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

NO. viz.
Presidential Obstruction.

The reconstruction policy of Congress was, of
course. CALLING to the South, and with the knowl-
edge that their hostility was shared by the head
Of the state. it was perhaps not unnatural that
y population just emerging from armed rebellion
should look to seditious action at this crisis.
There we're indications Of such course, espe-
pially at New Orleans, where Sheridan was in
Nommand. He so reported to Grant, who laid
the matter before the President and the Secre-
tary of War. After consultation with those au-
thorities, Grant forwarded the following order
70 Sheridan. give the text as he originally
penciled it, his subsequent omissions being IN
closed in brackets 1t shows both his first i'm
pulse and the restraint he put upon himself in
order to convey no false impression of the Pres
ldents view:
ssUse the military to prevent conflict or riot
tunder the authority granted by civil-rights bill
and recent act of Congress- The law can de-
eide after district commanders are named in re-
1ation to legality OF measures resorted to by OPP
posing parties in New Orleans. The President
has now under consideration the question OF
assignment of district commandersl is now TAX
Ing steps to put the recent act of Congress into
effect The President directs THAT you en-
force the law and prevent conflict or riot by ju-
dicious use of the military that flaw and order
be preserved and the law enforced.
MARCH 8, '67. u. s. GRANT, General
The dispatch finally read: "rhe President di-
reefs that order be preserved in New Orleans and
the laws enforced With this Grant sent o
copy of the reconstruction law. This he had
not been directed to do by the President.
The whole force of the reconstruction meas
ure lay in the power of the district commanders
TO remove civil officers who opposed or INSTRUCTED
the new law. Mr.. Johnson at once took the
T hat Az
listed in those commanders. Grant knew per-
sonally and positively that Congress had in
tended to confer this power, for he had been
constantly consulted during the preparation
Of the bill Indeed. it had been proposed
not only to confer the power on district com
manders, but on himself, as their superior.
This, however, he disadvised. He was still un-
willing to be placed in open antagonism to the
President; and, besides, thought 1t wise not to
provoke him by public humiliations or avoidable
restrictions of his authority. He had therefore
urged that the appointment of district command
ers should be left with the President, and that
the supervisory authority also should be COM
mitted to the executive rather than to the head
of the army; for he believed that Congress could
maintain sufficient check upon any hostile &C.
ton of the President.
johnson, however, at once made it certain
shat his claws had not been so closely pared but
that he could still do serious mischief. Never
hheless, Grant remained averse to taking or
advising any step which might aggravate the
difficulties of the situation His policy at this
crisis is shown in the following letter Of April 81
1867, to Sheridan
my Dear Generals yet no decision has
been given by the Attorney general on the sub
6ect of the right of district commanders to re-
move civil officers and appoint their successors.
1T is likely, however, that he will give attention
to that subject and all other questions submitted
TO MIN arising under the reconstruction act soon
As he liz through with the Mississippi motion TO ME
a bill of injunction against certain parties to
strain them from executing the laws OF Con-
gress. In the meantime would advise that In
case any Of the civil officers obstruct the laws
they be suspended AMI tried by military COM
mission. This right certainly does exist on the
part of the district commanders, and have no
doubt myself on the subject of their power to re-
move arbitrarily. The law makers clearly con-
templated providing military governments for
the rebel States until they were fully restored in
Ill their relations to the general government
They evidently only recognized present State
governments as provisional, for convenience, to
be made of by district commanders, just 30
far as they could be used in carrying ont the
will of Congress. and no further"
One of the most important matters under the
new law was the registratioc Of voters. These
were to include all male citizens. without dis
tirction of race color or previous conditioner
cept such as had been disfranchised for partici-
patton in the Rebellion. or for felony at common
law; and every bubble at once resorted to
by the Southland Endorsed by johnson, to Sc
cure the registration of those whom Congress
had intended 10 disfranchise. The subject was
constantly coming up before the district com
manders. who promptly referred all intricate
points to Grant. On this head he wrote to Sher-
idan in the letter already quoted.
ION the subject of who can register under the
law. think it was the intention to exclude only
those who are excluded from holding Office under
the constitutional amendment, and those who
have previously been dsfranchised for infamous
lcrimes, such as were recognized before the Rebel
lion as sufficient cause for Acknowledgement. OF
course there is no greater crime than that of at
tempting to overthrow the government. But
that's the particular crime which is forgiven by
the reconstruction act, except to certain offenders
who supposed from their previous relations
10 the general governmental be more guilty than
the rest. Tho supplementary bill particularly
the oath prescribed to be taken before registra-
Establishment of class of citizens that
ought always to be disfranchised in
every community, for theft gross violation
Of law. and could not have been intended as
further punishment or the punishment of other
GLASSES, for the crime of treason against the
government BY the same rule of judging I do
not think that class of citizens who heretofore
have not had the elective franchise can be ex-
Guided for acts which would not have disfran-
chised them had they possessed the privilege of
voting give this only as my views on the
subject. If were commanding district, how
pver, would require registering officers to keep
Two lists On one would register the names Of
I'll about whose right to register there could be
no doubt. and on the other all those about whom
there light be doubt.
There has nothing new transpired affecting
rou. think your head is safe above your
shoulders, at least so that it cannot be taken off
10 produce pain"
The last sentence refers to the intention john
Don had already manifested to remove Sherman,