The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-01-03


opinion upon the most vital points wa
developed. Upon these questions thert
was perfect accord between all the mem
bers of the Cabinet and myself, except
Mr.. Stanton. He stood alone, and The
difference of opinion could not be recon.
ciled. That unity of opinion which
upon great questions of public policy OF
administration is so essential to the Exc
cutive, was gone. do not claim that
the head off department 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 responsible
head of the administration, and when
the opinions Of the head of a depart
ment are irreconcilably opposed to those
of the President, in grave matters of
| policy and administration, there is but
one result which can solve the di iflicul-
| ty, 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 a wise one; for such diff
ferences of opinion among its members
must impair the efficiency of any ad-
ministration. | have now referred TO
the general grounds upon which the
withdrawal of Mr.. Stanton from my adj
ministration seemed to be proper and
h,,t tn OF a
special ground, which if it stood alone,
would vindicate my action. The san
culinary riot which occurred in the City
of New orleans on the S0th August, 1866,
justly aroused public Indignation and
inquiry, not only as to those who were
engaged in it but as to those, who more
or less remotely, might be held to re-
sponsibility for its occurrence. ] need
not remind the Senate of the effort made
to fix that responsibility on the Presi-
dent. The charge was openly made,
and again and again reiterated all
through the land, that the President
was warned in time, but refused to in
terfere. By kilograms from the Lieut..
Governorand attorney Genaral of Liuisi-
ana, dated the 9th and 2Sth of August,
was advised that body of delegates,
claiming to be n Constitutional Conven-
ton, were about to assemble in New
Orleans that the matter was before the
Grand Jury, but that it would be i'm
possible to execute civil process with
out riot, and this question was asked
SIS the military to interfere to prevent
process of Court?" This question was
asked at time when the civil courts
were in the full exercise oftheir authori
ty, and the answer sent by telegraph
on the same 2Sth Of August, was this /:
"The military will be expected t.
sustain, and not interfere with the pro
ceedings Of the courts.'
on the same 2Sth August the follow
ing telegram WAS sent to Mr.. stanton
: by Major-General Baird, then lowing t
the absence of General Sherdan) i
command of the military at New On
leans:
Hon. J.. ". Stanton, Secretary Of Var
4 convention has been called wit
! the sanction of Governor Wells, to .net
3 hereon Monday. The eLieutenant-GOvel
nor and city government think il III
lawful and propose to break ii up b
: arresting the delegates. | have give
no orders on the subject, but have war;
ed the parties that could not couDte
nance or permit such action without il
struction to that effect from the Pres
. dent. Please instruct me at once b
telegraph.
, The 2Sth of August was ON Saturday
Tho next morning, the Goth, this de
patch was received by Mr.. Stanton ;
his residence in this city. He took Il
action upon it,,nd neither sent ms
tions to General Baird himself nor pr
{ sented it to me for such instruction
On the next day Monday the riot o.
/ cured. i never saw the despatch frol
General Baird until some ten days ortw
weeks after the riot, when, upon m
call for all the dispatches, with vieN
: to their publication, Mr.. Stanton sent
to me. These facts all appear in I'll
testimony of Mr.. Stanton before Ii
f judiciary Committee in the impeacl
, ment investigation. On the 30th, tn
day of the riot, and after it was SUI
, pressed, General Baird wrote to NJ
Stanton Il long letter from which l max
/ the following extracts;
"SIR: have the honor to inform yo
/ that very serious riot occurred here t
, day. | had not been applied to by Il
Convention for protection, but Il
Lieutenant Governor and the May,
had freely consulted with me,nnd va
so fully convinced that it was SO strOn;
ly the intent of the city authorities
preserve the peace, In order to prevel
: military interference, that did not +
gard an outbreak as n thing To be a
= pretended. ThcIieu, nant-Govern'
f had assured me that even if writ
. arrest was issued by the Court, Il
, Sheriff would not attemyt TO serve
f without my permission, and for to da
= they designed to suspend il.
f inclose herewith copies Of my co
respondcnce with the Mayor, and OF
despatch which the LiestCnant-GovC
nor claims to have received from Il
! President. | regret that no reply 10 n
I dispatch to you Of Saturday has y
D reached me. General Sheridan Is ST
a absent in Texas"
/, The despatch of General Baird of Il
D 2Sth asks for immediate instruction
| and his letter of the 30th, after deta
n ing the terrible riot which had just ha
0 pened, ends with the expression of l
i gret that the instructions which he ~
: ed for were not sent, 1t is not the fat
- or the error or omission of the Pre-
n dent that this military commander "
G left without Instructions; but for
f omissions, for all errors, for all failul
y to instruct when instructions might ha
>, averted this calamity, the Preside
e was openly held responsible, Instant
l. without waiting for proof, the del
d quency Of the President was herald
r in every form Of uttcrance. Mr. Stant
/. knew then that the President was Il