New-York tribune., 1867-08-24
THE REMOVAL OF STANTON AND SHERIDAN


A TALK WITH THE PREsIDENT-GEN. GRANTS
PART IN THE RANsACTIoN-Tw0 REASONS
FOR sHERIDANS REM0YAL--GOY5. WELLS
AND THROCKMORTCN ABUSED.
The Washington correspondent of The Boston
Post telegraphs the following
In pleasant conversation Of some length toda, with
President Johnson remarked that lie charged with
having removed Mr. Stanton I'm order TO obstruct the
execution OF the Reconstruction acts OF Congress. He
asked what Mr. Stanton had to do with the execution
nonexecuton Of these acts These acts centered the
power in the hands of Gen. Grant, and he had placed
Grant over the War Department He could not under
stand how this change could be CONSTRUCT tO purpose
to defeat the proper execution Ul tf that % o %a
Gen Grant strongly intmated that uness MT stanton
was removed he should be compelled 20 leave her as he
could be OF possible use III view 9I h stanton over
bearing and dctat0ral conduct The PRESIDENT advised
him to have talk with the Secretary Of War and perhaps
they would understand each other better lie agreed.
however with the General that Mr. stanton Ohgt 10 e
removed ana ne ,sn 10 bn NJ ' in tbe event ~
chaugel The latter promptly expressed ms entIe
Gng had - evcnt1alIv protested against the removal
and the President frankly said such was the case that
the General had written him very KIND but earnest
private note, in which hel had ntimated his fears OF
anarchy If not revolution, should Secretary stanton De
superseded Yet as no could not appreciate te ueeras
fears on this score, he mad directed sne chehse hen
told him that the same charge was lade against MN TOT
removing Gen. Sheridan and that many supposed nus
purpose was 10 prevent due execution OF the law.
This he thought quite absurd as the other as the
laW WaS whether Thomas or 5hcflOau was IN
command. What difference could u make VINO executes
the law Could any one question the aOlty or patriot
was removed Mr. johnson said there two good
causes only had been cOnsidered the first one was
rather OF personal character and had been overlooked
The telegram OF the 2d Of June which was 80 dsrespectul
TO the Executive had been claimed Oy Gen. Grant 10 10
a private telegram 10 himself, and that no onholal
notice G. its existence had ever yet reached tne Ics
dent. But the second ground for the removal OF Cen
Sheridan the exercise Of powers he did not possess
and the exercise OF his legitimate powers IN an arOtary
and offensive asked If he would be kind enough
designate what acts he included under the latter clause
He said the removal OF Gov Wells was entirely unedled
for and unustifable Gov. Wells had placed at Gen.
Sheridan's disposal the whole civil machinery Of the
State to aid him in the execution OF the Reconstruction
acts Nor had the latter ever Indicated or pointed out
single act word Of the Governor which was calculated
embarrass him in the proper execution OF duty On
the other hand Sheridan had endeavOred 10 execute
the law partisan and had adopted Radcasn as tho
only true test OF loyalty his sole purpose seed 20 D9
to negro supremacy and degrade the whites and
for such conduc: deemed it my duty to relieve HIM from
that command. inquired IL ne dlu hOt lnInh GOV.
ThrockmortOn had attempted TO thwart the General IN
proper execution OF the law He answered enphatcay
NO Sr the records prove the reverse. The Governor
OF Texas also placed the whole civil machinery OF hs
State at the disposal Of the military power and aided
in every way possible, except IN the mahuIcJre OF
Radical majority OF voters ana IN securing negro
for which he arbitrarily removed by Gen sheridan"
said 10 the President that his views Us % the proper
execution of the Reconstruction acts were not clearly
derstood by the people and that would Ike to hear
them. He answered that he could express them IN few
words He desired fair registration OF all qualified
voters without regard 10 color He did not wish
tO give any advantage TO the white men, but much less
he disposed to make them the slaves 10 the negroes.
Where the neg'es had the majority IN South Carolina,
he wished them to exercise the power; where the white
Vote Was In the majority az In Texas, be desired that
white majority TO control He wanted only the law 10 be
fairly executed with equal chances to all This being
denied them by Gen sheridan, and his manner and mode
OF acting fast famarizng the people with the
tyranny Of despOtic government rel3arked that the
public would not be able To understand why he struck
down despOtsm I'm department and yet suffered II TO
continue in another. He replied that other changes
would be likely 20 follow very soon. proper investiga-
tiOB was being made into the conduct Of two
other Commanders who 1t was chargrd, We're playing tho
autOcrat The President expressed the greatest appre
hcnsiOn the future OF Government yet said he
still relied the good and patriotism Of tho people.
In his speech in the United States Senate IN December.
1860 Mr. Johnson said he had denounced the party who
would break up the Government in order 10 preserve
Slavery, and he had also denounced those who would
destroy the Government in order 20 abolish Slavery he
was equally opposed to both extremes and his only
wish for speedy return of raterna relations among
the States