Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-09-04

Congress. 1t is probable that Gen. Grant at
first thought the law gave him exclusive
control of the whole work of reconstruction
except the appointment of district command
ers, but he has no doubt since become salts
fed that the law has left him quite power
less in most of the details of reconstruction.
He is confident, however, that Congress has
put the matter of appointments to civil
Offices in the South entirely in his hands,
and this power he is quite ready to exercise,
as will appear by the following official order
HEADQUARTERS OF TIE Army, }
Adiutant Generals Office.
Aug. Doth, 1867.
Special Order 429.
Commanders of the Military Districts
make no appointments to civil Office of per
sons who have been removed by themselves
or the predecessors in command.
BY command of Gen. Grant.
(Signed) T.. ID. TOWNSEND.
Assistant Adjutant General.
This is Gen. Grants response to the Presi
dents order practically revoking paragraph
five Of Grant previous order and substan
tally telling the District commanders TO act
their pleasure in their departments. Gen.
Grant commands these officials to attempt
no restoration of deposed officials, but to
leave them as they find them.
Since the publication Of Gen. Grant's let
ter protesting against the removal of Gen.
Sheridan, the great majority of Republican
papers have received that letter as conclusive
evidence that Gen Grant was heartily in
sympathy with the Congressional method of
reconstruction. Two or three prominent
journals, however, by criticizing the General
for remaining in the office of Secretary of
War, and by insisting that he ought to have
refused to issue the orders removing Sheri-
dan and Sickles, have insinuated that Gen
Grant was not quite sound. The New York
Tribune only day or two ago urged in a
prominent editorial that Gen Grant had
power and ought To exercise it over the whole
work of reconstruction. The truth. unfor-
for the country, is, however, that
while Gen. Grant has been ready to veto
every order of the President where he had
the right, he has found himself quite power
less in the most important particulars. 1t
is also true that the orders Gen. Grant has
already issued carrying into effect the removal
Of Sheridan and Sickles, he has issued as
General and not as Secretary of War; and
he had no more right TO refuse To issue them
than Sheridan and Sickles had to refuse to
obey them. Gen. Grant has used all the power
confided in him, and has used it on the
right side. What more can be asked Of him
The order which we copy above is the best
evidence that Gen. Grant Is entirely sound
in his sympathies, and is ready to 90 as far
as the law warrants in fighting the Presidents
pernicious policy. The country would gain
nothing by exchanging him Secretary of
War for Gen. Stecdman or Gen. Rousseau
and no Republican can wish Grant to throw
up his commission as General in the army
In fact, while Congress was quite too indif-
ferent to the interests Of the country to
check the usurpations Of the President, the
whole work Of blocking President Johnson's
game of Southern reconstruction has been
thrown upon Gen. Grant: and it is eminent
" desirable that ne should remain in posi-
tons where he has the most power 70 hinder
the reasonable schemes of the President and
his rebel advisers His acts thus far are the
highest evidence he could possibly give that
nc is steadflst in his adherence u the Repub-
lean plan for the restoration Of the South
The hope Of the country is now in him and
t is certainly of the utmost consequence
hat, while he yields nothing Of power which
-ightfully belongs to him, he should give the
President no opportunity to charge him with