Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-10-14

IL gave ne huIuOIill. OChCAA ohOA iuoii
was sent to the Department of Louisi-
ana, covering Louisiana and Texas. He
is very shrewd and very able. He kept
his eyes open, learning rapidly the men
who were not worthy to occupy their
places, and discovering competent and
worthy men to put in their places. The
Legislature of louisiana passed law
authorizing the issue of S7,0OO,O00 of
levee bonds, ostensibly for the leyee
They conditioned their sale on their
bringing to the State not less than so per
cent of their face. The Governor and
three Commissioners were to place the
bonds on the market, but they soon
found out that the bonds would not
bring more than 40 per cent. To avoid
the law they invented the plan of bor-
rowing money and using the bonds as
collateral. They could borrow about 81
or 35 per cent. of the face of the bonds.
Just at this juncture, to prevent these
men from defrauding the State, General
Sheridan took off the heads of the Gov
ernor and Commissioners so quick that
they did not know what allied them, and
appointed good men in their places. For
some reason, the removed men were
very anxious to be reappointed. They
employed Reverdy johnson and another
lawyer to work for them, agreeing to pay
them S250,OOO if they were reinstated.
This is a great deal of money for four
men to pay for positions, unless there is
some special gain in the case. Reverdy
johnson came to me, but l was so stu
pid and stubborn that 1 could not be in
duced to reappoint them. He went to
Andrew Johnson and made his case,
and Andrew Johnson sent for me and
asked me TO reinstate those men.
l refused to do so. He said:
"Reinstate them even if it is only
for one day. will promise that they will
resign" thought Johson might not
know Of the motive why they were so
anxious to be reinstated, and thinking
1 would do him great service in keep
ing him from great blunder, told him
one hour would do these men as well as
one day, and 1 unfolded their intent
But johnson insisted on their being re-
instated. refused and excused myself.
Johnson then removed Gen. Sherman
and appointed Gen. Hancock. He call
ed Hancock to Washington to instruct
him in pefecting the laws of Congress
concerning restriction. As soon as l
learned that Hancock was in town ]
called at his hotel instead of sending for
him. wanted to see him privately in
his own room. found him in his room,
perhaps before he had his breakfast. 1
said: General, you and l are soldiers
Army of1ibers. We have life positions.
We serve under successive Administra-
tions without regard to party. 1t is our
duty to enforce the laws of Congress.
We are not responsible for tine wisdom
of the laws; Congress bears that respon-
sibilty. We simply enforce them" He
said: well, 1 am opposed to niger
domination. General, it is not a ques-
tion of niger domination. Four mil
lions of eX-slaves, without education or
property, can hardly dominate 3OOOO,OOO
of whites with all thet education and
property. 1t is question of doing our
sworn duty" He said: "I am opposed
to niger domination" 1 saw that my
only chance to influence him was by the
remnant Of authority left in my hands.
He was determined to please the Demo-
cratic party and the South. He went
South, and removed the Governor and
Commissioners that Gen. Sheridan had
appointed. instantly telegraphed him
not to appoint to Office any men who had
been removed, and to give me his rea-
sons by mail for removing the men. He
telegraphed, in long reply, costing the
Government $3.50, his reasons. 1 tele-
graphed him that the reasons were not
sufficient; to send by mail other reasons.
He again telegraphed about the same
points, only not quite so long, costing
only $3.50. He telegraphed that if he
could not have freedom to act, his use
fulness would be destroyed. and that he
would have to ask to be relieved. l tel |
egraphed him to revoke his order. He
asked Johnson TO relieve him, as no one
else could. That is the inner history
and spirit of his celebrated order No. 40 !
This order resulted in the loss of many |
lives. know of cases and can give
them. His statement that the civil au-
thorities are supreme is truth admitted
by all in time of established peace, but 1
can demonstrate that he did not subject
the military power to the civil, but that !
he used his military power to overthrow
the civil"
In speaking of the Chicago Conven-
tion, Gen. Grant said: There are three
reasons why would have accepted the |
,omination: First on the character of
the men who urged it. l esteem their
respect and confidence more than the
nomination. second, l believe l could |
have broken the Solid South. Many
lifelong Democrats in the South had
given the strongest assurances of their
cordial support, believing that 1 could
deliver them from the evils of Solid
South. Third, there is another partial
reason. believe that 1 could have in
duced, from my knowledge of our con-
sulates, the enactment of certain laws
touching our commerce that would have
given us control of much desirable COM
instance, in Mexico-instead
of dealing with people who use only