Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-08-28

moved from his present command. This If
a republic where the will of the people is
the law of the land. beg that their voice
may be heard. General Sheridan has per
formed his civil duties faithfully and intelli-
gently. His removal will only be regarded
as an effort to defeat the laws of Congress.
1t viii be interpreted by the unreconstructed
| element in the South, those who did all they
could to break up this government by arms,
and now wish to be the only element con-
suited as to the method of restoring order,
as triumph. 1t will embolden them to re-
newed opposition to the will of the loyal
masses, believing that they have the Execu-
! tive with them. The services Of General
! Thomas in battling for the Union entitle
! him to some consideration. He has repeat
| edly entered his protest against being as
| signed to either of the FIVE Military Districts,
and especially to being assigned to relieve
Gen. Sheridan. General Hammock ought
not to be relieved from where he is. His
/ Department is complicated one, which will
! take new commander some time to become
acquainted with There are military rea-
sons. pecuniary reasons, and, above all, pat
riotic reasons why this order should not be
insisted on. | beg to refer to a letter marked
| private, which | wrote to the President
when first consulted on the subject of the
change in the War Department. 1t bears
upon the subject of this removal and [ had
hoped would have prevented it.
have the honor to be, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
US. GRANT,
| Gen. L. :. \. and Sec'y of War ad interim.
The President wrote a long answer, reiter-
ating MS well-known discourse about Consti-
tutional guarantees, but the letter is of no
consequence, sinking quite into insignifcance
in public interest beside this disclosure of
Gen. Grants entire and hearty agreement
with Gen. Sheridan and with the radicals in
the work Of reconstruction. Gen. Grant s
letter is full, precise, and explicit, and de-
fines his position more clearly than any of
his previous declarations, although his let
ter u Gen. Sheridan sometime since was a
tOlerabiy square endorsement of that officer
course, and his official correspondence with
Secretary Stanton conveyed to the latter a
cordial recognition of his patriotism and
fidelity To the country. 1t is also apparent
from this letter that Gen. Grant wrote to
the President protest against the removal
Of Secretary Stanton, in which he disapprov-
ed of the Presidents course in removing
faithful and competent officials, and express
ell the opinion, which he now rciterates, that
there were 50 military reasons, pecuniary red
sons, AND ABOVE ALL, PATRIOTIC REASONS tchy
that Order should not be insisted on
This letter sets at rest all speculation as to
Gen Grants political position. He is dis
tinctly and unequivocally in favor of the
Congressional plan of reconstruction, and,
50 far rests with him, will his official
influence u hinder rather than to advance
Mr. Johnson's mischievOus schemes to defeat
the will of the people We must now con-
clude that he accepted the position of Sec
rotary of War dd interim, to keep rebel
sympathizer out of that place. Whether
that action was the wisest thing for him to
do under the circumstances, may be ques-
ton, but the motives which Influenced him
in taking it can no longer remain in doubt.
He intended thereby to serve his country,
and not to serve Andrew johnson. His
judgment may remain open to criticism, but
his sincere attachment TO and belief in Re-
publican principles should no longer be dis
trusted.