Sold – U.S. Grant Fully Approves Strong Reconstruction Measures, Despite Pres. Johnson’s Opposition

In early 1867, Congress passed three Reconstruction measures. On March 2, 1867, it enacted the First Reconstruction Act – “An Act to provide for the more efficient Government of the Rebel States”. This placed the South under military rule, set up 5 military districts, provided that a general be appointed to head each, and gave him authority to suppress southern opposition. This was supplemented on March 23, 1867 by the Second Reconstruction Act, that authorized the military commanders to supervise elections. Johnson vetoed both acts, but his vetos were overridden. He then consulted Gen. U. S. Grant, and on March 11 selected the generals to administer the military districts, appointing John Pope for the district including Georgia.

In December 1867, a group convened in Atlanta to create a new state constitution, and in accordance with the demands of the Radical Republicans in Congress, to ratify the 13th and 14th Amendments and grant blacks the right to vote. They instituted these reforms and more, protecting small farmers and giving women the right to own property. The plantation, business and political interests that had traditionally maintained power, as well as many others in Georgia, were not too pleased by this interference (as they saw it.)  The next month, Gen. George G. Meade, a colleague of Grant’s and former commander of the Army of the Potomac, succeeded Pope. He ordered the state to pay for the constitutional convention, but Treasurer John Jones refused, and the Governor, Charles Jenkins, fled the state with the executive seal and the Treasury funds. He deposited them in a New York bank to prevent Meade getting his hands on them. Using his power under the Reconstruction laws, and over President Johnson’s objection, Meade then removed both the Treasurer and Governor from office.

Grant was then commander-in-chief of the United States Army, and had just finished serving as interim secretary of war at President Johnson’s request. He was also the clear favorite for the 1868 Republican Presidential nomination, and widely considered a sure bet to be the nation’s next chief executive. His opinion on Reconstruction mattered. Here, amidst the Georgia controversy, he gave it, writing to Meade that he approved of his actions. He also made a rather snide reference to President Johnson, giving an insight into his true feelings about him.

Autograph Letter Signed on his Headquarters, Army of the United States letterhead, Washington, February 27, 1868, to Meade in Atlanta. “I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 22nd of February enclosing me copy of the President’s dispatch to you. I had been called upon for copies of the same correspondence by the President, and had furnished it, but I assume he expected to direct me in mutilating it. Before you removed the state Treasurer and Governor, the President received a dispatch from the latter notifying him that you contemplated such action. I told the President that I had received a dispatch from you in which you meditated removing the Treasurer but said nothing about removing the Governor. This was before your final action which I heartily approved of, including the removal of the Governor.”

Johnson had his own troubles. Just the day before this letter was written, he replaced Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, despite Congress’s objection, and two days after, he was impeached.