Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-26
The Protest OF General Grant Against the
Removal of Secretary Stanton
Not Allowed to Appear.

General Grant agaiust that removal. The
letter of General Grant demonstrating against
the removal OF Secretary Stanton does no: ap
Pear in this correspondence, though reference
is made to il in the correspondence 1t is
unders .ocd that the letter of General Grant
Is suppressed on the ground that it is marked
private
President Johnson to General Grant.
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON, d. c.
Aug. l7th, lS57.-Dcdr Sir. Before YOU issue
Instructions TO carry into effec, the enclosed
order, would be pleased TO hear any sugges-
tons you may deem necessary respecting the
assignment 10 which the order refers
Yours truly, ANDREW JOHNSON
Gen. L. S, Grant, Secretary OF War, pro tenn.
TLs Order Of Psp,oraL
EEEOUTIyE MANSION, WASHINGTON D. q .
Aug l7tn, 1o67.-Maior General Gsorgs II
Thomas is hereby assigned to the com nand of
the Fifth Military District, created by the act
cf Congress passed on the I'd day OF March,
1867.
MAJOR General p. II. Sheridan is hereby as
sisLro 10 the com nand OF the department OF
the Missouri.
MAJOR Gen Winfield S. Hancock is hereby
the Cumberland.
The Secretary of War nj Interim will eivs
the necessary instructions to carry THIS order
lI'o erect ANDREW JOHNSON.
General Grant 10 President johnson.
HEApVU AETERs ALMIEs OF THE UNITED
STATks. ashington ID G., August nth 1857
III. EGcsiisacy Andrctg Johnson, President of the
tEtted StateS-SIR: am in receipt OF your or
der OF this date directing the assignment of
General G. II. Thomas to the command of tho
Fifth Military District, General Sheridan 10
the department OF the Missouri, and General
Hancock % the Department OF the Cumh.r
lsEd- Also your note OF this date, enclosing
these Instructions saying before YOU Issue
instructions 10 carry INTO effect the enclosed
cider l would be pleased to hear any sug-as
tons you may deem necessary respecting tue
assignment 10 which the order refers I am
pleased 10 avail myself of this invitation 10
urge IN the name OF a patriotic people who
ayesacrifcec hundreds of thousands of loyal
Lives, and thousands OF millions of treasure tn
preserve the Integrity and union of this conn
Try, that this order should not be ins istsd ON.
II IS unmis iakeably the expressed wish of the
country that General Sheridan shouId NOT
be removed from his present Command
his is Republic where the will of the peo
pie is the law Of the land. beg that their
voice may be heard. General Sheridan mas
performed his civil duties faithfully and in.
diligently. HIS removal will only he rs-
gaToed As an effort 10 defeat the laws of Con.
gress. II will be Interpreted by the unr.
CONSTRUCTED element in the South those who
did all they could TO break mp this Govern
Tnent BY arms and row wish TO be the only ele-
meat IOGs uitco as " tlc method OF restoring
order As triumph. 1t will embolden them
TO renew opposition to the will OF the loyal
nasses, renewing that they have the Ex-
soutlve Win them The services of Gen.
Thomas In battling for ne Union entitle him
TO some consideration. He has repeatedly en-
terea DIS protest against being assigned To
either OF the i've military district and especial
~ 10 being assigned TO relieve Gen Sheridan.
General Hancock ough not to be removed from
where he rs. His department is a COMPLICATED
one which Will rake new commander some
n r,A
military reasons, pecuniary reasons, and above
all patriotic reasons way this order should
NOT, no, De- INSISTED on ! beg to refer to
President when first consulted on the subject
OF the change In the War Department Ii bears
upon the subject of this removal, and h ad
hoped would have prevented IT.
have the honor 10 be- with great meet
your obedient servant
L, 5. GRANT, General u. S A.
ana Secretary OF War ad Interim
President Johnson TO Cen Grant
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington d. C.
August ~, le67.-GENERAL. l have received
Your comm unicatlon OF the 10Th inst. and
thank you TOT the promptness with which you
have Submitted your views respecting the as.
s1gnnents directed in my order Of that date
" men stated IN my unofficial note OF the 18th
that would be pleased to hear any sugses-
uOps you might deem necessary upon ,ss
suolecs. II was not my intention 10 ask from
ecu PRIMAL report but rather to invite a YER
ohi statement ofauy reasons affecting the u bIic
interest Which, in your opinion wouId rsndsr
the order inexpedent Inasmuch however
as you nave embodied your suggestions In a
written comm unication il is proper that /
should make some reply. You earnestly
urge that the order be no, Insisted or
remaining that it lis unmistakably the ex.
pressed wish OF the country that Can
eral Sheridan should not be removed from
his present command While am corni.snt
O. the efforts that have been made TO retain
Gen Sheridan in command OF the Fifth Mill
tsry District, am not aware that the ousstinr
has ever been submitted to the people them
selves for determination. 1t certainly would
,n , pn,u on,n 70 the army to assume that
10 capable OF commanding the States Of Lon.
isiana and Texas, and that were be for any
cause removed, no other general in the military
service OF the United States would be CONNIE.
tent TO NIL his place. Gen. Thomas, whom I
have designated as his successor, is we'll
.no~n 70 me country. Having won high
ana honorable distinc tioR in the field
ne mas since, III the execution of the
responsible duties of q department Commander.
eaniolted treat ability, sound discretion, and
sterIng patriotism: he has not failed, under
me most trying circumstances, TO enfore the
la"s, 70 preserve peace and order, to en-
courage 60 the restoration OF civil autor-
lily, ana 10 promote as far as possible
aspirit OF reconciliation. His administration
OF the Department Of the Cumberland viii GER
Sts.say compare most iavorably with that of
General sheridan in the Fifth Military DIS
fiet These affairs appear TO be Ia a disturbed
conoiuon and bitter spirit Of antagonism
SEEMS 10 nave resulted from Gen SherIdan,s
management He has rendered himself exceed
insiy obnoxious by the manner in which he has
e1ercise even the powers conferred nv lIon
Rress snd stii more so BY a resort 10 au,horitx
not granted BY law, nor necessary n ire fa,th
ful anf efficient execution HIS rule h.s IN
lac oeen o"e OF absolute tyranny wirnnn,
reference 70 the principles OF our Govsrn'
ment, or the nature Of our free IN 49,,
tons. The state Of affairs which has rasui,as
from the course he has pursued has serians1.
interfeared with q harmonious satssf..,sy
aEd speedy execution or the acts of I,oparay'
and is alone sufficient 10 Justify a cnsnss'
His removal, therefore, cannot no
garded a. an effort 10 defea the Ia
OF Congress. For the object a.
10 facilitate their execution through an otficsr
who has never failed 70 obey the statutes Of
the land, and 10 exact within his iuris
olction like obedience from others II
cannot be Interpreted by the unrecon
sructed element in the Sonth. those who
Old all they could to break up this
Government by arms and now wish 10 be the
oply element cons lted es TO the mooe OF re-
storing order, as triumph For, as inteili
gent men, they must know that the mere
change of military comms nGers cannot after
law, ard that GenersI Thomas will bs AZ
much bound by its requirements "a
General Sheridan. 1t capno, em,o,aan
them to renewed opposition 70 the viii ~ ,hs
loYsl masses beiisyirg that tpey hsye ths ~
sCutIYe v T. them, I-r fhsv az partacriv "a.
u Iisr v 2 fhr aEiETs,fsGrs az rbe p,se,san,
al, Inc thcI Fa his r5i rE.,rnc.sa a.
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