Year: 1867

wishes. Knowing him as I do, / cannot think
that he will hesitate for moment to obey any
TestoraIion Of the Union, in the preservation Of
which he has rendered such important and


General Hancock known to the whole conn
try gallant, able, and patriotic soldier, will,
] have no doubt, sustain his high reputation in
any position to which he may be assigned. II,
as you observe, the department which he will
have is q complicated one, feel confident that,
under the ce and Instructions OF General
Sherman, General Sheridan will soon become
familiar with It's necessities. and Will avail
himself of the opportunity afforded by the In
dian troubles for the display OF the energy,
enterprise, and daring which gave him so en-
viable reputation during our recent civil
struggle.


In assuming that IL is the expressed wish Of
the people that General Sheridan should not be
removed from his present command, you re-
mark that this is a republic where the will of
the people is the law of the land" and "beg that
their voice may be heard" This is indeed a
stitution. That Constitution is the combined
and expressed will of the people, and their
voice is law when reflected in the manner
which that instrument prescribes While one
of its provisions makes the President Comman-
der-in.C Chief of the army and navy, another
requires that "he shall take care that the laws
be faithfully executed" Believing that change
in the command of the Fifth Military District
of the laws, have issued the order which is
the subject of this correspondence; and in thus
exercising power that inheres in the Execu-
tive, under the Constitution, as COMMANDMENTS
Chief of the military and naval forces, am dis
charging duty required of me by the will
of the nation, as formally declared in the SUI
preme law of the land. BY his oath the Executive
is solemnly bound, ITO the best of his ability,
to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitu-
tlon,'' and although in times of great excite
ment IL may be lost to public view, IL Ia his
duty, without regard to the consequences to
himself, to hold sacred and to enforce any and
all of its provisions. Any other course would
lead to the destruction of the republic, for the
Constitution once abolished, there would be no
Congress for the exercise of legislative powers,
no Executive to see that the laws are faithfully
executed, no: Judiciary to afford to the citizens
protection for life, limb, and property. Usurpa-
tion would inevitably follow, and despOtism
be fixed upon the people in violation OF their
combined and expressed will.


In conclusion, fail to perceive any "milt.
tary," "pecuniary," or patriotic reasons why
this order ould not be carried into effect. You
will remember that in the first instance l did
not consider General Sheridan the most suta-
BILE officer for the command of the Fifth Mill
tary District, This has strengthened my con-
vtctions upon this point, and has led me TO the
conclusion that patriotic considerations de-
mand that he should be superseded by an officer
who while he will faithfully execute the law,
will at the same time give more general salts
faction to the whole people, white and black,
North and South.


1 am, General, very respectfully yours


ANDREW JOHNSON,


Gen. U. S. Grant, Secretary of War odtlterim.