Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-27

views Of this cOmmanQant, ana when ne
teleeTaphed this fact to the commanding
general at Washington that officer replied
to Sheridan:
Enforce your own constru stion Of the military
bill until ordered 70 do otherwise. The opinion
OF the Attorney General has not been distrib-
uted 70 the district commanders IN language OF
manner emitting it to the force Of an order.
He perse7ered in his course and made
many removals Of local civil officers, and
finally his conduct became such that he
was taken from that district
merely refer to these facts 10 show that
what now transpires is nothing new 70 the
parties engaged in the work Of usurpation,
in the work Of tyranny, in the work Of VI
olating the organic law Of the land, which
is being transacted. In consequence OF this
vail that came up from the people it was
determined by the President then that this
man should be removed, and his removal
was ordered in this order, dated Aug. II,
1857:
Mai. Gen George H. Thomas is hereby as
signed to the command Of the fifth military dis
trict, created BY the act Of Congress passed on
the % day Of March, 1851.
Mai Gen. P. II. Sheridan is hereby assigned
to the command Of the Department Of the Mis-
souri,.
Major General WinheId s. Hancock is hereby
assigned to the command OF the Department OF
the Cumberland.
That order was changed afterWard on
account Of the indispOsitiOn and sickness
of Gen. Thomas, iand Gen. Winfield 5.
Hancock was sent to take command Of the
fifth military district, which Included the
State Of Louisiana, by this order of Aug.
20, 1867:
Maior-GeueraI p. II. Sheridan viii at once
turn over his present command to the officer
next in rank 20 himself, and proceeding, with
out delay, TO Fort LeavenWOrth, Kansas, viii re-
heve Major-General Hancock OF the command
of the Department of the Missouri.
MajOr-General George h. Thomas viii; until
further orders, remain in command OF the Cum
berland.
Ii will be remembered by most persons,
and especially by members Of the Senate,
that when Gen. Hancock took command
some Of the persons who had been removed
from Office were reinstated and peace and
quiet were restored TO the department; gen
eral satisfaction was insured and Gen.
Hancock in an order addressed to the peO-
pie Of that district laid down the tue d.
viding line between the military and the
civil power and gave supremacy to the civil
authority over the military, and sustained
and restored the civil authority in that de-
partment. Perhaps 1 might as well read
the order issued by Gen. Hancock on as
Stunning command:
First. In accordance with the General Orders /
No. 81. Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-
Generals ONCE, Washington, District OF Co
lumbla, Aug. 2, 1851, majOr-Genera W. 5. ]
Hancock hereby assumes command Of the fifth !
military district-the department composed Of |
the States OF Louisiana and Texas
Second. The general commanding is Eratihed /
20 learn that peace and quiet reign in this de- /
partment, and il viii be his purpose to preserve |
this condition OF things. As means 20 this /
great end, he regards the maintenance of the 4
civil authorities in the faithful execution Of the
avs as the most efficient under existing circum-
stances. In war it is indispensable 70 repel 4
force By force, and overthrow and destroy OppO-
slJiOn 20 lawful authority but when insurreC-
tOnaTy force has been OTerthrOWn, peace estab-
ished, and the civil authorities are ready and 1
willing 70 perform their duties, the military
power should cease TO lead, and the civil admin
stration resume its natural and rightful do
mniOn.
Solemnly impressed with these views the gen
sral announces that the great principles Of !
American liberty still are the lawful inheritance
III this people and ever should be. The right Of
rial by jury, the hdbcds corpus the liberty Of the
press, the freedom Of speech, and the natural |
lights Of persons and the rights Of property /
must be observed. Free institutions, while they /
IRE essential 70 the prosperity and happiness OF
he people, always furnish the strongest induce
nents 70 peace and order. Crimes and ofienses
OmmItled IN this district must be referred TO |
he consideration and judgment OF the regular |
.ivil authorities, and these tribunals viii be
Imported IN their lawful jurisdiction.
Should there be violations OF existing laws !
ghiCh are not inquired into by the civil magis- ]
rates, or should failures in the administration |
Il justice by the courts be complained Of, the
asses viii be reported % these Headquarters. /
When such orders will be made as may be deemed
Necessary. While the general thus indicates his |
purpose 10 respect the liberties of the people, !
lie wishes all 70 understand that armed Insur-
ectlons OF forcible resistance TO the laws viii |
,e instantly suppressed By arms.
By command Of Maj. Gen. W. S. Hancock.
When this change was made in the COM
land Of that district there sprang up a con
rOYerSy between the Executive and the
General of the Army, the lat
aT protesting against the removal Of Gen.
sheridan, alleging that be was a very pOpu-
IT man and that to remove him was viO-
lting the viii Of the people; but nOtWith- {
landing this assertion, which was mere as
ertlon and 50 stated and proven TO be at |
he time, quiet and order were restored by
rem. Hancock. Some Of the reasons for
5mOving Sheridan l will give from a COM
luaicatiOn made at the time:
Their affairs appear 10 be in a disturbed con-
iuOn, and a bitter spirit Of antagOuism seems |
have resulted from Gen. Sheridan's manage |
lent. He has rendered himself exceedingly OBJ !
oEiOus by the manner In which he has exercised ,
ven the powers conferred by Congress, and
i'll more so by a resort 20 authority not granted
Y law nor necessary TO its faithful and efficient
zecution. His rule has, in fact, been one Of |
5sOlute tyranny without reference to the prin- F:
piles Of our Government or the nature OF our
rec Institutions. The state Of affairs which has
ssulted from the course he has pursued has Sc [
Ously interfered with q harmonious, satisfac- !
ny, and speedy execution Of the arts Of Con-
reSs, and Is alone sufficient 20 Justify a change.
lis removal, therefore, cannot "be regarded as
effort 10 defeat the laws Of Congress-, for the
lject is TO facilitate their execution, through
d officer who has never failed TO obey the stat {
ties Of the land, and 70 exact, within his jurls-
ction, Ike obedience from others. Z
That is what was said then to the general I
! command Of the army on the transfer Of J
eneral Hancock TO this department.; and I
fer taking command Of The department he
sued the orders that l have alluded TO, I
wing general satisfaction and acknowledge Q
Il the supremacy Of the civil over the +
Military authority of the country. c
The Third.Term.
In view Of these facts, the query comes
p in this distracted condition Of affairs in t
Ouisiana, why is it that this man has c
cen selected and sent back to those people
no before condemned his acts and PRAYED L
Y his removal? Why is il? It was
lown that he was a source of alteration {
Id dissatisfaction when there before; and
by was it now III contemplation to send j
lere an enemy, a man who was obnoxious 0
that whole people, except 10 a few per i
APPS who may have been interested in a C
lTticular line Of policy or measures or {
mething that they wanted to accomplish? r
Ow many distinguished men are there in 4
e army who could have been sent, aud S
ny should he have been selected to be u
mt there? Was it for the purpose Of irri- Ii
ton? Was it for the purpose Of pTovok- &
z that people to acts OF violence? Was | c
for the purpose Of getting up insUuec- t
ms and mObs and riots, so as then to e
Use the cry sthese Southern people are in o
volt" and in the midst Of the War-cFy (
ID through the preiudiees Of one portion G
the country excited against another, 60 e
to a Presidential election? Il is very
81 to see what bhe result would be, or
hat the expectation might have been. No; | II
e. us have peace.' "
l know the determination of that people. | e,
heir great object is to be restored back | d
20 the Union upon equal footing with all | II
e other States, and have a fair participa- /
ln in the legislation Of the country. o,
hat is all they desire. But what is that e,
those who are acting behind the curtain il
q who are aspiring TO retain power, and m
IL cannot be had by DoDulsr consent and | 81