The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-10-12

order Number 40.
NEW YORK, Oct. 5.-Grant said, in a recent
interview: swell, will give the true inner
history of order No. 40. Congress was striv-
ing to prevent Andrew johnson from undo
ing the reconstruction laws. Whenever con-
eress passed law johnson bent his Cuergies
to defeat its enforcement, and would find pre-
texts to dodge around it. Then congress
would pass another law to hedge him up. So
1t went till congress had taken from him all
control of the generals commanding some
districts of the south, except the power to re-
move them and appoint others in their place.
These commanders could remove any civil
officer of any grade, judge or governor.
When was made general and they deter
mined my powers and duties, they gave the
general, by accident, think or without see
ing all IL invested, co ordinate power with
these district commanders, and as was sem
ior 1t gave me authority. Gen. Sheridan was
sent to the department Of Louisiana, covering
Louisiana and Texas. He is very shrewd
and very able. He kept his eyes open, learn
ing rapidly the men who were not worthy,
and worthy men were put in their places.
The Legislature of Louisiana passed law
authorizing the issue Of $7,000,00O of levee
bonds, ostensibly for the levee. They condi-
toned their sale on their bringing to the state
not less than SO per cent. of their face. The gov
ernor 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 re!
sorted to the plan of borrowing 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 junction, to prevent
these men from defrauding the state, Gen.
Sheridan took their heads off so quick that
they did not know what allied them, and ap-
pointed 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, and agreed to pay them $3.50, 200 if they
were rGinstated. This is great deal of
money for four men to pay for positions un-
| less there is some special gain in the case.
Reverdy Jehnson came to me, but l was so
stupid and stubborn that l could not be in
duced to reappoint them. He went to An
drew johnson aud made his case, and Andrew
Johnson sent for me and ordered me to REIN
state those men. I refused to do so. He
said: 'RGinstate those men if it is only for
| one day. will promise that they will then
resign l thought johnson might not know
of the motive why these men were so anxious
| to be r6instated,a and thinking would do him a
great service I'm keeping him from a great
| blunder, l told him that one hour would do
those men as well as one day, and unfolded
their Intentions. But johnson insisted on
their being reinstated. l refused and excused
myself johnson then removed Gen. Sherl-
dan and appointed Gen. Hancock. He called
Hancock to Washington to instruct him in
I defeating the will of congress concerning re-
| construction. AS soon as learned that Han
cock was in town l called al 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 breakfasted.
| said: General, you and are soldiers
army officers. We have life positions. We
have served under successive administrations
| without regard to party. 1t is our duty to
enforce the laws of congress. We are not
responsible for the wisdom of those laws.
Congress bears that responsbility-we simply
enforce Them lie said: well, am opposed
to nigger domination l said: General, it is
not question Of uigger domination. -Four
millions of ex-slavts without education or
property can hardly dominate three millions
of whites with all the education and property
1t is question of doing our sworn duty.
He said: well, Pm opposed to niger domin-
atom | saw that my only chance to influ-
ence him was by the remnant of authority
left in my hands. He was determined to
please the democratic party and the south.
He went south and removed the governor and
| commissioners that Gen. Sheridan had ap-
pointed. | instantly telegraphed him not to
appoint to office any men who had been re-
moved, and to give me his reasons by mail
for removing the men. He lelegraphed in a
long reply, costing the government $3.50, his
reasons. telegraphed him that the reasons
were not sufficient, and 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 usefulness WOul,l