The sun., 1897-09-23
erN. soHoF1ELD AVID Mr.. eoRHAM.
The Matter or President johnson, secretarJ
stanton, and Gen, Grant,

The Matter or President johnson, Secretary
stanton, and Gen. Grant,
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir; have
deferred making any answer to tho lettor from
tho Hon. George c. Gorham, published In THE
st,N of Aug o. until / could carefully rc6xam-
ino tho records bearing on the subject, and now
have to ask tho Indulgence of THE Sun in re-
gard to only one point, Mr.. Gorhnms allegation
respecting the official conduct of Gen. Grant.
Mr.. Gorham quoted n part tstatinG the SUD
stance of the other part) OF letter from Gen.
Grant to President johnson, dated Aug l, 1867.
He then referred to, but did not quote. another
letter from Gen. Grant to the President, dated
Aug, IL, 1867, and said, "in which he refers TO
his letter OF the LIST and rcatfirms It,
In tho meantime, on Aug. IL. Secretary Stanton
had been suspended and Gen. Grant had &C.
cepted the appointment of Secretary Of War ad
interim in Stanton's place. Hence Mr.. Gorham
asserted In substance that Gen. Grant wrote to
the President second time, Aug. IL. "reafilrm'
ing" his protest OF Aug against Stanton's re-
noval, five days after Stanton had been sus-
pended and Grant himself had accepted tho
Office in Stanton's place.
But tho letters themselves give no foundation
whatever for Mr.. Gorham's assertion so dcrog-
atory to Gen. Grants character. The second
letter "reaiilrms what was said in the first
about the removal Of Gen. Sheridan from COM
mand of the Fifth military district which was
still open question, on which the President
had invited Grants opinion that sume day; but
the letter does not say anything whatever about
Grants objections to the removal OF Stanton
from the War Office. to which objections John
son had already yielded by suspending Stanton
instead of removing him and by appointing
Grant himself, instead of some other person
who might prove Objectionable to Grant. (See
Grants lettcr TO johnson, dated Feb. 3. 1858 In
McPhersons History OF Reconstruction
page 2S6.)
How could any one imagine Gen. Grant guilty
OF 80 gross an impropriety as gratuitously to
repeat his protest against the removal of STAN
ton after the President had yielded to that pro-
testi
Mr.. Gorham's reading Of the public records
appears TO have been far less accurate than my
recollection Of the events. The latter may have
been inaccurate as to date. but not as to any
Tho two letters from Grant to johnson of Aug.
! and II, as recorded in McPherson's History
oandsS od page are heTes9 sp
BAR HARBoR, Me-, Sept. IL.
HEADo RS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATEs,(
W,AsnNGToN. d. G.. Aug. l, 1867.
SIR: ! take the liberty OF addressing you pri.
yately on the subject OF the conversation we had
this morning. feeling. as do. the great danger
to the welfare OF the country should you carry
out the designs then expressed.
Frst-On the subject of the displacement of
effected against his will without the consent Of
the Senate. 1t Is but short time since the
United States Senate was in session. and why
not then have asked for his removal If 1t was
desired : II certainly was the intention OF the
met Ministers beyond the power OF Executive
80 far as Cabinet Ministers are affected by the
Tenure OF Office bill it was intended .spe-
the country felt great confidence in The mean.
| ing Of the law may be explained away by
as astute awyer but but, common sense m and the views
| by its trainers.
| ask you to consider the effect it would have
upon the public He is universally and desery-
Government through lis trials, and feared by
| those VIII would still be enemies Of the Govern
ment. 1t fell to the lot OF but few men to do as
much against an armed enemy as Gen. sheridan
! did during the rebellion. and it IL within the
scope of the Hb,E Of ha; few II this or other
| traion has given equal satisfaction He has
| had difficulties TO contend with which other
| II not quite, from the day he was appointed dis
trict commander to the present time the press
that the Administration dissatisfied with
him, &c. This has etnbol encd the opponents
to oppose him in every way in their power. and
! hes rendered necessary measures which other
| wise may never have been necessary: In con.
| clusion. allow me to say. friend desiring
try. North and south that It is I in V, my opiDion
mean those VIII supported the Government
during the great rebellion, will quietly submit to,
| to see the very men OF all others whom they have
| expressed confidence in removed.
would not have taken he liberty OF address.
| ing the Executive of the United States thus bu
for the conversation on the subject alluded to in
this letter. and from sense OF duty, feeling that
respect. your obc lent servant.
His Excelency A. JOHNSON. President Of the
| United States.
HEApo Rs ARMIES OF THE UNITED SrArEs.)
SIR / am in receip; OF your order Of this date
to the command OF the Fifth military district,
Gen. sheridan 70 the Department OF tho Mis-.
souri,, and Gen. Hancock 10 the Department OF
the Cum berlent; also Of your note OF this date
Enclosing these instructionsl. saying: Before
| closed order. would be pleased TO hear any
| suggest ions you may deem necessary respecting
the assignments TO which the order refers.
| lam pleased 10 avail myself of this invitation
to urge: earnestly urge. urge in the name OF a
patriotic people who have sacrificed hundreds
union of this country. that this order DO not in
sist cd on. II is unlnistak kably the expressed
wish of the country that Gen. Sheridan should
not be removed from hs present command.
This is a republic. where the will OF the people
is the law Of the land. I beg that their voice
may be heard.
Con. sheridan has performed his civil duties
faithfully and intclligrntly. His removal will
only be regarded as an effort defeat the laws
OF Congres3 It will be intcrpreted by the unre,
constructed element in he South-those who
did MI they Couli TO break up this Government
by arms and now wish to be the only element
consulted us to the method of restoring order
as triumph. 1t will embolden them to re.
newell opposition to { ho will OF tho loyal ma sscs
believing that they have the Executive with
them.
The services OF Gen. Thomas in battling for
| the Union cntitlc him TO some onsiieration
He has repeatedly. entered his protest against
being assigned 10 either OF the five military dis
tricts. and especially TO being assigned to re
licve Gen. Sheridan.
There are military reasons. pecuniar reasons
and above al patriotic reasons why this should
not be insisted upon.
J beg ref r TO letter marked "priyate
which wrote TO the President when first CON
sui cd on the subject OF tho change In the War
Department. II bears upon the subject OF thi,
removal. and had hoped would have pre-
| vented ii.
have the honor to be, with great rcspcct
| your obc lent servant, t. S GRANT
General L. :. A.. Secretary OF War nd interim.
His ENcellcncy \. JOHNSON, President OF the
| United States "
Hospitnis for the Family.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sir: writer in 10
days Sun advocates the ral of 4,