Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-08-31

Correspondence Between General
Grant and Andy JOhnson.

THE REMOVAL OF SHERIDAN.
Correspondence Between General
Grant and Andy Johnson. /
- II
New YoRK, Aug. 28.--The New York
Herald publishes the full correspondence be-
tween President johnson and Gen. Grant on I
the removal of Gen. Sheridan, in which
Grant protests and johnson insists on the
change.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON no GENERAL GRANT |
ExEcurIvE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. C.,
Aug. II, 1867.
DEAR SIR Before you issue instructions
to carry into effect the inclosed order,
would be pleased to hear any suggestions
you may deem necessary respecting the as
signmepts to which the order refers. ...f,
Truly vours. ANDREW JOHNSON.
Gen. U. s. GRANT, Secretary OF War, al
interim. ..t.
THE ORDER OF REMOVAL.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. C.,
Aug II, 1867.
Minor. Gen. George II. Thomas is hereby
assigned to the command of the Fifth Mill
tary District, created by the act of Congress
passed on the second day of March, 1867.
aIajor.Gen. T.. II. Sheridan is hereby as
signed to ,be command of the Department
of the Missouri.
Major. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock is hereby
assigned to the command of the Department.
| of the Cumberland. I'd. .#t..
The Secretary of War ad interim will give
the necessary instructions to carry this order
into effect. -..... .,.t t..... .t.. .......-
.. ANDREW JOHNSON.
! GENERAL GRANT TO PRECEDENT JOHNSON.
In his letter Grant says:
81 am pleased to avail myself of this invi-
tation to urge earnestly urge-urge in the
name oe patriotic people, who have sacri-
feed hundreds of thousands of loyal lives
and thousands of millions of treasure to pre-
serve the integrity and Union of this country,
that this order be not insisted on. 1t is
Enthusiastically the expressed wish of the
country that General Sheridan should not
be removed from his present command.
This is republic, where the will of the
people is the law of the land. beg that
their voices may be heard. Gen. Sheridan
has performed his civil duties faithfully and
inteiigently. His removal will only be re-
garded as an effort to defeat the laws of Con-
gress. IT will be interpreted by the unre.
constructed element in the South-those
who did all they could to break up this gov
ernment by arms, and now wish 20 he the
only element consulted as to the method OF
restoring order-as a triumph. 1t will en-
bolden them to renewed opposition to the
will of the loyal masses, believing that they
have the Executive with them"
PRESIDENT JOHNSON TO GENERAL GRANT
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
+ WAsuINGToN, ID. c., Aug. 10, 1867.
l.. GENERAL: l have received your com
/, muncation of the 18th inst, and thank you
for the promptness with which you have
submitted your views respecting the assign
S ments directed in my order of that date
: When stated, in my unofficial note OF the
n 18th, that | would be pleased to hear any
suggestions you might deem necessary upor
the subject, it was not my intention to ask
G from you formal report, but rather to in
n vite a verbal statement of any reasons affect
ing the public interests which, in your opin
ion, would render the order inexpedient
, 1nasmuch, however, as you have embodied
y your suggestions in written communica
Is ton, it is proper that | should make some
o reply.
o. You earnestly urge that the order be no
-; insisted on, remarking that sit is unmistak
ably the expressed wish of the country tina
'r Gen. Sheridan Should not be removed
% from his present command" While | an
/. cognizant of the efforts that have been mad
to retain Gen. Sheridan in command of tn
o Fifth Military District, am not aware tha
% the question has ever been submitted to tn
IS people themselves for determination.
O. certainly would be unjust to the army t
:, assume that, in the opinion of the nation, b
u alone is capable Of commanding the State
is of Louisiana and Texas, and that, were Ii
for any cause removed, no other general il
the military service of the United State
N would be competent to fill his place. Ger
# Thomas, whom l have designated as hi
y successor, is well known to the country
VI Having won high and honorable distinctio
n in the field, he has since, in the execution G
10 the responsible duties of department CON
mander, exhibited great ability, sound dit
i, cretion, and sterling patriotism. He ha
not failed, under the most trying circun
e. stances, to enforce the laws to preserve peac
As and order, to encourage the restoration {
is civil authority, and to promote, as far q
- possible, a spirit of reconciliation. His ad
mnistration of the Department of the Cum
bcrland will certainly compare most favol
ably with that of Gen. Sheridan in til
DC Fifth Military District. These affairs appea
h to be in a disturbed condition, and bite
g spirit of antagonism seems to have resultc
from Gen. Sheridan's management He ha
>" rendered himself exceedingly obnoxious b
~ the manner in which he has exercised eve
e. the powers conferred by Congress, and sti
n more so by resort to authority not granite
n by law nor necessary to its faithful and eff
cient execution. His rule has, in fact, bee
-e' one of absolute tyranny, without refereno
ey to the principles of our Government or til
co nature of our free institutions. The state
ea affairs which has resulted from the course
- - has pursued, has seriously interfered with
NC harmonious, satisfactory, and speedy execl
'ir tion of the acts of Congress, and is alor
sufficient to justify change. His remova
therefore, cannot "be regarded as an effo
an to defeat the laws of Congress-" for the ol
ed ject is to facilitate their execution, throug
n, an officer who has never failed to obey Il
Irs statutes Of the land, and to exact within h
81. jurisdiction, like obedience form other
d, 1t cannot "be interpreted by the unrecoi
it. s;ructed element in the South-those wi
to did all they could to break up this Cover
nd ment by arms, and now wish to be the on
en- element consulted as to the method of I
nd storing order--as triumph; :" for, us inte