Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-18
WASHINGTON.
Ono of General eheTidan's Letters
Unearthed-Grants In-
.-i dorsement.

| WASHINGTON, December lS,-Amoug
the papers laid before the House yesier
day, is letter to General Grant, from
Major General Sheridan, dated New Or
leans, January 25Ih, 1867, 10 relation to
matters in Texas, particularly referring
to the condition Of Union men and
freedmen in different parts Of the
State, which he says is truly horrible.
He says that the Government is de-
nouneed, the freedmen shot and Union
men prosecuted il they have the ,emeriy
to express their opinion, Gsa Grant,
under date of January 20, 1851, forward
ed aud Endorsed Sheridsn's letter as fol.
lows; Respectfully forwarded to the
Secretary OF War. Attention. is invited
to that portion OF the within eommunica-
ton which refers to the condition Of the
Union and freedmen in Texas, and
to the powerlessness OF the military in the
present state of affairs to protect them.
Even the moral effect Of the presence Of
troops is passing away, and few days
ago squad of soldiers on duty were
fred on by citizens in Brownsville In
my opinion the great number of murders
Of Union men and freedmen in Texas
not only as rule goes UNPUBLISHED, but
uninvestigated and constitute a state
Of instruction, and believing it to be
the province and duty of every good
government to afford protection to the
lives, liberty and property Of her citi
zens, would recommend the declara-
ton of martial law in Texas TO secure
these. The necessity for governing any
portion Of our territory by martial
law is to be deplored. If resorted to, it
should be limited TO its authority, and
should leave all local authorities and
civiltribunals free and unobstructed until
they prove their ineficiency or unwilling.
ness TO perform their duties Martial
law should give security-or compare.
lively soto all classes of citizens,
without regard to race, color, or
political opinions, and could be
continued until society was capable
Of protecting itself, or until the State is
returned to its full relation with the
Union, Tho application of martial law
to one of the States would be warning
to all, and if necessary can be extended
to others.
[Signed] ~. S. GRANT, General"
The letter Of General Grant was
listened to with marked inter.
est and attention. The members who
have been most emphatic in the praise of
Gen. Grant as the future candidate for
the Chief Magistracy of the nation, &C
cept his letter to the President as
more open and reliable expression of
the Generals opinion than they have
as yet been able to obtain, and appear
to think they have drawn out sufficient
light to increase their Endorsement of
him.
No action was had by the civil author
tiles upon the foregoing Recommendation
Advices from Colombia state that
Santez Guiteroiz had been elected Pres
ident. The lsthmus railroad had been
overlooked by the heavy rains, but no
damage was reported Mosquera is SAIL
to have reached Panama, on his way to
Peru.
WASHINGTON, December lS-Tb SEN
ate Finance Committee, in presenting
the funding, bill submitted report, in
which they refer to the clai m that the
principal of the 20 bonds az payable in
gold, aud say that, withoU deciding the
question, they propose substitution
Of new bonds, clear and explicit in their
terms, for the iive.twenty bonds, as they
become redeemable, They further say,
if this exchange is refused by the bond
holders, it will be time enough to deter
mine whether by the condition of this
bond, he may not be paid in lawful