[67] class of citizens that ought always to be disfranchised in every community, for their gross violation of law, and could not have been intended as a further punishment, or the punishment of other classes, for the crime of treason against the Government. By the same rule of judging I do not think that a class of citizens who heretofore have not had the elective franchise can be excluded for acts which would not have disfranchised them had they possessed the privilege of voting. I give this only as my views on the subject. If I were commanding a district, however, I would require registering officers to keep two lists. On one I would register the names of all about whose right to register there could be no doubt, and on the other all those about whom there might be doubt.There has nothing new transpired affecting you. I think your head is safe above your shoulders, at least so that it cannot be taken off to produce pain.
The last sentence refers to the intention Johnson had already manifested to remove Sheridan, because that officer was evidently determined to obey the law.
On April 21st, the day when he wrote thus to Sheridan, Grant sent the following dispatch to Pope, another of the District Commanders. There are passages in this letter which in ordinary times might have subjected its writer to trial by court martial for insubordination and disrespect to the President. But a court martial must have been composed of men who had fought for the Union, and it is doubtful if one could have been formed to pronounce Grant's course at this juncture other than patriotic and commendable.
