Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-18
WHY WAS GENERAL REYNOLDS
REMOVEn9


In Texas, where the Democrats elected
all four Of their candidates for Congress, by
majorities ranging from 5000 TO 10000, the
certificates have been given by Gov.
Davis to three of the defeated Radical can
didates. And these win be given the seats
In Congress-all except one, who is too
much of a man 10 become party to the
outrage, and openly condemns 1t as too In
famous. Upon the heels Of this result
comes the announcement from Washington
that Gen. Reynolds has been removed from
the command he has held in Texas for sew
eral years. This has taken the country by
surprise, for It is a well known fact that
Gen. Reynolds is strong party
Radical, and has never failed to
shape the course of his administration of
military affairs SO as to aid the candidates
of his party. The Washington correspond
ent of theeNew York Herald attempts to
explain Grants action on the ground that
corruption had in some mysterious way
crept into Reynolds administration of af-
fairs. He says, Nov. y:
1.-THE removal of Gen. j. j. Reynolds
from the command of the Department of
Texas has for some time been regarded as a
foregOne conclusion in military circles here,
but the order has been delayed beyond ex-
pectation by the desire to make it a part
of several beneficial changes. General Rey-
nolds, like his successor, General Augur, is
classmate and warm personal friend Of
the President, who has always given to
both his unreserved confidence and support;
but while nothing has occurred, so far as is
known, to affect the personal integrity Of
Reynolds, it has latterly been charged that
certain parties have obtained such exclusive
control Of business matters in his depart
ment as TO shut out anything like fair COM
petition in contracts for supplies and trans
portation, and that not only private inte-
rests, but those of the government, have
been unjustly dealt with by the irregulari-
ties that have marked the administration Of
this important command. As Texas con-
tains more posts, more troops and longer
routes of costly wagon transportation than
any other department the complaints of
those aggrieYed have been in proportion to
the extent of their injuries. How far these
complaints have been sustained by the facts
elected is not clear at present, but the Pres
ident, sitting any personal feeling In the
matter has promptly terminated them by
sending to the State another Commander"
There is little doubt that corruption has
crept into Reynolds department, but that
is not the reason why he was removed. He
had announced publicly that the election in
| Texas had been fairly and honestly conduc-
ted in every part of the State, and that the
result must be accepted as the voice Of the
people. Immediately upon this becoming
known, Grant removed him, and put in his
place Gen. Anger, one of his own
pets aud serviceable tools, whom he had
made Brigadier General. Anger is nc
more party Radical than Reynolds. But
Reynolds had made that fatal declaration
of plain truth, which placed the authors
of the last outrage on the people of Texas
and on the right of election, in a very bad
light before the country. Well, it serves al
least to fix the responsibility of this great
crime-the cool trampling upon the people
and the voice of the ballot-box-upon Pres
dent Grant. And it furnishes another con,
spicuous link in the iron chain of proof
now fast accommodating in South Carolina
and elsewhere, that Ulysses S. Grant and
his hackers mean TO override the voice Of
the people in the elections, in order to secure
his reelection. Are the Northern people
ready to sink under this despotism, for they
will feel it next when the South shall have
been completely subjugated?