American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-09-04

| General in the military service of the
| United States would be competent to Gil
his place. General Thomas, whom have
des gnated as his successori is we'll known
to the country having won high and hon
orable distinction IN the field. He has
since in the execution of the responsible
duties of a Department Commander ex-
hibited great ability, sound discretion aud
sterling patriotism. He has not failed
under the most trying circumstances to
| preserve peace and. order, to encourage
the restoration of civil authority, and to
promote as far as possible a spirit of rec,
onciliation. The administration Of the
| Department OF the Cumberland will Ger -
tainly compare most favorably with that
OF General Sheridan in his Military Dis
trict There affairs appear to be in a dis
| turbed condition. aud a bitter spirit Of
| antagonism seems have ie,uitel from
Gen Sheridan's managtme lie has
rendered himself exceedingly obn xious
by the manner in which he has exercise .
even ihe powers conferred by Congress.
and still more 50 by a resurt to uth0rity
not granted by law, nm necessary tn hi-
faithful and efficient execution His rule
has N Tact been one of absolute tyranny
without reference to the principles of cur
Government or na' ure # our free insti
utluns The state Of affairs that has
resulted from the cluisa he has pursued
| has seriously lnterierud with harno-
NOUS AMI satisfactory aud speedy execu
tion OF the acts Of Congress, and is alone
sufficient to justify a change. His re
moval, therefore, cannot be re tarded as
an effort to defeat the laws of Congress,
for the object is to facilitate their execu
tion through an officer who has never
failed to obey the law, and to exact with
out his Jurisdiction like obedience from
others. 1t cannot be interpreted by the
unreconstructed element of the South,
those who did all they could to break up
this government by arms, and who wish
to be the only element consulted as to
the method of restoring order, as a trl>
umph, for as intelligent men they must
know that the mere change of military
commanders cannot alter the law, and
that General Thomas will be as much
bound by its requirements as General
Sheridan. 1t cannot embolden them
renewed opposition to the will Of the
loyal masses, believing that they have the
Executive with them, for they are per-
lectly familiar with the autecedents of
the President, and know that he has not
DISTRACTED the faithful execution of any
act Of Congress. No one. as you are
aware, has higher appreciation than
myself of the services of General Thorn,
as, and no one would be less inclined to
ass gu him to a command not entirely to
his wishes Knowing him as | do | caL>
not think he will hesitate for moment
to obey my ORDER having in view CONS
plete and speedy restoration Of the Union
in the preservation of which he has rcn-
dered such important and valuable ser
vice. General Hancock, is known to the
whole country as gallant, able and pas
triotic soldier, will, | have no doubt, sus.
tain his high reputation in any position
to which he may be assigned II, as you
observe, the department which he yill
leave Is a complicated one, feel conf
dent that under the guidance and instruc-
tions of Gen. Sherman, Gen. Sheridan
will soon become familiar with its ncces-
sites, and willaavail himself of the op-
porlunity afforded by the Indian troubles
for the display of the energy enterprise
and daring which gave him so envable
a reputation during the recent evil
struggle.
In assuming that il is the expres, ed
wish ui the peo le that Gen. Sheridan
should nos ne removed from lis present
command, you remark that this is repub>
lie based, however. upon u written eol-
stItuion. That Constitution is the COM
bined aud expressed viii Of the pc = q
aud their 'oIue is law when reflected H.
the manuer which that lu>trumen pre-
scribes. While one Of it, prov,slons
makes tile President Commander in,
Chlet Of the Amy aud Macy, another
requires he sha taxi cage that the iaw
be ia thlu,iy eyc. utca Believing that
chan-e u mwsnI IN ihe Fifth Militia
ry DiStr CT Is aus lu.cy Necessary for a
faithful lcutlon Of the law | have is
sued the order, which is the subject of
this correspondence. In thus exercising
a power that inheres in the Executive
under the Constitution, as Commander
in Chief of the army aud navy, | am
dischsrging a duty required OF me by the
will OF the nation, as formally declared
in the supreme law of the land. By his
oath the Executive is solcmnly bound to
the best of his ability, to preserve, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution, al
though in times of great excitement it
be lost to public view,it is his dnty with
out regard to consequences to himself, to
hold sacred and enforce any and all pro-
visions. And other course would lead to
the destruction of The Republic, for the
Constitution once abolished there would
be no Congress for the exercise of legis-
lative powers, no executive to see that
the laws are faithfully executed, no judi.
cary to afford to the citizens protection
for life, limb and property. ,Usurpation
would inevitably follow, and despotism
be fixed on the people in violation of
their combined and expressed will
In conclusion, fail to perceive any
military, pecuniary and patriotic reasons
why this order should not be carried into
effect. You will remember that in the