Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-06-13
JOHNSON US. SHERIDAN

The country is anxiously awaiting the ac-
ton of the President in regard TO the re-
moval of Louisiana officials by General
Sheridan, and all kinds of rumors are in cir
culation as to what such action will proba-
bly, be.
We have never placed much credit in the
rumors that the President would take no nc
ton in the matter on account of the fact that
| he is as much opposed to Wells as he is to
Sheridan, for let him be as much opposed as
he may to Wells, he is equally opposed to
Sheridan. Wells has appealed to him,
Sheridan has not, and this is enough to in.
tiuence the action Of man of Johnson's
egotism, vanity and love of power
Andrew johnson has never, since his
accidental elevation, let slip an opportunity
of exerting all the power he possessed, in
some direction. Not so much out of devotion
to any particular principle, but being, as so
many rulers before him have been, a bully
al heart, and he has used power like any
other bully, for no otherreason than that he
delights in using it, and in thinking how
powerful man he is.
johnson is so essentially egotistcal that
he is naturally incapable of entertaining a
| sentiment or a principle in any other view
| than as to how it will affect him personally.
II was more his vain desire to raise up a
new party Of which he should be the ac-
| knowledged head; desire to be known as the
great Reconstruction; than il was his old pre-
judices Though these Of course influenced
him) that led him to refuse TO call Congress
| together on his accession to the Presidency,
and led him to inauguratc system of recon
struction (Ior which there was not a shadow
of authority ten-fold more arbitrary in its
character than any action Of Sheridan's.
Johnson's vanity and cgotism, then, which
have influenced all his other actions, will de-
eide his course in the present difficulty, and
it is to these qualities we must look to make
any intelligent guess at his probable action.
Wells, be Johnson's dislike for him what
il may, is the representative and the out
growth of the system Of Reconstruction
johnson attempted to inauguratc on his own
individual responsibility, while Sheridan is
not only the representative of the Congress
sional plan of Reconstruction, but has by
these very actions became the representa-
tive, above all others, of that plan.
To us ii seems very evident that all John
sons prejudces would be in favor of Wells
and against Sheridan. Again, if he takes
sides with Sheridan, he simply acquesces in
an exercise of power already made il he re-
moves Sheridan, or overrules his action he
exercises power himself, and gratifies his
vanity by the applause of those TO whose
taste he panGers; and we do not believe An
drew Johnson-the fear of impeachment
having been plematurely and injudiciousy
removed-can resist the temptation TO either
remove Sheridan, or do what is equivalent
reinstate Wells. The opinion of his subser
Went tool, the Attorney General, which ha.
| just been promulgated, deciding that the mill
tarY commanders have no power to remove
civil officers, we believe is intended IL
sustain the President in such an action
We hope, for the peace and welfare of tn,
country, and speedy and lasting reconstruc
ton, that we are mistaken, but we can Sc,
nothing in Johnson's action in the past t.
justify the hope.
We stated, the other day, on receipt o
the first intelligence of Sheridan's remova
of Wells, that on Johnson's action in in thi
matter would probably depend whether o
not Congress would meet in July, and w
now feel confident that this is the case /
johnson removes Sheridan or overrulcs hi
action, Congress ought TO, and, we believe
will meet in July; and if ii does, we bciev
the question of impeachment, which man,
consider now settled will be more seriousl,
considered than il yet has been.
Neither Congress nor the triumphant peopl
il represents are in humor to be triflc,
with. The very fact that unwise action O
the President may reopen this question 0
l impeachment is one reason why we hope 81
earnestly that for once he may listen to tn
q voice of reason, for Impeachment, even whel
It is the choice as the better of two evils, ant
IS an absolute necessity, cannot fall short o
being great national calamity.