The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-17
Grant and Packard

The mannet in which Gen. Grant deals
with the Radical revolt against Gen. Bu-
chanan is highly characteristic Of chat per-
sonage. tits either his bad luck, or in the
constitution Of his mind, that he never
touches political questions ct all, IL the
most triaing matter, without exhibiting
something not creditable to his understand
ing or his honesty.
The Radical Board of theseven 7 open
(lY defed the authority fthe District COM
Inander. and attempted on organization to
set It aside and act in defiance Of him.
Surely Gen. Grant cannotlook upon this
as trivial offence. 1t was military insu-
bordiration and a violation Of the recon-
struction laws, heinous sin in Radical es-
timation, when the offenders are not OF the
Radical persuasion.
But is It decent that such discrimina-
ton should be made by the General Of the
Army? Would it not be personal dis.
grace and national shame for the General,
being also the head Of party, should abe
consort with, and be the confidential advi-
ser and patron of men who commit open
acts OF aagrant INSTRUMENTATION against the
military authority, and against the recon
struction laws2
But when this case Of the New Orleans
revolt came before Gen. Grant, he fails to
support the offended officer by single
word, and enters into course Of mild ex-
pdstuation with the offender. He advises
Gen. Buchanan to suspend all proceedings
against the chief of the insurgents, which
coming from that quarter. is equivalent to
an amnesty for the offence aud then en-.
ters into q mild expostulation with him
for being too hasty, and advises" mind
you, advises, does not command him to is
sue no new proclamations in conflict with
Gen. Buchanan. If he should do so, the
General warns him in very friendly terms
that :" it would be in violation of the re.
construction laws" II it would be vic.
lation if repeated, it was violation when
| first done, a fact which the General pru
IDENTIFY avoids to consider in his anxiety to
cover up the misdeeds ola partisan, done
10 his interest. It is as though Gen. Grant
had written to this Board Of Radical usur.
pers: My dear friends You mean me very
we'll IN this matter, but you are foolishly
fast. It was not at all necessary, for my
Interests, that you should have been guilty
ofa violation of military law, for which !
could send you to Jail, as many a Democrat
has been sent for . less offenca, but | can.
not enforce military discipline against my
own good friends who break the law and
continue authority to save me. Ifyou will
consent to be patient, and be out in the
cold while longer, Congress and / will
have all this matter fixed up to your entire
satisfaction, and you can go into your
promised land, "take, kill, and eat"
To Gen. Buchanan, the telegrapbic dis
patch reads cannot deny but that you
are right in the matter; but ] suggest to
you that hereafter you let my friends alone,
They are good expounders Of the law Rad.
Iical, and if they should make little mis-
take, and insult your Office, and stepiover
the apparent boundaries Of q law, you
ought to know that Congress and l can
find or make law to support them.
/ This Is free translation ofthe Generals
telegraphing, but it contains an exact and
/ logical analysis Of what the real meaning
is. 1t affords an instructive parallel to the
late case in Alabama, where the general in
command issued severe order rebukine
the expression Of any political proficiency
by private soldiers, being themselves pro
voked by some evidence that soldiers had
refused to join in oyations to Grant
/ [Picayune.