The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-10-21


hunting for commander, it took al
most everybody-even came over into
the West for officers-but no one ever
even suggested Hancock for the place.
After he received that vote in 1864 he
had the bee into his bonnet and
shaped everything to gain Democratic
and Southern favor He has watched,
and planned, and waited, till at last
he has received the Democratic nomi-
nation
General, do you think he is in sym
pathy with the South?''
He is crazy to be President. He
is ambitious, vain, and weak. They
will easily control him
"Do you think, General, that his
celebrated Order No. 40 represents the
direction Of his sympathies ?"
"Well, [ will give you the true in
ner history Of Order No. 40. Con-
gress was striving to prevent Andrew
Johnson from undoing the reconstruc-
ton laws Whenever Congress pass
ed law johnson bent his energies to
defeat its enforcement, and would find
pretexts to dodge round it. Then
Congress would pass another law to
hedge him up there So it went on
till Congress had taken from him all
control of the Generals commanding
the seven districts of the South, ex-
cept the power to recall them and ap-
point others in their places. These
commanders could remove any civil
officer of any grade, Judge or Cover
nor When | was made General, and
they were determining my powers and
duties. they gave the General, by acci-
dent, | think, or without seeing all it
involved, coordinate power with these
district commanders, and as I was SEN
Tor it gave me authority.
Gen. Sheridan was sent to the De-
partment of Louisiana. covering Lou
isiana and Texas. He is very shrewd
and very able. IF he is in charge Of
any field, and there is anything he
ought to know in that field, he is sure
to know It. He is as able and vigilant
an officer as the country has, or as
any country has He kept his eyes
open, learning rapidly the men who
were not worthy to occupy their pla-
ces, and discovery competent and
worthy men to put in their places.
He had a good list and black list,
list Of unworthy officers, ready to
change them in an hour when the
time should come. He consulted with
me privately aboutit, and did nothing
rashly.
''The Legislature of Louisiana pass
ed law authorizing the issue of 81
100000 Of levee bonds, ostensibly for
the levee. They conditioned their
sale on their bringing to the State not
less than 50 per cent. of their face.
The Governor and three Commission
ers were to place the bonds on the
market. But they soon found that
the bonds would not bring more than
40 per cent To avoid the law they
invented the plan of borrowing mon
ey and using the bonds as collateral.
They could borrow about 81 or 35 per
cent. of the face Of the bonds. Just
at this iuncture, to prevent these men
from defrauding the State, Gen. Sher-
idan took off the heads Of the Cover
nor and Commissioners so quick that
they did not know what aied them,
and appointed good men in their pla-
ces.
For some reason the removed men
very very anxious to be reappointed.
They employed Reverdy johnson and
another lawyer to work for them,
agreeing to pay them S250.0O0 if they
were reinstated. This is a great deal
of money for four men to pay for po-
sitions, unless there IS some special
gain in the case Reverdy johnson
came to me. but was so stupid and
stubborn that | could not be induced
to reappoint them. He then went to
Andrew Johnson and made his case
and Andrew Johnson sent for me,
and asked me to reinstate those men.
| refused to do so. He said, 'Reinstate
them even if it is only for one day. |
will promise that they Will resign
II thought Johnson might not
know Of the motive why they were 50
anxious to be reinstated. and thinking
| would d. him great service III
keeping him from great blunder.
told him that 'One hour would dc
those men as we'll as one day and
unfolaed their intent But johnson
insisted on their being reinstated.
refused, and excused myself.
johnson then removed Gen Sher
idan and appointed Gen. Hancock