Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-25
RUTLAND HERALD
FRIDAY. JULY 10, 1857.
General GRANTS Position.

when the laws OF the land are ntnlnter-
preted and the Officers OF the civil gov
eminent put forced constructions upon
the statute for political purposes and
The executive would iain take measures
to impede the progress of law and order
In the land over which he rules, 1t has
been evident from the beginning OF the
present special session OF Congress that
the administration OF the reconstruction
laws would henceforth, In great meas
ure, be withdrawn from the hands OF the
President and given In trust TO the Gen.
eral of the Army OF the United States.
1t is therefore important to know what
the policy of Gen. Grant is probably to
be. In answer to this important inquiry
the several communications laid before
the House Of Representatives 'on Thurs
day last by the Secretary OF War, &C.
companied by various dispatches and
orders, are full OF interest to an expect
ant nation, and they give no uncertain
or equivocal vieyA
Among the papers bearing Gea. Grants
sig nature we select all giving unmistak-
able evidences OF his opinions of the re-
construction measures and the proper
Interpretation to be given them.
On the I'd of April Gen. Sheridan tele-
graphed to Grant, saying: IL fear /
sh all be obliged to remove Gov. Wells OF
this State, who is impeding me as much
as he can" On the %, Gen. Grant re-
piled, advising no removals at that time
OF Governors of States, because the
question of the powers of military CON-
manders was then under consideration
by the Cabinet.
On the 9TH OF April General Sheridan
announced that he was about to begin
registration in New Orleans, and asked
for decision as to the extent of the dis
franchisement under the reconJtruetion
act. General Grant replied the next
day, your question has bean submitted
to the Attorney general. No decision
yet received. Go on giving your inter-
probation to the l.w till On answer 10
given"
In May Gen. Schofeld forwarded his
order regarding registration, asking
Grants opinion of ii. Gen. Grant re-
Piled May 9th, that he approved the
order, but thought the boards had bet
ter not be corfned too strictly by rules,
but should be allowed in cases Of doubt
to use some discretion.
In the Third district, after Governor
Jenkins address to the people of Georgia,
in W hich he advised no action under the
military bill, and during his absence in
Washington where he was urging the
Injunction application, General Pope
went so far as to write an order depos-
ing him from office, without naming his
successor, which he forwarded to Gen.
eral Grant for his approval. Before re-
ceivipg any reply, however, Governor
Jenkins returned and made such ex-
plantations and gave such pledges to
General Pope that he withdrew the con-
templated order. General Grant on the
9th of June forwarded the order to the
Secretary of War, with the following
endorsement:
Respectfully forwarded to the Score.
tary of War for his information. The
telegraphc dispatch here enclosed shows
that Governor Jenkins Of Georgia has
given such pledges to the commander o.
the Sd district az to induce him to with,
hold, for the present, the suspension o.
the Governor. The conduct Of Governor
Jenkins demonstrates, however, how
possible II is to the disconnected civil Of
flcers Of reconstructed States to defeat
the laws of Congress, If the power does
not rest with the district comm lnder;
to suspend their functions In some way
1t seems clear to me that power is giveI
In the bill for the more eicient govern
ment OF the rebel States, to use or not
at the pleasure of commanders, the pro
visional machinery set up without thu
authority of Congress in the States Il
which the reconstructed act applies
There being doubt, however, on thi'
point, respectfully ask an early opinion
on the subject. If the power of remova
does not exist with the district com
manders, then it will become necessAry
t6take refuge under that section of tn
bill which authorizes military commits
sions. u. S, GRAFT, General,
On the 7th of June General Grant sen
the following despatch to Sheridan:
I see Washington dispatch in tn
papers announcing that the Secretary O
War and myself favored reprimandins
you for your action in removing tn
Governor of Louisiana. There is no
one word of trutA in the story. l wa
not even in the city at shat time.
On June 2Sth, General Sheridan, hav
ing received Mr.. Stanberry's opinion
from the Adjutant Generals office, en-
quired if he was to regard that opinion
as having the force Of an order. On tn
same day General Grant answered:
Enforce your own construction of tn
military bill, until ordered to do othel