The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-20
GENERAL GRANTS POSITION

His Official Record as Contained I'm Ills
Dispatches to the District Commanders.
WASHINGTON, Saturday, August IL, 1867
AS studious attempts are now being made to
place General Grant in a false position before
the country because of his temporary accept
ance of the office of Secretary of War, and mas
much as certain journals are demanding official
evidence of the statements that General Grant
heartily comedies with the policy of Congress,
the following facts assume unusual interest.
In addition to these official papers, some of
which have been printed heretofore, 1t Will be
remembered that just before the adjournment
of Congress in July, General Grant was twice
examined before the Judiciary Committee, and
sufficient of his testimony became public to
satisfy the most radical members of the House.
including Speaker Colfax John Covode, Will
hams, of Pennsylvania, and others, that Gene
with the reconstruction policy of Congress, espe-
cially since 1t has had policy.
Many people forget the highly important fact
that General Grants position, purely mill
tary one, has given him no opportunity for the
free expression of his views on political ques-
have been an infraction of that very discipline
which he is bound by army regulations to in
General Grant has had any occasion to speak
or act, the record will show that it is on the
the Judiciary Committee, in which his views
were asked for and expressed, is published, his
position will be doubted by none.
On the 9th of May 1867, General Grant wrote
General Schofleld as follows regarding his order
on regstration;-
WASHINGTON, May 0, ,lss7-General:-- Your letter of
the 22d of April, nclosng copy of regulations for
the registration Of voters in your command. was
from my neglect, that Of else, have only
Just read them: The order Is without number and
hear whether there are any suggestions to offer before
The order seems to me to meet every point, and to
be good. 1 asked the Secretary of War to know II
he had any suggestions to offer he said that he
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
Brevet Maior-e General j. NJ. schofeid. Commanding
First District,
AS conclusive evidence of General Grants in
depreciation of the Reconstruction acts Of Con-
gress, long before Stanbery pronounced upon
them, witness the following correspondence
between General Pope and himself, never here
tofore printed in tull:-
HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DIsTRIcT;-
General:-I have the honor to transmit inclosed a
Sr1s Ts is my & pSa oS as
ernor Jenkins whether at the time he issued his ad
8nowedge S e q my order No. l. The Of Governor
Jenkins s disapproyed and deprecated by every man
great injury by keeping the people disturbed and un
meni which was going for active participation il
Esss!abls hing the state @ IN In addition to
his duties and the in the execution of
from the fact that there is no MeutenantGovernOr,
sf been sn' es2 20 Sci Ge with the
military authority to arrest the execution of man
both Judge and Jury but Who wSpd d, Inevitably have
abeented himself and was not present to perform his
Provisional Governor jenkins course in attempting
to make Georgia party TO suit without authority
or people, is Creating great dssatis fsctio and is
embarrassing me very much in the performance of
advising them to take action under the late
to excite ii feeling il not Actual disturbance in their
execution is positive violation of my Order No. /,
n not Of n e Sn az % @
army Of State officials against the execution ofthose
The Ill effects Of permitting the whole power of the
depsrt@ents and u s is rsmiacstionI. g be used
DISTURBED coadon Of tRes public mind esSaot
overstated, No reconsructon is possible and it will
tion Of the laws while such Influences allowed g
Is overthrown and the military substituted. deem
Il Of the last importance to arrest u now In the
permitted to set authority defiance Il win be use
less 70 notice such offenses committed by the minor
I snail wait until the receipt Of this letter and
BY telegraph which ( am n6s not restrained Iw ther
am. General. very respectfully, goyr s o5sdIen
SeiNNn'' Brevet MajorGenerai Commanding.
Gen. U. 3. GRANT, Genera-in.Chief U. s. Army.
Rssnso3 on sa the The sCEsgGPHg
his noTmat9S rhs teIegraRhS despatch herein en-
given such pledges e & the e commander Of the Thrt
The conduct OF Governor jenkins demonstrates
0csrs Of the states to deea the law
of Congress IL the power does not exist with the dis
trct commanders TO suspend their functions for
In some way. 1t seems clear to me that the power
given in the bill "for the more efficient governmen
district commanders, the provisional machinery se
up without the authority of Congress in the States
which the Reconstruction act applies There belnI
doubt, however ION this point. would respectfu
ask an early opinion on the subject NE1
III the power of removal does not exist with distrlC
commanders then IL will become necessary for then
10 take refuge under that section of the bill whlc
authorizes military commissions -, -
Headquarters Armies United States, April %, 1867.
When General Pope received the Attorney
Generals opinion on the Reconstruction AC
the following correspondence occurred:-
(Telegram cipher-Received p. M
ATLANTA Ga, June p 1851. General U. 3. Gran
Commanding Armies United States:-Day befor
Yesterday received copy or the opinion OF th
Attorney General registration, sent me for my II
formation through the Assistant AdJutant-Genera
by order OF the President - .,,.,, -.
iTen days ago had made ana published instru
tions 20 Registers which will have 70 pc dropped
Tie Attorney Generals opinion Is enforced ~
opinion sent me by the Presidents order uoes M
seem 10 be be an order TO me on the suolecE Dut
9bere NAV be room for Doubt ask that be lnforme
bV telegraph whether or not am ordered oy tI
President 10 conform my action 20 the Attorne!
C7enerals opinion. / stand ready 10 obey the rres
dents orders on the subject but wrote you I9lly
size eubiect yesterday the probable result OF enorcln
ehe ATTORNEY Generals opinion In this dlslrloL y
closing also copies OF my orders ana lnsrucuo'
Psase answer by telegram as soon as possible
a. 4. naengfaqt that there should be no delay In IA
Nlu uHNNWn