Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-11
NEW ORLEANS.
correspondence in Reference TO the
Removal OF Officers, etc.

Removal OF Officers, etc.
WASHINGTON, March I0.-Gen Grant
TO day transmitted to the House an addi-
tional correspondence in relation to the
removal OF certain members of the City
Council Of New Orleans. 1t appears from
the papers that these members joined in a
memorial, in which, among other things,
they said they we're removed by special
order for having proceeded to hold an cleo
ton for Recorder of New Orleans. la con-
tempt of an order from the headquarters of
Gen. Hancock, they remark that when
General Sheridan reconstructed the City
Council he did an act of justice TO the
newly enfranchised citizens of Louisiana
and the United States by appointing
few representatives of their own
race az members of the Common Coun-
ell, by removing the aforesaid men,
bers, not single representative of that
numerous class of newly made citizens re-
manned to defend their rights and interests
in the government of the city, to the pros
perity OF which their labor, capital and in
dustry 80 largely contributed. 1t was upon
the strength of this memorial that General
Grant ordered Gen. Hancock to revoke
his order removing Sheridan's COuncilmen
On the Dist of February, Major General
Rawlings Chief of staff, wrote to Major
General Hancock, acknowledging the re-
ceipt of Gen. Hancocks letter in response
to kilograms from the General Command
ing the army, dated the 9Th ult., in the
matter of the removal of certain Alder
men aud Assistant Aldermen OF the city
of New Orleans for contempt of military
order. He also acknowledged the receipt
of memorandum of the Aldermen and
Assistant Aldermen. Gen. Rawlings SAYS in
conclusion, after setting forth ali facts in the
case On assuming command OF the dis
trict, you announced, in General Order No.
40, dated Nov. 29, 1867, that it was your
purpose to preserve peace and quiet in
your command, and that as a means to this
great end, you regarded the maintenance
Of the civil authorities, in the faithful exc
cution of the laws, as the most efficient
under existing circumstances; also, that
when the civil authoriti es are ready and
willing to perform their duties the mill
tary power should cease to lead, and the
civil administration resume its authority.
The appointment Of others in their stead
is hereby disapproved aud revoked, and
VI Futu 1DOhIu Vi hiQGTUB0
and Assistant Aldermen as we're removed
by it are hereby reinstated, and will
resume their duties az Aldermen and
Assistant Aldermen Of the city OF
New Orleans. As said order had not been
issued, you will please carry this into ef-
feet. On the 9th of February, Mai. Gen.
Hancock telegraphed to Gen. Grant say
ing what he did was adopted under grave
deliberation, and he believed was the re-
suit Of necessity imposed upon him
which could not have been avoided with
out q disregard of the interests of the pub
lie service and of the obligation imposed
on him By the reconstruction act and by
the order of his predecessor. Ate. ex-
planning the case at length, he concluded
By saying: L conceive no violence was
done to the principles enumerated, and
declared when | gave effect to the
order of my predecessor and restrained
members of municipal body from doing
an act the existing laws gave them no an
thority to do. l entertain serious appre-
tensions of the revision Of my order, and
the Reinstatement Of the councilmen re-
moved by me, proving injurious to public
interest, and increasing the embarrassment
under which the commander is laboring.
Your order will be Immediately executed.
Gen. Grant, in letter Of Feb. %, adj !
dressed to Mai. Gen. Hancock, says there !
was nothing in my order doubling your ALI
thoriy to make removals and appointments |
when public exigency required it ] only !
exercise the authority given TO me as Gen
eral of the army, under which law both |
of us and authority to act in these matters. |
Your order of removal was based on GER
tain charges which did not think were /
sustained by the facts as they we're pre-
sented
On the 9th Of February, General Han
cock wrote to Adjutsnt General Thomas as
follows:
GENERAL: have the honor 20 transmit |
copies Of my correspondence With the
General-in-Chie in reference to my recent
action concerning the removal form othceof
certain Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen
of the City Council of New Orleans, made
nv me for the contempt Of an order Of the
District Commander, l request the same
NAV. ia an appropriate manner, and as e1-
planatory Of my action, and for his expla-
nation. he laid before the President, with
INV reanest 10 be relieved from the COM
mand Of this district when il is no longer
useful or agreeable 20 remain. When re-
moved, should the exigency Of the service