Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-07
GRANT UPON HANCOCK.
Some Mistakes.

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TIE records Of the War department SHOW
that General Grant, In his comments and crtti
ctsm upon General Hancock's administration O
civil affairs In louisiana made some seriou:
mistakes. Gen. Grant, speaking from memory
no doubt, got persons, dates and transactions
mixed. He spoke OF Gen. Hancock's havinu 70
NOV ed ''the governor and state commissioner, y
Whtm Ger. Sheridan had appointed, inttmat
tnat tne purpose OF these officers In seeking re
scheme for the raising of money on state b1nds
A STAR reporter was sent to the War deparr.
ment, ana from the files prec lred copies OF the
tGegn hnssa Sen' Grant refers to as passing b.
grams show that the correspondence was rails.
tive 10 the removal Of
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
OF OF NeW tN Orieans and not Of governor and COM
mlssloners ON February 7th 1868, Gen. Han
COCK Issued an order removing nine members OF
the city councils ''for proceeding to hold an
election for recorder Of the ID district OF New
Orleans In contempt OF orders from these head.
quarters; also appointing nine men to FIJI the
vacancies thus created" On the same day
lFeb ~ Gen. Hancock sent telegram contain.
ing zoo words to Gen. Grant, informing him OF
his (Hancock's) action in removing the council.
men for proceeding to elect a recorder. which
was an elective Office (under the law by the
people and not by the council" The telegram
iuftEer informed Grant that the attempt to
hold the election was made while Hancock was
In Texas; that the council was referred to Gen.
Sherldan'S order fOrbidding election. until re-
cons.Iucticn tos, M was completed, without the au-
less the members deposed voted for an ian
mediate election. General Grant is cited to
a case In point where General Mower
son, La, for like offense In conclusion Gen,
Hancock referred to the reconstruction acts as
his authority for the action he had taken. A
copy OF Gen: Movers Order dated Oct. 49, 1851,
removing the city council OF jefferson ssfor
passing an ordinance for the election of CITY
officers" and appointing others to fill the vacan
cles, appears In connection with the telegram OF
Gen. Hancock. On the Sth Of February, 1868.
Gen; Grant telegraphed Gen. Hancock: ''Sus
peld you order removing city council OF New
orleans rs until full report OF reasons is sent An
On the 9th OF February Gen. Hancock replied
TO Gen. Grant by telegraph-the dispatch con
tanning about 500 words he acknowledged re
ceipt Of Grants order, and requests the latter
to reconsider his action, and that "my Han.
cock's> order In the premises be not suspended
unt1l you have the fun report of the reasons
called ior oy you. | telegraphed you at the mo
ment the order was issued giving as full state
melt OF my. reasons for action as / believed
could be made. referred you to the orders OF
Gen. Gen: sheridan M o for6ddng elections, which you
that the city council had been previously notifiea
OF this order by me- also referred you to an
ouef t f zen. Mover issued In October last. which
sets forth parallel case and which you have
on file. In that case an appeal was taken
10 you FOR reinstatement of the council
rt moved by Gen. Mower, which appeal you have
not sust aimed The present case was in defiance
vi tbat example, OF Gen. Sheridan's ORDERS and
o. Hy own letters cautioning the council to de
slst In this election, and forwarded to YOU
ppfintea pn e copy January e. It was illegal under
me law by which they claimed to act /
was astonlshed at this action OF the COUNCIL
ana c0ulo not account Tor 1t. except In the fact
that they Lao been instigated to 1t by designing
men, VINO believed. II dared to make these re-
mOsalS, lDaI IL would END In my own removal
rom rom thls place, and that they would be pro-
oec.eo: AT any Tate, my self respect, as The
commander OF this district, made it abso.
lu'ely necessary that / should take SUN.
msry measures, regardless of cOnsa
quenceS with which partlsans might threat
en me- l 90 not know what fuller report
c0uId be furnished In this case, 70.