New-York tribune., 1867-08-27

nor necessary to its faithful and efficient execution m
rule has IN fact, been one OF absolute tyranny tbe
nature of our free institutions The state Of affairs
which has resulted from the course he mas Pu[s,
and speedy execution of the Of Congress- and Is
alone sufficient TO Justify change HIS reInovai ILL., %
Of Congress-" for the object Is to facilitate their
tOn through officer who has never faned 70 9oey se
statutes Of the land, and to exact wlthlh ms
ton like obedience from others IL cannot DE ineI
preted by the umecOnsrueted element hh ue
those who did all they could to break up thls GOVern
by arms and now wish be the only element consumer @
as TO the method of restoring Srder&as & te arp
OF military commanders cannot after the law, anu ln,s
Den Thomas win be as much bound Dy Jus n ~ re
newed opposition to the will Of the loyal masses DesN h
ing that they have the Executive with them Tor lney
ae perfectly familiar with the antecedents OF the fTesi
dent, and know that he has not oDstructed tne iahi
No one, as You are aware las higher appreciation
than myself Of the services Of Gen. Thomas, anu no O
would be less inclined to assign him to command nOt
entirely to his wishes Knowing him do, cannon
think that he will hesitate for moment 10 obey any 9ruer
having In Wow complete and speedy restoration 9i ne
Union IN the preservation of which he has rendered Sucn
important and valuable services. ,,+
Gen Hancock known TO the whole country as gali.,
able and patriotic soldier, WILL have no doubt sustain
his nigh reputation in any position TO when ne may pe
assigned IT, you observe the department when ne
wIllhave q complicated one teeI confident that, under
the guidance and instructions OF Gen; sherman Cen
Sheridan viii soon become familiar with rs neeesslles
and Will avail himself Of the opportunity afforded by the
Indian troubles for the display Of the energy enterprise
and daring which gave him 80 enNlaple reputation
during our recent civil struggle.
In assuming that is the expressed wish or the people
that Sheridan should E"t be removed from ms pres
ent command Won remark that "ths republic where
the will Of the people is the law OF the land ana DEG
that their voice may be heard" This is indeed reguD
lie based. however, upon n written Constitution: Ihat
Consultation Is the combined and expressed VIII OF the
people and their voice Ia law when reflected IN the man
Ier which that instrument prescribes While one OF
provisions makes the President Commanderin.Che OF
The army and navy another requires that he shall take
care that the laws he faithfully executed BeneNlng
that n change i'm the command Of the Firth Military Dls
trict absolutely necessary for faithful execution o
the laws have issued the order which Is the SUBJECT OF
this correspondence and in thus exercising power that
inheres In the Executive, under the Constitution ~
COmmandcr-in- Chief Of the military and naval iOrceH
am disclaTnug duty required OF me by the VIII OI
the nations as formally declared III the supreme law OF
the land BY his GATH the Executive Is solemnly bonid
to the best of his ability 10 preserve, protect and de
fend the Constitution" and although IN tner OF great
excitement itmay be lost 10 pubic view 10 ~ MS uy
without REGARD 10 the consequences 10 himself 10 hOd
sacred and enforce any and all Of It's provisions Any
other wOud lead 10 the destruction OF the Repuo
lie for the Constitution once abolished, there wOd De
no Congress the exercise Uf eslatve powers no EN
cCutive that the laws faithfully executed no
Judiciary 10 afford 10 the citizen protection Tor NE, m
and property. UsuTpaOn would inevitably follow, ana
despOsm be fixed upon the people In violation OF their
combined and expressed Will
In conc usOn, fail 20 perceive any military pecuni-
ary" patriotic reasons" why tins order should not ne
carried into effect You VIII remember that IN the hrst
Instance did not consider Gen Sheridan the most snt
hle officer for the command OF the Fifth Military District
Time has strengthened my convictions upon ths point
and has led the conclusion That patriotic consdera
tOns demand that he should be superseded by an ocer
who while he will faithfully execute the law, viii at the
people, white and black, North and South.
ANDREw JOHNSON,
Gen. L. g. GRANT, Secretary of War al interim.