The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-27

,,u with President Johnson-Why
90 Supersctfcd stanton. and His
,,aosops for Removing Sheridan.
IVA Washington Correspondence OF the
~" Boston Post.
:, pleasant conversation Of some
,.1@.b with President Johnson remarked
E E,t bc was charged with having removed
-. stanton in order to obstsuct the exc
Mon of the reconstruction acts of Con-
ST. asked what Mr.. Stanton had to do
~ the execution or non-execution of
,,so actsY These acts centered the
" .--.- in the hands OF General Grant, and
.Fsa placed Grant over the War Depart
.n. He could not understand how the
r.,ro could be construed into q purpose
!. Ina. the proper execution Of the re-
..,~r,tjon laws. The President further
s-o,.rkcd that at one time General Grant
'.-,Trly intimated that unless Mr.. Stanton
~rmovcd he should be compelled to
,.ro here. as he could be of no possible
"a ~, in view Of Mr.. Stanton's overbearing
~ dictatorial conduct. The President
's,;s,d him to have q talk with the Sec
es.,rv Of War, and perhaps they would
-.3s-s,and each other better. He agreed,
l,,roycr. with the General that Mr.. Stan
~, crcht 10 be removed, and he then in
,,:-,6 of General Grant if he would take
ffta~-c Of the Department in the event Of
cbaarc. The latter promptly expressed
-. entire willingness to do so.
bn 10 lnnaro1
t.l eventually protested against the re-
,raval, and the President frankly said such
r,s the case that the General had writ
,sn him a very kind but earnest private
AXE in which he had intimated his fears
= anarchy, If not revolution, should
secretary Stanton be superseded. Yet,
>. he could not appreciate the Generals
fars on this score, he had directed the
change.
Then told him that the same charge
vas made against him for removing Gene
~, Sheridan, and that many supposed his
r:rpoSc waS to prevent due execution OF
tie law.
Thj, he thought was quite as absurd as
.f,.o,hcr, as the law was the same whe-
thor Thomasor Sheridan was in command.
What difference could ii make who execu-
ted the law! Could any one question
the ability or the patriotism of General
Thomas
| then asked why General Sheridan was
removed.
Mr.. johnson said there were two good
causes. bnt only one had been considered;
the first one was rather Of personal cha
a
telegram Of the Esd Of June, which was so
3,rc>pecttul to the Executive, had been
claimed BY General Grant to be private
telegram TO himself, and that no official
notice Of It's existence had ever yet reached
lie President. But the second ground for
tie removal Of General Sheridan was the
exercise OF powers he did not possess, and
Tie exercise OF his legitimate powers III an
arbitrary and offensive manner.
asked it he would be kind enough to
designate what acts he included under the
later clause.
lie said the removal Of Governor Wells
was entirely uncalled for and uujustiliable.
Governor Wells had placed at General
Sherdan's disposal the whole civil ma
chincry Of the State to aid him in the
execution OF the reconstruction acts. n
bad the latter ever indicated or pointed
out a single act or word Of the Governor
which was calculated to embarrass him in
he proper execution Of his duty. On the
other hand, General Sheridan had endea-
yorcd 10 execute tie law as partisan,
and had adopted radicalism as the only
~ne test Of loyalty. His sole purpose
seemed to be to secure negro supremacy
and degrade the whites and for such con-
&.ct deemed it my duty to relieve him
nom that command.
Inquired if he did not think Governor
Ihrockmorton had attempted to thwart
4c General il proper execution OF the
law.
He answered emphatically, Ono, sir
he records prove the reverse. The 60
vernon Of Texas also placed the whole
civil machinery Of his State at the dispo'
sll Of the military power, and aided 1t IN
every way possible except in the manuiac'
;Gre OF 3 Radical majority Of voters and II
securing negro supremacy. This was Go
yrruor's Throckmorton's SHINING, and fol
which he was arbitrarily removed by Gene
al Sheridan"
said to the President that his views a:
70 the proper execution OF the reconstruc'
lion acts were not clearly understood by
The pcople, aud that | would like to heal
them.
He answered that he could express them
iaa lew words. He desired fair registra.
lion Of all qualified voters, without regard
10 race or color. He did not wish to give
a1y advantage to the white men, but much
less was he disposed to make them the
slaves 10 the negroes. Where the negroes
Lad the majority, as in South Carolina, he
wished them to exercise the power; where
the white vote was in the majority, as IN
Texas, he desired that white majority to
control. He wanted only the law to be
fairly executed, with equal chances to all.
This was being denied them by General
Sheridan, and his manner and mode OF
acting was fast familiarizing the people
wlth the tyranny Of despotic government.
remarked that the public would not
DC able TO understand why he struck down
de>poiiSm in one department and yet sui
Tered Il 10 continue in another.
He replied that other changes would be
"Ne!y 10 follow very soon. A proper IN
Vesdsation was now being made into the
conduct Of one or two other commanders
Who, II was charged, were playing the au-
locTat. The President expressed the
greatest apprehension as to the future OF
our Government, yet said ne still relied on
me good sense and patriotism of the peo-
PIE. In tbs speech in the United States
Senate III December, 1860, Mr.. johnson
sad he had denounced the party who
would break up the Government in order
% preserve slavery; and he had also de-
bounced those who would destroy the
government in order TO abolish slavery.
lie was cnnAliN nnnnSnG 10 both nXtremaS