every form of ulterance. Mr.
Stanton knew then that the Presiden
was not responsible for the delin
quency. The exculpation was in hi
power, and it was not given by hin
to the public, and only TO the Presi
dent in obedience to requisition TO
all the dispatches.
No one regrets more than mysel
that Gen Baird's request was no
brought to my notice. 1t is clea
from his dispatch and letter that |
the Secretary of War had given bin
proper instructions, the riot whicI
arose on the assembling Of the Con
vention would have been averted
There may be those ready to say
would have given no instructions
even if the dispatch had reached M
in time; but all must admit that
ought to have had the opportunity.
The President then reviews the
relations between the Executive ant
heads of departments, and quotes from
old records Of Congress and debate
in the National Constitutional Con
vention, to prove the illegality of tn,
efforts to check the respo visibility 0
the President by depriving him of tn,
right of selecting his agents. He con
cludes rs follows:
! had INDUCED the hope that upoI
the assembling of Congress, Mr.. Stan
ton would have ended this unpleasan
complication according to the intima
ton given in his note of August 18th
The duty which | have felt mysel
called upon TO perform was by ne
means agreeable, and | feel that | an
not at all responsible for the contro
versy, or for the consequences. I'm
pleasant as this necessary change il
my Cabinet has bcef to me, upon per
sonaI considerations, / have the con
ISOLATION to be assured that so far a
the publicintercsts are involved, ther,
is no cause for regret, Salutary re
forms have been introduced by thu
Secretary dd interim, and great reduc
tions of expenses have been effected
under bis administration of the Wa
Department TO the saving of millioni
to the Treasury.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. y, 1867
Tho Hon. Mr.. Lowe, in his recent