Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/93

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 67 Grant and President Johnson, which finally re sulted in their entire estrangement. In December, Grant made a tour of inspection through the south. His report upon affairs in that section of the country was submitted to congress by the president, and became the basis of impor tant reconstruction laws. In May, 1866, he wrote a letter to the secretary of war, which was submitted to congress, and became the basis for the reorgan ization of the army, and also for the distribution of troops through the south during the process of re construction. The Fenians were now giving the government much trouble, and in consequence of their acts the relations between the United States and Great Britain were becoming strained. They had organized a raid into Canada to take place dur ing the summer; but Grant visited Buffalo in June, took effective measures to stop them, and prevented all further unlawful acts on their part. Congress had passed an act creating the grade of general, a higher rank than had before existed in the army, to be conferred on Grant as a reward for his illus trious services in the field, and on July 25, 1866, he received his commission. In the autumn of 1866, President Johnson hav ing changed his policy toward the south, finding that Grant refused to support him in his intentions to assume powers that Grant believed were vested only in congress, ordered him out of the country,