The Portland daily press., 1867-06-06
The Lou isiann Inn brorIio,

General Sheridan's report to the Secretary
of War, respecting the Levee Commissioners,
lets in flood of light upon the confusion in
louisiana. The New Orleans Republican is
the organ of Ex Governor Wells, and General
Sheridan proclaims him political trickster"
The course Of the Governor at the time Of the
riot last summer has never been isfactorily
explained. After issuing warrants for the
election of delegates to the convention, he
went into the country, disappeared, and when
the riot which he anticipated came, could not
be found. This was not the conduct of bold
and upright magistrate. 1t was regarded at
the time as an evidence of weakness at least
We find the Republican, under Governor
Wells's inspiration, urging the removal of
General Sheridan. Yet its own columns bear
witness against it. A Washington correspon-
dent writes to the Republican. to say that ~The
President has been strongly pressed by leading
ex-rebels and Copperheads to remove General
Sheridan, but although the President has no
special love for the General he does not dare to
move in the matter, at least until after July
| for fear that Congress would Immediately i'm
peach and remove himself" 1t has been ru
mored before, that the President was strongly
| disposed to remove General Sheridan, but was
| restrained by the unanimous advice of his cab
| met and the emphatic disapproval of Genera
Grant. Mr.. John L. Monroe, who was, mayor
| of New Orleans at the time OF the riot and al
| Least took no efficient measures to prevent Ii
| has been in Washington lately, and reported
| on his return that he had not found a man in
the North who indorsed the course of General
S,lu =.
sufficiently indicates what company Mr.. Mon
roe sought and found. Mr. Monroe made thi:
statement in a speech at a political meeting
and spoke at the same time OF q pleasant in
terview with MIR. johnson. If anything were
wanting to illustrate the Presidents cordia
understanding with the suspected organizers
Of the July riot, this interview with its conse-
euences would suffice. ybl! Iua dn "
a Governor Wells, in his address to the people
of Louisiana, did not hesitate to charge Mayor
Monroe with deliberately preparing to disperse
the Consention by forces How happens il
that these two men are now acting together
against General Sheri Ian? 1t is easy to sec
why Monroe should oppose a faithful and
patriotic officer Ike Sheridan; but how comes
Wells to co-operate with him? The New Or
leans Tribune, the truest AM. aDlest mon pa
per in the South, has heretofore il. tmated that
this remarkable combination meant 81. "t only
the removal OF the General but the revivaIi ~
the era of greenbacks." That expression is
now explained. -Four millions of dollars had
been appropriated for a public work of the
greatest urgency-the repair of the broken
levees which had let in the waters of the Mis-
sissippi over great part of the State, OCCASION
| ing much suffering. The Legislature had for
political purposes entrusted the distribution of
this sum to a board of ex-rebel commissioners
Gov. Wells, also for political purposes, and
without authority, have appointed board of
his own friends. General Sheridan settled th,,
conflict of authority by dissolving both boards.
with intent to postpone indefinitely the return
of "the era of greenbaczs" and to facilitate the
restoration of the levees. The Just verdict of
the New Orleans Tribune must be accepted ::
"the attack on General Sheridan is undesery-
ed, and the object OF making it transparently
malicious and sinister aue 7df ri r.nilI