The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-08-31
The Presidents Reply To General
Grant
A Crushing Refutation ofhis Position.
Executive MANSION.


WAsHINGToS, d. c.. August g, 1867.
GENERAL: / have received your com
municatiOn Of the 18th inst and thank you
for the promptness, with which you have
submitted your views respecting the assign
ments directed In my order of that date.
When L stated IN my official note Of the
18th that ] 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 in
vlte verbal statement of any reasons affect /
ing the public interest," which, in your
opinion would render the order inexpedient
lnasmuch, however as you have written a
communication, it is proper that l should
make some reply,
You earnestly urge that the order be not
insisted on, remarking that it is unmistaka-
Dly the expressed viii Of the country that
General Sheridan should not not be removed
from his present command While am
eognizant of the Efforts that have been made
to remove General Sheridan in command of
the Fifth Military District, l am not aware
That the question has ever been submitted
to the people themselves for determination.
1t would certainly be uh5ast to the army to
assume that, IN the opinion Of the nation. he
alone Is capable of commanding the States
of Louisiana and Texas and were he, for
any cause removed, no other General In the
military service Of the United States would
be competent to fill his place. General
Thomas, whom l have designated as his sue
cessor, is we'll known to the country, having
won high and honorable distinction in the
field. He has since, IN the execution of the
responsible duties of department COM
mander, exhibited great ability, sound des-
erection and sterling patriotism. He has not
failed, under the most trying circumstances,
TO enforce the laws, to preserve peace and
order, to encourage the restoration Of civil
authority, and to promote, as far as possible,
a spirit Of reconciliation. His administra-
ton OF the Department Of the Cumberland
VIII certainly compare most faVorably with
that OF General Sheridan in the Fifth Mill
tary District The affairs appear to be in
disturbed condition aud bitter spirit of an
tagonism seems to have resulted from Cen
eral Sheridan's Management. He has rem
dered hlmselt exceedingly obnoxious bv tie
manner IN which he has expressed even the
! powers conferred upon him by Congress, and
still more so by a resort to authority not
granted by law nor necessary to its faithful
and efficient execution. His rule has In fact
been one Of absolute tyranny, without re-
/ ference to the principles Of our Government
or the nature of our free institutions.
The state Of affairs which has resulted
from the course he has pursued has seri-
Ously interfered with a harmonious and
satisfactory and speedy execution of the
acts of Congress, and is alone sufficient to
justify a change. His removal, therefore,
| cannot be regarded as an effort to defeat the
laws of Congress- for the object is to faeili-
tate their execution through an officer who
has never failed to obey the law, and to en-
| act within his jurisdiction like obedience
from others.
1t cannot be interpreted by the unrecon-
structed element of the South-those who
did all they could to break up this Govern
ment by arms, and now wish to be the only
element consulted as to the method of restoF-
ing order-as triumph for, as intelligent
men, they must know that the mere change
! Of military commanders cannot altar the
law, and that General Thomas will be as
much bound by its requirements as General
/ Sheridan. 1t cannot embolden them to re-
/ newed opposition to the will of the lovaI
masses, believing that they have the Execu-
tive with them, for they are perfectly famil-
lar with the antecedents of the President
and know that he has not INSTRUCTED the
faithful execution Of any act of Congress,
NO one, as you are aware, has higher
! appreciation than myself of the services, Of
General Thomas, and no one would be less
/ inclined to assist him to a command not en-
! tirely to his wishes
Knowing him as I do, cannot think he
/ r.
having IN view complete and speedy res
toraton OF the Union, in the preservation of
which he has rendered such important and
valuable service.
General Hancock, known to the whole
country as a gallant, able and patriotic sol
der, WILL have no doubt, sustain his high
reputation IN any position IN which he may
be assigned. If as you observe, the DEPART
/ ment which be viii have is a complicated
one, feel confident chat under the guidance
and instructions of General Sherman, Cen
! eraI Sheridan will soon become familiar
with Its necessities, and viii avail himself
OF the opportunity afforded by the Indian
troubles for the display of the energy, en-
terprlse and daring which gave him so en-
vlable reputation during the recent strug-
gle.
Ia assuming that it is the expressed wish
OF the people that General Sheriden should
not be removed from command, you remark
that this is a Republic, based, however. upon
written Constitution. That Constitution
IS the combined and expressed will of the
people, and their voice is law when reflected
IN the manner which that instrument pre-
scrlbes. While one of its provisions make
the President Commander-in-chief of the
army and navy, another requires that he
| shall take care that the law be faithfully ex-
ecuted Believing that a change In the com
mand in the Fifth Military District is alb.
sOlutely necessary for a faithful execution of
the law, have issued the order which is
the subject Of this correspondence.
ANDREW JoHosoN.
Interesting Letter From Honduras.