The Portland daily press., 1867-12-31
The Change Of Military Commander.


The removal of Gen. Pope from the com
mand of the third military district, embrace
ing the States of Florida, Georgia and Ala
bama, has been talked of SO long that 1t takes
no one by surprise But the displacement
of Gen Ord in the fourth district has not
been ANTICIPATED, for it has been supposed that
his course was more satisfactory to the Presi-
dent than that of any of his associates. In
teIIigence from different quarters respecting
this removal is conflicting. One Washington
correspondent says that the President was
not the principal mover IN this matter, but
that General Grant having become greatly
dissatisfied with Ord's administration of the
affairs of his department urged and insisted
upon his removal. The same authority says
that 1T is thought at headquarters that
this cficer has developed marked incapacity
for such command as he has recently held, and
after much persuasion Mr.. johnson yielded
and made the removal" Another correspond
ent learns from official headquarters that
Seen. Ord asked to be removed from the COM
mand, and was not removed by the President
for any cause" Still another says that Gen.
Ord has doubtless endeavored to please the
President, but his tyrannical treatment of an
editor who criticised bis conduct has been the
subject of protests from Republicans as we'll
as Democrats. 1t is also understood that Gen.
Grant disapproves of some of the recent or
ders issued by Gen. Ord" Whatever may
have been the true reason for the removal, it
will scarcely be regretted in an, quarter. He
has never been a favorite " it'll Congress,
where he was ignored during the last session
xuha = ii -. 4
commanders was offered. Gen. A. G. Gillem,
who temporarily succeeds Ord until Mellow
ell can arrive from California, has been acting
as Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmep's
Bureau for the State of Mississippi, and has
been in Washington for the last few days for
the purpose of calling the attention of the gov
eminent to the distressed condition of the
freedmen and poor whites in that State. He
is an intimate personal friend OF the Pres-
dent, having been associated with him in Ten
nessee. Gen, Mcdowell was counted among
the Conservatives. even while the war lasted,
and is well remembered as belonging to the
class of officers, like McCl liam and Buel,
who seemed afraid of hurting the Rebels.
In regard to the course that Meade will pur-
sue in the third district there is considerable
diversity OF opinion. A Democratic paper
says he is expected to follow the cour.e that
Hancock is taking in Louisiana. But it is
more than doubtful if he can be relied upon
for that purpose. 1t will be remembered that
when the re noval of Sheridan was first moot
ed, the President thought of sending Meade
to take his place, but the latter begged him
not to do SO, stating that he was lawfully
radical-more radical than any of them" In
late conversation with a correspondent of
the New York Times Meade expressed him
self as strongly ia favor of Grant for the Pres
idency, and that, since the publication of "the
letter marked private" is as good a criterion of
radicalism as need be. Gen. Grant, however,
according to Dixon, the well-informed cores
pendent of the Boston Advertiser insists that
the removal of Pope is exceedingly ill-timed
and injudicious, and it is known that his in
huence has been constantly used to avert it.
The excuse alleged for the removal of Gen.
Swayne from the Freedmen's Bureau in Ala
bama, is that he has been making use of his
position to advance his own political fortunes,
desiring to be United States Senator from
that State. 1t is much more likely that he has
rendered himself obnoxious to the President
by his active support of the Congressional
plan of reconstruction. .t --4 ...s-.,