The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-08-30


will be as much bound by its require
ments as General Sheridan. It can
not "embolden them to renewed op-
position to the will of the loyal
masses, believing that they have the
Executive with them;" for they arc
perfectly familiar with the nntece-
dents of the President, and know
that he has not obstructed the faith
full execution of any Act of Congress.
No one, as you are aware, has q
higher appreciation than myself of the
services of Gen. Thomas, and no one
would be less inclined to assign him to
q command not entirely to his wishes.
knowing him as 1 do, I cannot think
that he will hesitate for moment to
obey any order having in view a
complete and speedy restoration of
the Union, in the preservation of
which he has rendered such impor-
tant and valuable services.
Gen. Hancock, known to the whole
country as gallant, able and patri-
otic soldier, will, I have no doubt,
sustain his high reputation in any
position to which he may be assigned.
If, as you observe, the department
which he will have is complicated
one, feel confident that, under the
guidance and instructions of Gen.
Sherman, Gen. Sheridan will soon
become familiar with its necessities.
and will avail himself of the oppor-
tunity afforded by the Indian trou-
bles for the display of the energy,
enterprise and daring which gave
him so enviable n reputation during
our recent civil struggle /,
In assuming that it is the expressed
wish of the people that Gen. Shcri-
dan should not be removed from his
present command, you remark that
this is republic where the will of
the people is the law of the land"
and "beg that their voice may he
heard" This is indeed republic,
based, however, upon a written Con-
stitution. That Constitution is the
combined and expressed will of the
people, and their voice is law, when
reflected in the manner which that
instrument prescribes. While one
OF its provisions makes the President
Commander-in- Chief of the army and
navy, another requires thai she shall
take care that the laws be faithfully
executed" Believing that change
in the command of the Fifth Mill
tory District is absolutely necessary
for faithful execution of the laws,
l have issued the order which is the
subject of this correspondence; and
In thus exercising q power that in
heres in the Executive, under the
Constitution, as Commander-in-C Chief
of the military and naval forces, I
am discharging duty required of
me by the will of the nation, as for
mally declared in the supreme law of
the land. Byh oath, the Execu-
tive is solemnly bound, "to the best
of his ability, to preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution, and
although in times of great excite
ment it may be lost to public view, it
is his duty, without regard to the
consequences to himself, to hold
sacred and to enforce any and all of
its provisions. Any other course
would lead to the destruction of the
republic; for, the Constitution once
abolished, there would be no Con-
gress for the exercise of legislative
powers, no Executive to see that the
laws are faithfully executed, no judi
ciary to afford to the citizen protec-
ton for life, limb and property.
Usurpation would inevitably follow,
and despotism be fixed upon the
people in violation of their combined
and expressed will.
In conclusion, fail to perceive
any military" ''pecuniary" or spa
triotic reasons" why this order should
not be carried into effect. You will
remember that, in the first instance,
1 did not consider Gen. Sheridan the
most suitable officer for the command
of the Fifth Military District. Time
has strengthened my convictions
upon this point, and has led me to
the conclusion that patriotic consi-
derations demand that he should be
superseded by an officer who, while
he will faithfully execute the law,
will at the same time give more gene
raj satisfaction to the whole people,
white and black, North and South.
L am, General, very respectfully
yours, ANDREW JOHNSON.
General U. S. GRANT, Secretary of
War al interirs.
After the Crimean war, yonno