Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-29

{ Schofsd took occasion Of the THANKS
giving banquet which occurred ie"
days after his arrival, to allay the excite
mcnt hy a pacific speech. alluhlhs 10 IN
ancient friendship between France ana
the United States. General Schohcld was
soon enabled To- make plain 10 the frehch
Government the situation as viewed IN
this country. and that in such manner as
10 give no just cause Of offence, which
would necessarily have been given by an
attempt to convey the same information
through ordinary diplomatic channels. The
result was that upon the opening ses-
sion of the legislative corps, the Emperor
announced his determination TO withdraw
the French army from Mexico. This re-
suit having been reported TO Mr. seward
and General Grant 10y mail. there being
az tina. time no cable across the Atlantic
information was returned that the re-
suit was satisfactOrT, and no need eX-
lsted for General Jchofeld TO remain
longer In Europe. whereupon he returned
10 the United States. In due time, ana
after some further diplomatic correspond
ence on the subject, the French army
was withdrawn from Mexico. according
10 the EmperOrs promises, ana the great
danger was avcTted of rupture OF the
friendly relations that had existed so
long between the United States and
France.
UNDER THE RECONSTRUCTION ACTS
4 few months after his return to the
United States General Schoheld was as
signed TO the command Of the Military
Department Of Virginia. and was charged
with the execution Of the reconstruction
laws under which State governments in
the former seeding States were nnaly
organized In the execution OF these
laws. boy his just, firm, and courageous
-g..ss. KT.a.l
from the great evils that marked the
hasty reconstruction in other seeding
States.
MADE SECRETARY OF WAR.
Shortly after the approval by Congress
of this conservative course In virginia,
the controversy between the President
and the War Department arose. which
resulted i'm the attempted removal Of
Secretary stanton and the impeachment
of President Johnson. When the articles
of Impeachment were rejected, General
Schofold was nominated as Secretary of
War. and he was confirmed by nearly
unanimous vote Of the Senate. Thus
ended controversy which threatened 10
rekindle the flame Of a civil war in
form FAR more depiorable than the sec
tional war just closed.
General Schoheld's duties as Secretary
per as 10 receive the commentator OF
ali parties.
At the request Of President Grant, Cen
eral Schoheld remained in the war office
several days after the Presidents In
auguration. in order that perfect peace
and good order might be assured during
that transition period. In fact, fact for
"A long time. President Grant had made
known his intention 10 o1er the war
portfolio to General Schoheld, but IL was
finally seen that this wouR not be com
patible with the promotion which he
wished TO give him in the regular army.
4 few days later General Schoheld was
nominated and confirmed as a major
general in the army. Since then General
.Schofiell has commanded IN succession
all the military departments ana geo
graphical divisions of the country. While
he was In command Of the Department
OF the Pacific. with headquarters at san
Francisco. in 1872. General Schofeld was
sent by the President on special ms
sion TO the Hawaiian Islands. NJ that
time the question Of annexation had been
Thoroughly agitated, and such statesmen
as Secretaries Marcy. Seward, and Fish
had expressed themselves on the subject.
Although General Schofelds report was
never published, il Is known that ne
pointed cut the great Advantages 10 De
derived from the annexation OF the Islands
from q military standpoint. That such
were his views is shown in n letter. EVIL
IDENTIFY based or his report, written by
Secretary Fish. in 1873. In which he said
OF the islands:
1T is very clear that this government
cannot be expected 10 assent 10 their
transfer from the present control to that
Of any powerful maritime or CONNER
Ciai nation. Such transfer 10 mari
time power would threaten military
surveillance In the Pacific similar TO that
which Bermuda has afforded in The At
lantic."
IN COMMAND OF THE ARMY.
General schoheld was In command OF
the DEPARTMENT of the East. with head
quarters at New York, when General
sheridan died, In August. 1855. when he
was transferred 20 Washington, ana
placed In command of the army. re-
sponsble duty. which he has executed
with pronounced success ever since. IN
February of the present year, as reward
for his long, varied. and distinguished