The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-25

faithful execution of the reconstruction act Of
Congress. and that in civil matters can not
give them an order. can give them my views,
however, for what they are worth, and above all,
/ can advise them of views and opinions here
which may serve TO put them on their guaro.
When General Sheridan removed three civil ON
GERS in the State of Louisiana an act which de-
lighted the loyal North and none more than the
supporters of the congressional reconstruction
bill in Congress, it created quite
stir, and it gave expression -, 70
he had exceeded his authority. | presume the
Attorney general will give written opinion on
the subject of the powers Of district command
ers to remove civil afcers and appoint their sue
cessors. When ne does, illforward it to al the
district commanders It is very plain that the
power of district commanders to try offenders
by military commissions exists would advise
that commissions be resortcd to, rather than
arbitrary removals, until an opinion is had from
the Attorney general or it is found that ne does
not intend to give one.
IL will say here General, that have watched
yolr course closely, as / have that or all the
district commanders, and find nothing You have
ment. Rest assured that all you have done
meets with the approval of all who wish to see
the act of Congress executed in good faith"
And so, with caution and moderation, mingled
with decision and discrimination, he advised the
subordinates whom in civil matters he held that
he could not command. They all took his ad-
vice with the same Difference as if it had been a
command, and followed it implicitly. Sheridan,
sickles, schoield, Pope and Ord, the five dis
trict commanders all were in harmony with
him and with Congress. although all had once
been without any tinge Of abolition sentiment,
and all had sympathized fully with the original
magnanimity of Grant
But not only was his influence with the army
enormous, bis popularity with the entire country
was at this time at its height Doubtless it was
the knowledge of this popularity that restrained
johnson from manfesting open resentment at
the course of his subordinate. Wherever Grant
went he was attended by enthusiastic crowds;
audiences at theaters and congregations in
churches rose when he entered; the actors them.
selves applauded him from the stage, the preach
ers prayed for him by name from the pulpit:
towns were illuminated because Of his arrival;
triumphal arches were built for him. The
population of the North seemed unan-
imous in its manifestations of affection
and admiration; the supporters Of the war
because he had eeeen victorious, the friends of
| the South because he had been magnanimous.
| 1t is impossible to understand either Johnson's
forbearance or Grants authority all through this
| epoch without bearing constantly in mind that
| Grant was the most popular man in America.
| visited with him every important city at the
| North, and witnessed the ovations he received
| from millions. / was constantly at his house
| in Washington, and saw the thousands who
thronged to his receptions there. I gave out the
| invitations to his parties and was besieged
he 11,1o< md
| the obscure, from foreign ministers and
Southern generals, from people of highest
| fashion who were proud to be seen at his enter
| tainments and from private soldiers and humble
citizens who were made as welcome as any.
| Those who had scorned him and the cause that
| he represented, who had pretended to think him
| common and plain, were swept along with the
currents women, of politics opposed to his own,
| who once had positively refused to be presented
| to him, now made efforts to obtain admission to
| his house, and especially every man who had
ever fought against him was ready to do him
honor, for every man felt that he owed him his
parole, and every officer his sword.
All this was known to the President, who
came as / have said. to Grants parties with all
the rest of the world. At one of Grants recep-
tons, when Mr.. johnson was present. recol-
lect also Alexander III. Stephens, the Vice presi-
dent of the down-fallen Confederacy, recently
released at Grants interposition from his
prison. the minister of the French
| Emperor and the family of the Mexican
| President, Juarez, whom that Emperor
had, through Grants iuterposition resisted
in vain crowd of fashionable Northern
women whose husbands had opposed the war,
and every officer of the Union army who was
| then in Washington. The spectacle of this
complex society crowding around the first
soldier of the country impressed the
| head of the state, and made him understand
that it was better to seem, at least, in accord
with this man, than to be known as his political
| adversary ADAM BADEAU.
| Of Unitarian In.