The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-02-19
THE RETREAT TO CHICAGO,
from the n. Y. Sun.1

IFronl the n. Y. SUM-
The excitement in the House of Rep
resentatives during the last few days
was not the result Of any accident or
sudden impulse of passion. 1t was
only part of the preconcerted plan of
Grant managers to draw sectional lines,
and to divide parties by seeking to
revive the strifes, discord and bitter
ness of the war. Condemned by tho
country for their corruption, us well as
their incapacity to administer the Gov
eminent, they have fallen back upon
that trick as the last resort of their dcs-
peration.
Gen. Sheridan was sent to New
Orleans to initiate this violent and vim
dictive programme. Eight years be.
fore, he had been ordered away from
that city because OF his prosecutions,
disregard Of civil authority, and def
ance Of law. He long hanlSercd for an
opportunity to revenge his wounded
pride upon all innocent people. The
knowledge Of that personal malice, as
well as his reckless character, caused
his selection by the President.
Everything was quiet, and there was
no sign Of disturbance. The officers
and troops who had crushed the Penn
movement in September were still
stationed in tho city, and partly in the
State House. Gen Mcdowell, who
commanded the department, was at
Louisville, in constant con1munica-
ton with Gen. Emory. These officers
were not only superseded without
cause, but the whole proceeding was
marked by deception, concealmcnt, and
falsehood. Everybody now knows that
Sheridan's mission was instigated by
of carpet-baggers and Adventures who
| have specialized upon the misfortunes
of the Southern people. They knew.
! that his revengeful temper and animos-
ity sympathized with their own inter-
ests, and therefore they favored the APP
pofntment.
If there was a military necessity for
his presence, such as has been untruly
| alleged, then there was no motive for
hiding it. AS it was, the confidential
| instruction directed him to play false
part, and to profess that his visit to New
! Orleans was for personal pleasure, ant,
had no professional object. He did put
on that disguise and give out that he
was on the way to Cuba at the very
time he was confederating with Kel-
logg and his gang of thievs and de-
nouncing the people as banditti. Nor
is this all Of the plot. To make it per-
feet, Gen. Sherman was passed over,
purposely sighted, and kept in ignor-
ance of the charge until Sheridan had
received the instructions, answered HAll
right" and started on his journey. 1t
| is thus seen that the secret Of this con-
spiracy was carefully guarded up to the
time it exploded on the 18th of anuary,
after Sheridan had been three days in
New Orleans and perfected all the de-
tails.
The rest is known. His brutal bul-
letins were Illuminated to provoke Il dis
turbance by their insults and lies. Re-
ports of events extending through eight
years were compiled from the fslbrica-
tions Of Kellogg, Packard, and their
followers, and sent out as the result of
his own Investigations, certified as true
when notoriously false, and intended to
infiame the public mind. He openly
sought a collision as an excuse for open.
ing fire on the city and levelling it to
the ground like Il burnt Indian village
The forbearance and prudence of tho
suffering people stood by them in this
cruel trial. They bore the outrages
calmly, submitted with dignity, and
appealed to their follow countrymcl1
orjr,sticc. That appeal was nobly an
swcrcd, and the clustering Iieutcnant-
General has boon forced by opinion te
sneak back to Chicago, stained with
discrctlit us II soldier and diShonorctl rs
Il man.