The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1867-08-29
SHERIDAN, GRANT AND JoHnsor

Inc letters are emlneDtlY character
lstle Of the two men. That of Gen.
Grant is modest and brief, but is in |
tensely charged With the electrical fer.
yer of honest patriotism which win tin
gle the nerves Of the loyal nation into
. warmer enthusiasm than ever for the
eonquering leader of our armies. It
Will servo to efectually quiet the halt. |
,a'sed tear lest he might have been
dawn into the Presidential cabal and
made An instrument to further the Dur
poses Of the demagogue in whose hands
the reins Of government have unfortu-
nately fallen. There is no nistalipp
his position. he unequivocally asserts
me rights Of the people, "whose will is
the law Of the land ;" and that the hon.
OF and integrity Of the country NAV be
preserved, protests against the removal
ola gallant officer whose only crime has
been the too honest discharge of his
duty:
The correspondence opens With
note from Mr.. johnson to Gen. Grant
stating that he would be pleased to hear
any suggestions that the latter might
deem necessary respecting the proposed
changes before the order should be car
1ied into effect. Gen. Grant replies
the same day. After acknowledging the
receipt Of the Presidents note, he says {:
It il Enthusiastically the expressed wi,h Of III.
country that Gen. Sheridan should not be removsd
rom his present command. This Is Q republic where
me v1u OF the people is the law Of the land.
Deg That their voice may be heard. Gen. Sheridan
nas performed his civil duties faithfully and int lii
ssnny' His removal viii only be regarded a. An Of
toft to defeat the laws Of Congress- It will be f..elv
Interpreted BY the unreconstructed element in tho
SOUTH Those who did all they could TO break up this
government BY arms now wish to be the onlv element
consulted - to the method of restoring order. Al
shds tE1umphs It viii emboden them to nsw unus,ton
% the will Of tho loyal Masses believing that tev
have the Executive with them. Tho services Of Gen
Thomas in battling for the Onion entitled him to soe
confederation. He has repeatedly entered his protest
ssafn.t being assigned to either Of the Military d.
set' and especially to being assigned to relieve Gen
Sheridan. General Hancock should not be removed
rom whore he il. His Department IL complicated
onA which will take . nov commander some time to
ct scquainssd with. There are military rsasous 20
esniary reasons, and above all patriotic reasons Why
shis order ahoed not b. insisted on beg to refsr to
Letter marked private, which wrote to the Presi-
dsnt, whom INT consulted tho change In tho War
Department. It bears upon tho subject Of this 70.
novsl and hoped would have preventedit
1hsve the honor 70 Be, with great respect, your
ehsdisnt servant, -t4a Rim =; 1i%t>
.. q. GRANT, General o. = A.
.... Secretary Of War ad issestR.
The reply Of President johnson,
made two days afterwards, Is obstinate;
dogmatical, and ted,ously lengthy
1t is like the surly growl Of . man
who having determined on a particular
course refuses to yield in any wise to
tho suggestions Of experience Or the
appeals Of reason. he gives in tho
outstart an inviting assurance to the
loyal people that Grant is not one Of
his creatures; for he states: 'it
was not my intention to ask from you
. formal reply, but to invite verbal
statement Of any reason affecting the
public interests which in your opinion
would render the order lnexpedient.'"
He did not care to have the opinions
Of the quiet General, which he knew
would stamp the absolute personal vim:
gdictiveness and persistent protection Of
disloyalty which actuated him upon the.
policy he was bent upon pur.uing, Civ
en- in such form as would bring them
before tho searching eyes of the people,
This was no part Of his programme, and
he sought TO smother the stern rebukcs
of his Acting Secretary Of War under
the cloak of 4 private conversation.
He denies that it is the wish Of the
people that Gen. Sheridan should be
retained in command al New Orleans ;
and sneers At Grants tribute to the So.
perior skill and administrative ability
Of that officer. He even ventures 70
give uttoran'e to the foul slande'f, Il. TIT |.
6heridan's rule ''has in fact been one
Of absolute tyranny: |" e tyranny, in
deed Placed il command 81 i Dis.
trict which embraced within it, con-
hnes oil the most virulent elements Of
recession; surroundcd on IN ndes By |
lhe tufbplsll rpirits left unsonquered
y The rebellion, many Of whom were |