Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-20

which had been prepared for Mr. Lincoln
by alr. Stanton, his Secretary of War. Ii
was approved, and, at the earliest moment
practicable was applied in the form Of a
proclamation to the State of North Caro-
lima, and afterward became the basis of ac-
ton in turn for the other States.
Upon the examination of Mr.. Stanton
before the Impeachment Committee, he
was asked the following Question;
Did any one Of the Cabinet express doubt
government to reorganize State governments
which had been in rebellion, without the aid OF
Congress? ?" 3--
He answered: @
"NOne whatever. had, myself entertained
no doubt of the authority of the President to
take measures for the organization of the Rebel
states on the plan proposed, during the vacation
of Congress. and agreed on the plan specified in
the proclamation in the case of North Caro-
Ina" .t.. t-- 30 f-a .
There is, perhaps. no act of my admin
istration for which have been more de-
nouneed than this. Ii was not originated
by me but 1 shrink from no responsibility
on that account for the plan approved
itself TO my judgment, and | did not hesi
tate to carry it into effect. s5 ..a %
Thus far, and upon this vital policy,
there was perfect accord between the Cab
met and myself and ] saw no necessity for
a change. Ff..f f...f..s taiI. -r..t
: As time passed on, there was developed
an unfortunate difference OF opinion and
policy between Congress and the President
upon this same subject and upon the ulii-
mate basis upon which the reconstruction
Of these States should proceed, especially
upon the question of negro suffrage.
Upon this point three members of the
Cabinet found themselves to be in sym-
pathy with Congress. They remained
only long enough to see that the differ
ence Of policy could not be reconciled.
They felt that they should remain no
longer, and high sense of duty and
propriety constrained them to resign their
positions. We parted with mutual res
spect for the sincerity of each other in
opposite opinions, and mutual regret that
the difference was on points so vital as
to require a severance of official rela-
tions. This was in the summer of 1866.
The subsequent sessions of Congress de-
veloped new complication when the suf-
frage bill for the District of Columbia
and the reconstruction acts of March 2
and March %, 1867, all passed over the
veto. 1t was in Cabinet consultations
upon these bills that difference of opin-
ion upon the most vital points was de-
veloped. Upon these questions there was
perfect accord between all the members
of the Cabinet and myself, except Mr..
Stanton. He stood alone, and the diff
ference of opinion could not be reconcied.
That unity of opinion which, upon great
questions of public policy or administra.
ton is so essential TO the Executive, was
gone.
| do not claim that the head of de-
partment should have no other opinions
than those of the President. He has the
same right, in the conscientious discharge
of duty, to entertain and express his own
opinions as has the President What | do
claim is, that the President is the respon-
sible head of the administration, and when
the opinions of the head of department
are irreconcilably opposed to those of the
President, in grave matters of policy and
administration, there is but one result
which can solve the difficulty, and that is
a severance of the official relation. This,
in the past history of the government, has
always been the rule; and it is wise one,
for such differences of opinions among its
members mast impair the efficiency of any
administration.
i have now referred to the general
grounds upon which the withdrawal of
MFR. Stanton from my administration
seemed to be proper and necessary; but L
cannot omit to state special ground,
which, if it stood alone, would yindicate
my action.
The sanguinary riot which occurred in
the city of New Orleans on the Both of
August, 1866, Justly aroused public indig.
nation and public inquiry, not only as to
those who were engaged in it, but as to
those, who more or less remotely, might be
held to responsibility for its occurrence. l
need not remind the Senate of the effort
made to fix that responsibility on the Pres
ident. The charge was openly made, and
again and again reiterated all through the
land, that the President was warned in
time. but refused to interfere.
By kilograms from the Lieutenant Gov
ernor and Attorney General of Louisiana,
dated the 9th and 2Sth of August, was
advised that body of delegates, claim
ing to be constitutional convention, were
about to assemble in New Orleans; that the
matter was before the grand jury, but that
| il would be impossible to execute civil pro
cess without riot, and this question was
| asked: as the military to interfere TO pre-
vent process of court ?" This question wa.
| asked when the civil courts were in the full
exercise of their authority, and the answer
sent by telegraph, on the same 28th of An
| gust, was this:
The military will be expected to sustain. ane
not interfere with the proceedings of the courts.
On the same 28th of August the follow
| ing telegram was sent TO Mr.. Stanton by
Major General Baird, then lowing to thu
absence of Gen. Sheridan) in command o
the military of New Orleans:
HoN. E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR;
| convention has been called, with the sanction o
| Gov. Wells, TO meet here on Monday, Tn
| Lieutenant Governor and city government thinl
| il unlawful, and propose to break it up by ar
resting the delegates. L have given no order
| on the subject but have warned the parties tina
| | could not cOuntenanee or permit such aetiOl
without instruction to that effect from the Presi
| dent Please instruct me at once by telegraph
| The 2Sth Of August was on Saturda y
! The next morning, the 29th, this dispatel
was received by Mr. Stanton at his resi-
dence in this city. He took no actio
upon it, and neither sent instructions I
Gen. Baird himself nor presented it to m
for such instructions On the next da
| monday the riot occurred. / never SAY
this dispatch from Gen. Baird until som
ten DAYS or two weeks after the riot, when
upon my call for all the dispatches, with
view to their publication, Mr.. Stanton sen
il to me. These facts all appear in the ties
timony of Mr. Stanton before the Judici
airy Committee in the impeachment inves
tigation.
| On the 30th, the day of the riot, an
after il was suppressed, Gems Baird wrot
10 Mr.. Stanton long letter, from which
make the following extracts: s. ~
"Sm: l have the honor to inform yon that
very serious riot occurred here to-day. ha
| net been applied TO by the convention for pre-
lection, but the Lieutenant Governor an
the Mayor had freely consulted with me, and
| was so fully convinced that it was so strongl
the intent Of the city authorities TO preserve Ii
peace in order TO prevent military interference
| that did not regard an outbreak as thing
| be unprecedented The Lieutenant Governor ha
| assured me that even if writ Of arrest was i
sued by the court the Sheriff wonld not sttemT
! TO serve il without my permission, and, for TO
| day. they designed to suspendit, ~
| I" incl0se herewith copies OF my correspond
ence with the Mayor. and Of = dispatch whie
| the Lieutenat Governor claims 20 have receive
from the President. lsregret that no reply I
ms dispatch to you of Saturday has yet reaehe
me. Gen. Sheridan is still absentin Texas"
The dispatch of Gen. Baird Of the oct
asks for immediate instructions, and hi
letter of the 30th, after detailing the ter