The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-28

| ing the States of Louisiana and Texas,
! and that, were he for any cause remov'
/ ed, no other General in the military
service of the United States would be
competent to fill his place. General
I Thomas, whom l have designated as
| his successor, is well known to the
country. Having won high and homo
rable distinction in the field, he has
since, in the execution of the responsi-
| BILE duties of IA department. commander,
exhibited great ability, sound discre-
tion sand sterling patriotism. He has
not failed, under the most trying cir
CumstanCes, TO enforce the laws, TO pre-
serve peace and order, to encourage the
restoration of civil authority, and 10
! promote, as far as possible, a spirit of
/ reconciliation. His administration of
the Department of the Cumberland
will certainly compare most favorably
with that of General Sheridan IN the
Fifth Military District. There, affairs
appear to be In disturbed condition,
and bitter spirit of HntRgonism seems
I to have resulted from General Sheri-
dams infringement. He has rendered
himself exceedingly obnoxious by the
manner in which he has exercised even
the powers conferred by Congress, and
| still more SO by a resort to authority
not granted by law nor necessary to its
faithful and efficient execution. His
rule has, In fact, been one of absolute
| tyranny, without reference to the priu-
ciples of our government or the nature
| of our free Institutions. The state OF
| affairs which has resulted from the
course he has pursued has seriously
| intcrfered with Il harmonious, satisfac-
tory and speedy execution of the acts
| OF Congress, and is alone sufficient to
justify ii change. His removal, there
| fore, cannot abe regarded as an effort
TO defeat the laws of Congress;" for the
frN EaCilffutn thatF nxnCufinn q
through an officer who has never failed
TO obey the statutes of the land, and 10
| exact, within his jurisdiction, a like
obedience from others. II cannot "be
Interpreted by the unreconstructed ele-
meut 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 restoring order-as tri-
umph;" for, as Intelligent men, they
must know that the mere change OF
military commanders cannot alter the
law, and that General Thomas Will be
as much bound by its requirements MS
General Sheridan. II cannot "embold-
en- them to renewed opposition 10 the
will of the loyal masses, believing that
they have the Executive with them;"
for they are perfectly familiar with the
antecedents OF the President, and know
that he has not obstructed the faithful
No one, as you are aware, has high
er appreciation than myself of the SER
vices of Gen, Thomas, and no one
would be less inclined TO assign him
to command not entirelyto his wish
es. Knowing him as j do, L cannot
think that he will hesitate for mo.
ment to obey any order having in view
complete and speedy restoration of
the Union, in the preservation of which
ne has rendered such important and
valua bic services.
General Hancock, known to the
whole country as gallant, able and
patriotic soldier, will, l have no doubt,
sustain his high reputation in any
position to which he may be assigned.
IG,as you observe, the department which
he will have is Il complicated one, l
feel confident that, under the guidance
and instructions OF General Sherman,
General Sheridan will soon become
familiar with its necessities, and will
avail himself of the opportunity afford
ed by the Indian troubles for the dis
play of the energy, enterprise and dar-
ing which gave him so enviable repu-
taIiOn during our recent civil struggle.
In assuming that it is the expressed
wish OF the people that Gen. Sheridan
should not be removed from his pres
ent command, you remark that this
Is II republic where the VIII of the peo-
pie is the law OF the land" and "beg
that their voice may be heard" This
is indeed republic, based, however,
upon Il written constitution. That
constitution is the. combined and eX
pressed will of The people, AMI their
voice is law when reflected in the man
ner which that instrument prescribes.
While one of its provisions makes the
Pres ident COMMANDMENTS Chief of the
army and navy, another requires that
che shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed" Believing that a
change in the command of the Fifth
Military District is absolutely neces-
sary for II faithful execution of the
laws, have ISSUED the order which is
the subject of this correspondence; and
in thus exercising power that lnheres
in the Executive, under the Constitu-
ton, as Commander.iu.Ch Chief of the
military and naval forces, 1 am dis
charging a duty required of me by the
will OF the nation, as fOrmHlly declared
in the supreme law of the land. By his
oath the Executive is solemnly bound
'to the best of his ability, to pre-
serve, protect and defend the con-
stitution," and although in time
of great excitement II may be lost to
public view, 1t is his duty, without re-
gard to the consequence to himself, to
hold sacred and to enforce any and all
of its provisions. Any other course
would lead to the destruction of the re-
DuDllc; Tor, tne COnSDLuIiOn once hDDl-
ished, there would be no Congress for
the exercise of legislative powers, no
Executive to see that the laws are faith
fully executed, nojudiciary TO afford TO
citizens protection for life, limb and
property. Usurpation would inevita-
bly, follow, and IA despotism be fixed
upon the people in violation of their
combined and expressed will.
In conclusion, fail to perceive any
"military," "pecuniaryr or "patriotic
reasons" why this order should not be
carried into effect. You will remember
that in the first instance l did not con-
slider Gen. Sheridan the most suitable
officer for the command of the Fifth
Military District. Time has strength
ened my conviction upon this point,
and has led me to the conclusion that
patriotic considerations 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
people, white and black, North and
South. 1 am General, 7raE
Very respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
GEN. U. S. GRANT, Secretary of War,
dd interim. ...-.s ---.
The sons of Temperance.
The order of the Sons of Temperance