Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-09-04
o. s. GRANT AND ANDREW JOHNSON
Removal of District Commanders.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF TIE U S.,
WASHINGTON, August IL, 1857

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF TIE U s.,
WAsHIsGToS, August IL, 1857.
HIS Ercellency Andre,o johnson President
United States SIR am in receipt of your
order of this date, directing me to appoint
Gen. G. H. Thomas to the command of the
Fifth Military District, Gen. Sheridan to
the Department of Missouri, Gen. Hancock
to the Department of the Cumberland, and
also your note of this date, enclosing the in-
structions to carry into effect the enclosed
order saying Il would be pleased to hear
any suggestion you may deem necessary re-
specting the assignments to which the order
refers. l am pleased to avail myself Of
this invitation to urge, earnestly urge, In
the name of a patriotic people, who have
sacrificed hundreds of thousands of lives,
and thousands of millions of treasure, to
preserve the integrity and union of this
country, that the order be not insisted upon.
1t is unmistakably the expressed wish of
the country that Gen. Sheridan should not
be removed from his present command.
This is Republic where the will of the
reople is the law of the land. | beg that
their voice may be heard. Gen. Sheridan
has performed his civil duties faithfully and
intelligently. His removal will only be,re-
garded as an effort to defeat the law of Con-
gress. 1t will be interpreted by the uncon-
stitutional element in the South, those who
did all they could to break up this govern
ment by arms and now wish to be the only
element consulted as to the method of re-
storing order, as triumph. 1t will embol-
den to renewed opposition to the will of
the loyal masses, believing that they have
the Executive with them.
The services of Gen. Thomas in battling
for the Union entitle him to some consider
II hou ka1l hIc
test against being assigned to either of the
Eve Military Districts, especially to being
assigned to relieve Gen. Sheridan. Gen.
Hancock ought not to be removed from
where he is. His Department is a compli-
Gated one, which will take new comman-
der some time to become acquainted with.
There are military reasons, pecunary
reasons, and above all patriotic reasons, why
this order should not be insisted on. / beg
to refer you to letter marked private, !"
which I wrote to the President when first
consulted on the subject of change in the
War Department. 1t bears upon the sub
ject OF this removal, and had hoped would
have prevented It / have the honor to be,
with great respect, your OBJ serv't,
q. S. GRANT.
Gen. U. s. A, and Sec'y War, ad interim.
To this communication the President re-
plies under date of August 10th. He sums
up his reasons for making the change as
follows:
I'm assuming that it is the expressed
wish of the people that General Sheridan
should not be removed from his present
command, you remark that this is a repub-
lie, based, however, upon a written Consti-
tuition. That Constitution is the com oined
and expressed will of the people, and their
voioa 10 laxu hon raHootad in tho ,nappar
which that instrument prescribes. While
one of its provisions makes the President
Com mnander-in-chie of the army and navy,
another requires he shall take care that the
law be faithfully executed. Believing that
a change in command in the Fifth Military
District is absolutely necessary for faithful
execution of the law, | have issued the or
der which is the subject of this correspon-
dence. In thus exercising a power that
inheres in the Executive under the Consti-
tuition, as Commander in chief of the army
and navy, | am discharging duty required
of me by the will of the nation as formally
declared in the supreme law OF the land.
By his oath the Executive is solemnly bound
to the best of his ability, to preserve, pro-
tect, and defend the Constitution, and al
though In times of great excitement 1t be
lost to public view, it is his duty without re-
SdEu W Consequences W IliihaCHf " hoiA
sacred and enforce any and all of Its provls-
ions. Any other course would lead to the
destruction of the Republic, for the Consti-
tuition once abolished, there would be no
Congress for the exercise of legislative pow
ers, no executive to see that the laws are
faithfully executed, no judiciary to afford to
the citizens protection for life, limb and
property Usurpation would inevitably
follow, and despotism be fixed on the peo-
pie in violation of their combined and ex-
pressed will.
I'm conclusion, | fail to perceive any mill
tary, pecuniary, and patriotic reasons why
this order should not be carried into effect.
You will remember that in the first instance
I did not consider Gen. Sheridan the most
suitable man for the command of the Fifth
Military District. Time has strengthened
my convictions upon this point, and has led
to the conclusion that patriotic coDsidera.
tions demand that he should be superseded
by an officer who, while he will faithfully
execute the law, will at the same time give
more general satisfaction to the whole peo
pie, white and black, North and South.
am, General, very respectfully, yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
ITO Gen Grant, Secretary dd interim.