The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-24
AIAlk WITH PREsInEHI JOHNSON.

| why lic Superseded Stanton, and His Rea
SONS Tor RcmOvine sheridan.
| From the Washington Correspondence of the Boston
In pleasant conversation or some length with Pres.
ident johnson, remarked that hs was charged with
having removed Dir. Stanton In order TO obstrlcl ht
execution OF the Reconstruction acts OF Congress.
lie asked what Mr.. Stanton had TO do with tho
ton non-executon Of these acts These acts cen
tired tho power in the hands OF General Grant and be
had placed Grant over the War Department Hs could
not Understand how the change coed DO construed into
purpose TO defeat the proper execution OF tho
struction laws. The President further remarked that
at ono time General Grant strongly ntmaed that
Mr. Stanton removed hc shceld be compelled 10
leave hero. be could be of possible use in
| view OF Mr. Stanton's overboarug and dsctatorlal
conduct The President advised him to have talk with
the Secretary or War, and perhaps they woat UNDER
each other better He agreed however with the
General that MT stanton ought to DO removed, and he
| then inquired OF General Grant II Ire would take
charge or the DopaIment In the event of change.
The latter propliy expressed his entire willingness to
do
referred 70 the that the General had eventu-
frankly said such tire case; that the General had
written him very kind, bat earnest private note in
which he had ntimaed his fears Of anarchy, If revo
luton, should Secretary stanton be superseded Yet
lie could not appreciate the Generals fears this
he had directed the change.
then told him that tho same charge was made against
him for removing General sheridan, aud that many sup
posed his purpose was to due execution of
This no thought quito absurd as the other as
the h" Was the Same whether Thomas Sheridan was
in command. WHAT difference could Il make who ex.
ecuted the law Could any question the ability or
tho patriotism Of General Thomas IS
then asked why General Sheridan was removed
Mr. johnson said there two good hat only
one had been considered; the first was,rather of
rs Of the sd o. june whh ros 20 ,s 70
the Executive had been claimed by General Grant TO be
private telegram 70 himsek, and that official notice
OF ats existence had ever yet reached the President But
the second ground for the removal Of General Sheridan
was the exercise OF powers did not possess and the
Offensive manner
iasked # ne would be kind enough to.eesgnate what
acts be included under The latter cianse.
He said the of Governor wcxs was entirely
uncailed for ana unjuslabe. Governor Wells had
mschinery Of the state to aid in Abe execution of
tlsc Reconstruction acts Nor bad latter ever ind
Ssed or pointed out single act or wordof the Governor
which was calculated 10 embarrass bin, In ,be proper
execution OF his duty On tho other hand Genera,
Shcrdanb bad endeavored TO execute the law part-
san and had adopted radicalism the emily
loyalty. Hrs sole purpose seemed 10 he secure neago
supremacy aud degrade tho whites such coudact
deemed my duty 10 relieve him from command
inquired II he did not think Governor Throckmorton
bad attempted " thwsH the General na proper
He answered enthusiastically ''No sir: the records
prove the reverse The Governor of Texas placed
the whole civil machinery of his State Ut the disposal of
the military power aud xided IT, in every wav possible
except IN the manufacture Of radical majority OF
voters and in securing negro supremacy. THIS was
was arbitrarily removed by General Sheridan"
SAID 70 the President that his views to the proper
execution or the Reconstruction not coary
understood by the people snd that rwon,d like
them.
"A
words. he desired far registration CT all qualified
voters, without regard to color He did wish
10 give any advantage 10 the white men, hat much less
was be disposed TO make hem the slaves negroes
Whero the negroes had the naory as n South Carolina
lac wished them to exercise the power whore the who
vote was in the majority, as in Texas he desired that
white majority 10 control He wanted oniy the law TO
be fairly executed with equsi chances all This was
being denied them by General Sheridan, and mis- man.
Nor and mode OF acpg was Test iamiiarzng She people
W. the tyrarny Of dsspotc government
remark edthat the public would not be able TO under
stand WAY he struck down despo'ism in department
and yet suffered II TO contiaUe in another.
he replied that other changes would be likely 10 fol-
low very soon. proper inv stigaiion now being
mace into The conduct Of one two other
Who u was charged, were paying tho aut0craf The
freSsent exprerei tue greatest apprehension The
iniut OF our sorersmeni, yet sad nc s relied the
good tense and Pc rolis Of the yenpie In his snsech
IN tA United s.e,es Senate, In December. 1850 Mr.
Johnson said no bad denounced the party who would
hrcak up the Ross.nmcnt IN ore, pres orye slavery
ana ne dad also deIounoed those no would destroy the
governa ent in order TO abolish slsysy He was cqra
opposed 10 both extremes and his only wish wae
for speedy returr OF fraterna sciatons among the