Year: 1867

only question was, whether, when they


were ready for fight, they should have


armed soldiers or unarmed citizens to


shoot AZ. | thought the best way would be


TO regard the militia as an insurrection and


send soldiers to suppress it and clean it


cut. He didn't know, he said, what was


best to be done; ne wanted 10 see the


peace Of the State preserved, but didn't
exactly know how best to preserve it. He


regarded the State Government Of Tennes-
see as the worst despotism he had ever


heard ola military despotism in its worst


form-and about the meanest despot he


ever heard of at the head Of it. Some


men make even despotiSm a respectable


sort Of government, said he, but Brownlow


can't get up decent sort Of despotiom.-


He believed the people of Tennessee would
live quietly and obey the laws and the
Constitution. i let alone, and that they


did not need any militia there at all, and


that half the trouble in the State was
brought about by Northern men going


down there TO. stir up strife and make cap


itaI OFT cf i:


The conversation next turned upon Gen


Sheridan and the conduct Of affairs In


Louisiana. The President spoke with
great warmth and carnestncss when re re


ferrcd to this subject st times his voice
rose high enough for an audience of live
hundred, though was the only person in
the room and was sitting within two Feet OF
him. Now" sad he, Gen. Sheridan
said he had to remove Gov Wells because
he was an impcdiment in the way o. re-
construction He doesn't say how he was
IN impediment; he doesn't say in what
way he had obstructed him in his official
duties, but merely says he was an impedi-
merit and removes him. Well how much
better has he got along since he removed
him? Has that helped him any? can
not see that it has. And again. suppose
| should replace Wells, how would that
obztruct the execution Of this law These
are questions which no one has attempted
to answer.


\ little later he said /:


They have talked about my putting
impediments in the way Of the execution
of this law. have done nothing Of the
kind. aud don't intend to-neyer thought
Of doing il. They have spoken Of the
Attorney Generals opinion as an obstruc-
ton. That's all nonsense. It's no such
thing. The removal Of civil officers docs
not assist the execution CT this bill at ALL
1t has nothing to &c uith it."


I thin tod aim that Mr. Wilson had
prepared bill to offer in the ecnate. civ
ing the military commanders the power to
remove all civil officers; or rather yacating
all civil cffces, and authorizing the militia
ry commanders to fill them by appointment,
re-appointment or election.


"Well, that won't help reconstruction at !
all - said h. "The few Offices that a@e
there don't affect the execution Of the law
one way or the other, and it would be a
good deal better to let them serve out their
term Of Office, and when they ran OFT OF
der an election to fill them"


spoke Of Gen. Sheridan 5 orders and
dispatches as insubordinate, and such as
the people Of the North ought not to APP
plaud that the same state of affairs dur /
ing the wa: might have led to incalcuable
evil in the army, and it was just as if Gen /
Meade should have tclegraphed to Mr.. Liu-
coin that if Gen. Grants policy was car
rled out, the army of the Potomac would .
soon be surrendered to Gen Lee. That's
just about it, said the President, "and
the people ought to see that encouraging
such things is bringing the Office Of Pres
ldent into disrespect, no matter what they
may think Of me- He said nothing what
ever against Sheridan, rnlsss what | have
Just related be viewed in that light but
could easily see from his manner that he
felt eeenly tie attempts % that Military
chioftain to bring him and his Office into
Just here, perhaps, may as
we'll state that have very good authority
for setting at rest all anxiety on the subject
of Shcridau's Iemogal. Nothing of the +
kind will be attempted and if any of the
Generals commanding in the South want
political promotion, they must seek in some
other way than by trying 10 get the Pres
dent to tread on their coat tails He
won't do it,