The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-01-22
ANDY JOHNSON ON SHERIDAN.
New York nerald.l

New York ncrtld.I
NASHVILLE, Jan. IL have Just had
talk with cX-President johnson on
the Louisiana imbroglio. In response
to iuterrogatorfes propounded he said ::
'The action of Gen. Phil Sheridan ia
ejecting the Louisiana Legislature is n
piece of high-handed usurpation and as
such 1t ought and will receive the con-
demnation Of the whole country. 1t is
subscribing civil to military power. 1t
is an unwarranted and ungenerous de-
parture from the organic law upon
which our republican government is
founded. This is Il matter to be looked
upon from no sectional standpoint, but
entirelyin national light. There is
but one grave fact staring us in the face,
and that is embraced in three words, sun
warrantable usurpation of power The
false step taken by President Grant and
Sheridan has no precedent in the his
tory OF our Government. Sheridan
attempted to create the S:,me sort Of
devilment in Louisiana when l was
President, but l mt once cut short his
untoward, unWise and reckless proceed
ing by percmptorily removing him, by
order of August 26, 1867, from New
Orleans to Fort I4cavenworth, and
turned his command over to Gen. Ham
cock, who, on assuming command,
issued proclamation or paper which
was satisfactory to the whole country,
properly setting forth that the military
was subservient to the civil law, all of
which was n direct opposition to Sheri
dams policy. Gen. Iiuncocil's policy
won the respect of the people, and with
the departure of Sheridan all agitation
ceased and peace rcigucd. 1t was
about the removal of Sheridan that
GEN. Grant aud myself had II warm
controversy, in which it was belicvcds Wy
the whole country that + got the better
OF him. My Cabinet were astonishcd
ut my determination to remove Shcri-
dan in the face of his then existing mill
itary reputation. Some of them
thought it would never do to take such
Il stand. Tho Cabinet was divided on
the proposition, but told them that if
it turned the Government upside down
Sheridan nor any other General should
usurp the civil authority and trample
it ignoTnini0usly under foot. There is
a parallel case to that which has just
occurred in Louisiana. 1t happened in
Tennessee in July, 1866. .....
"Many of tho members Of tho t.cgis-
lature here had absented themselves.
Gen. Holmes was induced to mako ap-
plication to Gen. Grant for authority to
aid in organizing the Legislature,
which was refused. l had no authority
or power whatever to Interfere tho State
having exclusive jurisdiction over the
matter, that to interfere would bc n
usurpation of power, placing the mill
tary over the civil authorities, and in
utter contempt Of the constitution and
the laws. Tho consequence was tho
affair was not long after settled by the
State authorities, and there was no more
trouble. People in the South should
act discrcetly. Regarding the IIouisi-
ana uSurpatiOu Mr.. johnson said that
Grant and Sheridan should be temper
ate in all they say and do, and the pco-
pie should look to the North and West
ton of the government and constitu-
tional authority. Tho whole country
is justly indignant, and Louisiana will
have her wrongs rightcd.'
sIIERIDAN's FORMER REMOVAL.
The following is the dispatch referred
to regarding the removal of Sheridan
WhSIlINGTON, Aug. 2G, 1867.
Major Gen. Il. II. Sheridan will at
once turn over his present command to
the officer neXtin rank to himself and,
proceeding without delay to Fort Leav
cnwOrth, Kansas, will relieve Ma or
Gen. Hancock of the command of the
Department of the Missouri.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
u. 5. GRANT, Sec. War ttd i,tc,'int."