New-York tribune., 1886-08-22

French were Withdrawn, uiahc ici' nlli la ''-'
mand at New-Oilcans.
Vc,c bc was found when the Presidents pol
lev was rejected by the peoples and when the
II measures which johnson opposed became law,
Sheridan, like Grant, set himself to obeylng thc
law johnson, OF course, was ployokcu, o1,, ir
Il Grant promptly indorscd his subordinate, III
/ .Iuly. 1866, violent riot occurred at new,
! Orleans in which forty Union men welc Killed
and $50 wounded by Southcrncrs. sheridan
course at the time was the subject OF warm
| contention between Grant and the President,
| tho latter as usual siding with the men who
had once opposed the Union. During the dis
| c,,ssion Grant wrote to Sheridan Ill these
words
am inst in receipt of copy of your letter to the
President in reply 30 his dispatch Of the 4th inst
IL is certainly very clear statement of the cause
and effect o. tho riot. and in my Judgment it is due
to the public to yon and even to the rfesIdent lent
the President the Publication of all your dispatches
on the subject of the New:-Orleans riot on the
ground that the partial publications which have
appeared put yon in the position OF taking partI.
| san view of the matter. whereas the dispatches
given in full show that you never dreamed OF ex-
| tsnuatipg fauits matter which side they oc-
| Cured on. One thing you may rely on. the purity
| "f your motives will never be impeached by the
public no matter what capital the politicians may
| attempt to make out OF garbled partial publica
tions of what yOu say write officially. Perse
we're exactly IN the course your own good Judgment
dictates. 1t has never yet led You astray as mill
| tary commander nor IN the administration OF the
! affairs of your military division.
| On the 27th of March, 1867, in the exer-
csc of the authority conferred on him by the
| Reconstruction Acts, Sheridan removed from
| Office the Attorney General of the State OF
Louisiana the Mayor of New Orleans and the
Judge of the First District Court of the same
city. Two days aiterward 6 iant wrote to him
Il have just seen your Order No: 3. 1t is
| Just the thing, and merits the universal ap
probation Of the loyal people at least. have
| no doubt but that it will also meet with like
approval from the reconstructed (thc italics
alc Glants]. 1t will at least prove advan-
| tageous to them and to the quiet and prosperity
of Ncw-Orlcans and of the State of Louisiana.
! only write this to let yOn know that at least
approve what you have done"
| FrOcn this time the President seems to have
dctc mined on the removal of Sheridan. for the
power had Irci left in his hands 5y Congress
and in May Giant wrote to TIE threatened com
| niaiiCr
| have no donbt but that the reports of your con
| templated removal have emana'ed from high
| source. 1t has unquestionably been IN contempla
ton, but it cannot hurt though it may e,hbarrass
Won. Every loyal man IN the country admres your
reer. You have TO the fullest extent the oniidence
of the Secretary. the loval people generally. and
Of myself Removal cannot hurt yoI if it does take
| place, and do not believe it will. You have car
ried ont the acts of Congress- and it will he difficult
10 get general officer who will not. Let me say.
| dismiss all embarrassments on account of rumors
of removal. Such an act will not reflect on you.
| Encouraged thus by the man whCn tie people
| who had supported tle wal now looked npon
as their chief, Sheridan persisted in his obedi
cncc - the spirit and the letter OF the law and
| Grant persisted IN his Encouragement. On the
3d of June Sheridan removed the Governor OF
Louisiana. that Cfli-ial having made hallsclf an
| impcdimcnt to the faithful execution of the
| Reconstruction Act ", and Grant Immediately
wrote to Sheridan
| have no doubt myself that the removal of Gov
ernor Wells will do great good TO your command. if
YOU are sustained. but great harm if yon are not
sustained shall do all can 10 sustain You in it.
and " i'll he sustained by public opinion as well as
your own conscience, no matter what the result
| II has been MY intention to order yOu to Washing
ton rs as your command is in condition that
you can leave it for few weeks, TO give You an op
| portunity of taking q run up North. little re-
laxaticn for few weeks will do you good, bodily,
and give you opportunity of coming in contact
| with people who supported the Government during
| Tie rebellion lGrants it ilics
| The axe had been hanging long, but it
finally fell. On the Isl of August the President
| announced to Grant that he had made up his
mind TO suspend Stanton and remove Sheridan
| have al;cady quoted the language in which
Grant protested against this intention III regard
| 10 Stanton. In the same letter he added these
| words referring 10 Sheridan
| On the subject of the removal of the very able
| commander of the Fifth Military District, let Inc
| ask You to consider the effect it would have upon
by the people who sustained the Government
| through its trials and feared by those who would
| still be enemies of the Government. 1t fell to the
enemy as General Sheridan did during the rebellion.
and IT is within the scope of the ability OF but few
n this or any other country to do what he has.
His civil administration has given equal satsfac-
tOn. He has had difficulties TO contend with which
no other district commander has encountered. Al
most If not quite from the day bo appointed
district commander to the present time. press
has gwen out that nc was to be removed; that tho
Admin istratiOn was dissatisfied with him. ctc.
This has emboldened the opponents to the laws of
Congress within his command to oppose him in
every wav in their power and has rendered neces
| Slary measures which otherwise might ha
been necessary.
Grant had, however, little idea that his pro-
test would change the intention of the PleS-
dent, and directed one OF his officers TO write TO
Sheridan as follows
{ General Grant wishes me to write to you to tell
you that Iresluert Johnson has made up bis mind
to remove you and also tho Secretary Of War; He
sent for General Grant Yesterday and told him this
he General sail all proper for him say against
such course. and when he came back he put his
views in writing and sent them to Mr. Johnson |
send you a copy of bis letter The General wslcs
me to say to yon to go oD your course exactly as if
tins communication bad not been sent TO YOU and
without fear of consequences: That long as you
pnrsus the same line of duty that you have followed
thus far IN the service you will receive the entire
support OF these Headquarters.
On the 18th of August the order was posi-
; lively Issued, and 6 ant again protested ur
gently and cloqucntly in letter which has
already been given to the world General
Thomas was designated to relieve Sheridan, but
J, that officer was unwilling to assume the posi-
ton, and was excused on the ground of H.
health. Sheridan, however, was directed TO
turn over his command at once to the next
officer in rank in his district lie was not TO be
allowed to remain under any circumstances
His orders were to proceed TO Fort Lcavenworth
and relieve Hancock, who was in turn TO super
sedc Sheridan at New Orleans.
On the Sth of September the faithful chief
! wrote again TO his friend
j By my dispatch to you to turn over your COM
mand to the officer next in rank to yourself soon
as you relieve General Hancock, and TO come to
i Washington. did not mean to hasten your arrival
in this city, Dut meant it order for ycn TO
come here at yOnr leisure, | want to see You
When you leave Lcavenw orth. however, m ke such
visits as suit your convenience only do not return
L. LA. c...l l..f. l.. A<A IL. ...-