North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-09-04
Grant and johnson.

BclOW Is inc important Correspondents
between the distinguished gentlemen at the
head of our civil and military affairs rela-
tive to the removal of Sheridan. We leave
some of the address and closing letter.
fourishes of to save space. 1t will be seen
that Grant leans toward Sheridan slightly,
but his hold-on to the Office al interim
implies that the Presidents argument con-
verified him to ANpY's "Policy." General
GRANT is a great man, but he is suscepti-
bic of conversion, and we rather guess he
agrees with the Executive.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Aug. il.
Dear Sir Before you issue instruc-
tons to carry into effect the inclosed, l
would be pleased to hear any suggestions
YOU may deem necessary respecting the
assignments to which the order refers.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Gen. U. S. GRANT.
.... WASHINGTON, Aug. II.
SIR Il am in receipt of your order oil
this date directing me to appoint Gen. &.
Ii. Thomas to the command of the 9Th mil
itary district. Gen. Sheridan to the de-
partment of Missouri, and Gen. Hancock
to the department of the Cumberland,
and also your note of this date incloslng
these instructions to carry irtO effect this
order. am pleased to avail myself of the
invitation to urge earnestly, urge in the
name of patriotic people who have sacri:
feed hundreds of thousands of lives and
thousands of millions of treasure to pre-
serve the integrity of the union OF this
country that this order be not insisted up
on. 1t is Enthusiastically the wish of the
country that Sheridan should not be re-
moved from his present command. This
is republic where the will Of the people
is the law of the land, and beg that their
voice be heard. Gen. Sheridan has per-
formed his civil duties faithfully and in
diligently. His removal will only be re-
garded as an effort to defeat the law of
Congress. 1t will 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 consulted as to the
method of restoring order, as n triumph.
1t will embolden them to renewed OPPOSE
ton to the will of the loyal masses, believ-
ing that they have the executive with them.
The services of Gen. Thomas in battling
for the Union entities him to some consid-
Grafton. He has repeatedly entered his
protest against being assigned to either OF
the military districts, and especially to be-
| ing assigned to relieve Gen. Sheridan
Gen. Hancock ought not to be removed
from where he is. Ills department is a
complicated one which will take new
commander some time to become acquaint.
ed with. There are military reasons, pc.
cuniary reasons, and above all patriotic
reasons why this order should not be in
sisted on. l beg to refer to a letter, mark.
ed 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 obt servant, U. 5. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Aug. 10.
General Il have received your commu
nication of the 18th inst, and thank you
| for the promptness with which you have
| submitted your views respecting the as
| signments directed in my order of thai
| uaIc. W uCu SliitStl Ill NY OAHCiti HOtC "
the 18th that would be pleased to hear
any suggestions you might deem necessa
ry upon the subject, it was not my inten
ton to ask from you formal report, bu
rather invite verbal statement of any rea
sons affecting the public interests which il
your opinion would render the order mex
pedient Inasmuch, however, as you have
answered in written communication, it j.
proper that should make some reply
You earnestly urge that the orderbe not in
sisted on, remarking that it is unmistaka
bly, the expressed wish of the country thai
Gen. Sheridan should not be removed from
his present command. While l cognizan
of the efforts that have been made to re
tain Gen. Sheridan in command of the 5tl
military district, am not aware that thu
question has been submitted to the pcopl,
themselves for determination. 1t would
certainly be unjus to the army to assume
that in the opinion of the nation he alon,
is capable of commanding the states o
| Louisiana and Texas that were he for any
cause removed, no other general in thu
military service of the U. S. would be com
petent to fill his place." The President
continues ut some length reviewing Sher
idan's course, characterizing his rule as
one of absolute tyranny, without reference
to free institutions. He denies that it viii
be interpreted as a triumph by the rebels,
inasmuch as all are familiar with the ante:
cedcnts of the President, and know he has
never INSTRUCTED the execution of any law
Of congress, and concludes as follows
SIN conclusion, fail to see any military,
or pecuniary, or patriotic reasons why this
order should not be carried into effect.
You will remember that in the first in
stance did not consider Gen.. Sheridan
the most suitable man for the command of
the fifth military district. Time has
strengthened my conviction upon this point,
and has lead me to the conclusion that pa
triotic considerations demand that he
should he superseded by an officer, who,
while he will faithfully execute the law,
will at the same time give more general
satisfaction to the whole people, white and
black, north and south.