The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-09-06
TIE TRANSCRIPT.
The President and Gen. Grant.

protesting against Shoridans transfer,
and has promulgated the order reler-
ing Sheridan and appointing Hancock, Z.
Just rs it was written by the President.
1t turns out on close examination of
the Reconstruction act, that Grant is
not vested with SO much power as has
been generally supposed. Here is a
brief statement Of the Reconstruction I
so far as the power Of the General of
army is conccrncd Section Of that
bill provides that "the General of the
Army of the United States be invested I.
with all the powers Of supervision, re
moval, appointment and details grant
cd in the preceding section to District
Commanders. BY the "a section the
General Of the Army is limited to c.
ordinate and supervisory powers in re-
gard to suspension, removal, appoint
ment and detail Ifany District Com
mander appoints disloyal persons to
the civil or municipal Offices within his
district, Gen Grant can remove them;
or if the District Commander suspends
or removes loyal incunbonts, the Gen
eral OF the Army can annul his action,
thereby rcinstating the removed Off
Gals; but Grant now thinks his au-
thority seems 10 be limited to these co..
ordinate and supervisory powers in re
gard to suspension, removal, appoint
ment and detail If for instance, the
Commander Of the 9Th District should
Issue an order, under the advice Of The
President, 10 postpone the election
ordered by Sheridan in Louisiana in
September, Gen. Grant would have no
power to interfere
1t is to be regretted that Congress
overlooked so important matter aud
gave the President so much power.
Shis power will be used by the Presi-
dent, to the detriment, we fear, Of the
Reconstruction act We quote from
the Boston Jo,onqi
At FIRST view it seems surprising that
Congress should have overlooked a
matter SO important, especially when
called together in extra session to
remedy previous legislation covering
this very ground. But at that time
Sheridans removal of Gov Wells had
directed public attention wholly to the
collision with State officials, to the
neglect OF other matters Of administra-
ton, which did not then seem likely to
provoke any controversy. But it is
owing TO this inattentiye Legislation
that Gen. Grant now finds his hand.
iettered in dealing with vital poin
OF the reconstruction policy. We still
believe that he has the power to direc
District Commander in advance al
to his subordinates and all local off
cials-this being inferable from hi
power to override the District Com
mander's action upon such officers o
to appoint and remove them himself
But IN the present exigency Their
would probably be no advantage in is
SUNG such orders over the cour1e c
awaiting the District Commander
action IN any given case, and the
either approving or rejectingit it. Gen
Grant, therefore most reluctantly. "
have 10 doubt has come to the COZ
c!uslon to let the Presidents orders (
the District Commanders referred /
above pass i'll the shape given them /
the secret counsels Of the Whit
House
The npshot Of the Whole maitor thu
far IS that Gen. Hancock ana his
test case that will be found to hay
power rs a precedent in the other iii,
tricts goes TO New Orleans at libert
to unsettle all that Sheridan has a,
complished, so far as the law will a
low him. He can reopen registratio
and extend it to the first day Of Octc
Der, thus giving the rebels anotbe
chance, which they will need no furtl
or Executive hints 10 make the mo.
Of Or, he can postpone mt pleasln
the election of delegates to the CONVEX
ton TO frame a constitutional Tins 81,
ing time for the rebel leaders 10 M
ture their plans and concentrate the
powers for mischief lie Will also an
point the numerous officers to sunei
intend the election, and although the
will be subject TO the disapproval I
the General of the army in tho grel
majority of cases it may be inpossibl
to detect unworthy appointments Ii
their evil effects are aecompHshe,
Moreover, in his power Of apportioi
ment he can, if so disposed, do niue
to give an unfair bias to the voice {
the people. Now we DO not propos
to PREJUDICE Ger. Hancock lie ma
be man OF good intentions, but h
certainly goes to the 9Th District m
der the most inauspicious circumstar
ces. One thing is ccrtain-so far a
the Will Of Andrew johnson can ava
~ tins change, judging from the ten
per he has already displayed and froi
his known advisers and instigator
nothing is to be expected but aid 1
unrepentent treason and stabs ut ID
life of the loyal cause.
MoSrGoMEHr A dry house bolon.
ing TO l.. S. Hendricil, Was burned .
the 23d nit Loss about $500. II
suled for $3.50
The people Of Montgomery yillaa
ara ofrttaf,..,, s'