Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-08-30
Gen. Grants Letter.

ten. tsfauts htttess
Gen. Grants letter demonstrating against
he sunercedure of Sheridan, Is as follows
Ur.DouARryRs Armies or THE U.s.,
WASHINGTON, Aug. IL. 1907.
H.. r,.I,.,.v Andrew johnson, President Of
he United States f.L;.
Sui am in receipt Of your order Of tbs
late d;,sctinU the assignment of Gen. G. H.
Thomas 10 the command of the 9th Military
District. Gen. Sheridan to the Department o.
the Missouri, and Gen. Hancock TO the depart
ment of the Cumberland. Also Of your note OF
this date enclosing these instructions) saying
Z" Before you issue instructions TO carry mo
effect the enclosed order, would be pleased 10
hear any suggestions you may deem necessary
respecting the assignments 10 which the ORDER
refers.
am pleased to avail myself Of this invitation
TO urge, earnestly urge, in the name or a psirio-
tic people who have sacrificed hundreds OF thous-
ands Of loyal lives, and thousands OF millions oil
treasure to preserve the integrity and union OF
this country, that this order be not INSISTED
upon. 1t is unmistaksbly the expressed Sisn Of
the country that General Sheridan should not
be removed from his present command Ihis
is republic, where the will Of the people Is the
law Of the land beg that their voice may be
heard Gen. Sheridan has performed his c'Vii
duties faithfully and in;elligently. HIS removal
will only be regarded as an effort TO defeat the
laws Of Congress IL will be interpreted BY the
uureconstructed element in the South, those
who did sll they could to break up this govern
ment by arms and now wish to be the only eie-
ment consulted as to the method Of restoring or
der, as triumph. II will embolden them TO
renewed opposition to the will Of the loyal mass =
cs believing that they have the Executive with
them. The services Of Gen. Thomas IN bathing
for the Union entitle him TO some consideration
He has repeatedly entered his protest against
being assigned to either Of the five Military Dis
tricts, and especially TO being assigned to re-
leve Gen. Sheridan. Gen. Hancock ought not
to be removed from where he Is. HE Depart
meutiss complicated one, which will take a
new commander some time TO become acquainted
with. There are military reasons, pecuniary
reasons, and, above al, patriotic reasons, W.
this order should not be insisted on. beg to
refer to letter marked private, which l wrote
| 10 the Presidsnt when first consulted on the
subject Of the change in the War Department
II bears upon the subject Of this removal, and
| had hoped would have prevented II.
have the honor to be, with great respect,
(Signed) U. ). GRAST,
General U.SA., and Secretary Of War al M
| term.
The Presidents Reply.
The President in reply under date OF Aug
| 10Th, writes as follows -
While am cognizaat Of the Efforts that hAy
been made to retain Gen. Sheridan IN command
| Of the Fifth Military District, an not aTsr
that the question has ever been submitted to tn
- Ia. 70 a
| iy would be unjust TO the army, to assume tina
in the ooinion Of the nation, be alone is capab-
Of commanding the States Of Louisiana and Tex
as, and that we're be for any cause removed,
other General in the military service Of IN
United States would be competent 10 NIL 81
place There affairs appear TO be IN a dlsturbe
condition, and bitter spirit OF antagonist
seems TO hsve resulted from Gen. Sheridsn
management he has rendered himself exceed
ingly obnoxious BY the manner in which hs ha
exercised even the powers conferred by Con
gress, and still more so by resort 20 authorit
not granted by law, or necessary 10 its faithft
and efficient execution. His rule has. in sc
been one Of absolute tyranny, with reference
the principles Of our g0yernment or the natuI
Of our free institutions The state Of snAn
which hss resulted from the course be has pun
sued has seriously interfered with hsrmoniou
kAtAEIacllEy NAtN-AteA Va ~ -
Congsess, and Is alone sufficient 10 Justify
change.
He then goes on to say that the removal
! Sheridan s designed not TO defeat the laws
Congress, but 10 facilitate their execution; hi
, the unreco. structed element in the South vi
hsvc 10 occasion for triumph, knowing as the
3 do, that the Law does not change with u
change Of commanders. and that the Presidet
has never sbstructed the execution Of any AZ
2 Of Congress. Amer praisiug Thomas, Hancoc
and Sheridan for their gallant services in Il
e war and expressing his confidence that Sher
dan, under the guidance Of sherman, will I'll
scope for the display Of his energy, enterpri
snd daring IN the settlement Of our Indian diff
culties, he proceeds TO declare that be issued Z
' order removing sheridan under sense Of du
sni With desire to fulfil his official oath. Tt
= he was bound to DO without regard TO the cons
, quences TO himself lie must see to It that t
constitution wss upheld in its integrity, for
that depended Congress, Executive snd Judi
airy alike.
= In conclusion. be says that he fails to percei
any military pecunisry,'' or " patrol
reasons why this order should not be CARR
. into effect; reminds Gen. Grant that he
not in the first instance consider Sheridan Z
= most suitable officer for the command Of the 5
military district, and says tine hss strengthen
bis convictions on this point