The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-29

casion for further complaints.
Correspondence Between Gen. Grant
and President johnson Regarding
Sheridan's Removal.
The following correspondence we
failed to receive by telegraph, and it
was crowded out yesterday by Senator
MoRToN's speech. 1t is quite inter
esting, and of National Importance:
GEN. GRANT TO THE PRESIDENT
HEADo'Ks ARMIES OF. UNITED STATES,
WAsHINGToN, Aug. IL, 1867.
HIS E.rcellency Andreso johnson,
President of the United States:
"SIR-I am in receipt of your order
of this date. directing me to appoint
Gen. G. III. Thomas to the command
of the Fifth Military District, Gen.
Sheridan to the Department of Mis-
souri,, and Gen. Hancock to the De-
partment of the Cumberland, and also
your note of this date, inclosing the
instructions necessary to carry into
effect the inclosed order. / would
be pleased to hear any suggestions
you may deem necessary respecting
the assignments to which the order
refers Lt1
am pleased to avail myself of
this invitation to urge earnestly in the
name of the patriotic people who have
sacrificed hundreds of thousands of
lives and thousands of millions of
treasure to preserve the integrity and
union of this country, that this order
be not insisted on. 1t is unmistaka-
bly, the expressed wish of the country
that Gen. 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 I
beg that their voice may be heard.
General Sheridan has performed his
civil duties faithfully and intelligently.
His removal will only be regarded
as an effort to defeat the laws of Con-
gress. 1t will be interpreted by the
unreconstructed element in the South,
break up this Government by arms
and now wish to be the only element
consulted as to the method of restor-
ing order, as a triumph. 1t will en-
holden them to renewed opposition to
the will of the loyal masses, believing
that they have the Executive with
them.
THE services of General Thomas
in battling for the Union entitle him
to some consideration. He has re-
peatedly entered his protest against
being assigned to either of the five
military districts, and especially to
being assigned to relieve General
Sheridan. General Hancock ought
not to be removed from where he is.
His Department is complicated
one, which it will take a new COM
mander some time to become ac-
quainted with. There are military
reasons, pecuniary reasons, and above
all, patriotic reasons, why this order
should not be insisted on.
beg to refer to letter, marked
private which / wrote to the Presi-
dent when first consulted on the SUBJ
ject of change in the War Depart
ment. It bears upon the subject of
this removal, and [ had hoped would
have prevented it.
Il have the honor to be, with great
respect, your obedient servant,
u. S. GRANT,
General United States Army, and
Secretary of War, od Interim
THE PRESIDENT TO GENERAL GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON. ID. c.,
August 10, 1867.
GENERAL have received your
communication of the 18th instant,
and thank you for the promptness
with which you have submitted your
views respecting the assignments di-
rected in my order of that date
When | stated, in my official note
of the 18th, that l would be pleased
to hear any suggestions you might
deem necessary upon the subject, it
was not my intention to ask from you
formal report, but rather to invite a
verbal statement of any reasons af-
fecting the public interests which, in
your opinion, would render the order
lnexpedient. Inasmuch, however, as
yol have seen fit to communicate
them, IN a written communication, it
Is proper that | should make some
reply You earnestly urge that the
order be not insisted on. remarking
that it is Enthusiastically the expressed
wish of the country that General
Sheridan should not be removed from
his present command While I am
cognizant of the efforts made to retain I
General Sheridan in command of the |
Fifth Military District, / am not
aware that the question has ever been
submitted to the people themselves