The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-10
MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1867.
The Course of General sheridan.


Or all the Generals who are acting as Mill
tary Commanders under the Reconstruction
law, none has given greater satisfaction 10
the loyal people of the country than MAJOR
General Sheridan. There have been prompt
ness, vigor, and decision about his pro
oeedings such as we might have expected
from the hero of Five Forks and Of the She
nandoah Valley. He has, moreover, exhibited
sense of Justice and regard for the spirit OF
the law under which he is acting, which are
eminently satisfactory to witness. His prompt
removal of the bloody and violent Monroe
from the Office of Mayor of New Orleans was
exceedingly gratifying to the whole country.
The public mind had fastened upon this bad
man much of the guilt of the New Orleans
massacre, and it was an offense to the whole
nation that he was permitted still to hold his
Office. Sheridan who knew all the facts, and
was thoroughly cognizant of the character of
the man, promptly removed him, and the
people applauded the act.
So, too the construction that Sheridan put
upon the Reconstruction law, in connection
with registration, was just that construction
which an earnest and thorough loyalist would
have been apt to put upon it. He interpreted
it by its spirit. He was not troubled, like our
astute Attorney General Stanbery, to determine
whether the law was passed with reference to
the Rebellion of our day or to the war of 1912.
When the law spoke of certain classes of men
who had aided and abetted the enemies of the
United States, Sheridan did not have to 90
back half a century to find them. He acted
like an honest man, determined to do his duty
The removal of Provisional Governor Wells
was matter entirely within the Judgment of
the General. If he found Wells an impedi-
ment in the way of carrying out the law of
Congress, he did perfectly right in removing
him. We do not stop to listen to any clamors
about the overthrow of State authorities, the
removal of the Governor of an independent
State, and all that. That question was decided
long ago. Wells has no more rightful au-
thority as Governor, except what he gets from
the very act under which he is removed, than
any other citizen of New Orleans has. The
so-called State Government, of which he has
constituted part, is a merely provisional
thing. 1t has no claim to legality. 1t has no
bond of connexion with the old line of State
Governments which existed in Louisiana be-
fore she seeded from the Union. 1t was a
pure usurpation until given a provisional
authority by the late act of Congress. But
that very act contemplates the early removal of
these Provisional Governments, and their re-
placement by constitutional organizations.
General Sheridan is therefore acting in the
strictest conformity with the law. He is
welding power that it was specially designed
he should WELD, and his judgment in the
premises commands the approval of the great
mass Of the people.
We do not share the apprehensions
expressed in some quarters, that General
Sheridanis about to be removed. Doubtless
his faithfulness has called down upon his head
the maledictions of the partisans of Monroe
Doubtless there are many who would like to
see his action in the case of Wells reversed.
Doubtless his course has not given the highest
satisfaction to the President. Mr.. johnson
will never forgive him for telling the truth so
effectively in regard to the New Orleans mas
sacre. Still, we do not believe that Sheridan
will be removed. There are political conside-
rations which, in our opinion, will be all
powerful in keeping him where he is. We do
not imagine that the politicians at Washington
who support 'My Policy are anxious just
now to increase General Sheridan's promi-
hence before the country, by removing him
from position which he fills so emmently to
the public acceptation.