New-York tribune., 1867-06-14
THE PRESIDENT on DANGEROUS GROUND

THE PRESIDENT ON DANGEROUS GROUND
The National MteILgcncer announces that
at "a very recent consultation of the Cabinet
lit was decided that the military officers III
command of the five Districts into which the
"ten represented Southern States are divided
"have no power to remove civil officers dctiv-
ing their authority from the state Gov
"eInments as now organized" 1t is IN
timated that orders will soon be issued
"replacing the dcposed officers Wells
will again be Governor of Louisiana,
Monroe will resume the Mayomlty of New
Orleans Abell will administer Louisiana jus
t;cc. and WitheIs will take his office in Mobile.
The IRtcHigcHcer trusts that Gen. Sheridan,
who is especially affected by this decision, VIII
not apply TO be relieved. II he does not ask to
be relieved, we are assured he will not he re-
moved for what the court journal calls "hN
"errOrs" I'm other words, the President has
made up his mind TO cOnStruc the bull III his
own way. He has cot an opinion from StanbeIy
and will issue his orders. If hc can only IN
duce Sheridan and Sickcs to execute these or
dcls the country will not feel as badly as would
he expected if he were to remove them Shcr-
idan NAV consider his errors" forgiven If he
will only do what he is told and sin no more.
If this statement is true. we feel that the
President has taken a very grave step, ana Is
treadng on dangerous ground. We have tl1cd
To show the purpose of this Military BILL and
the moral obligation assumed by the President.
We have earnestly entreatcd the President not
to violate a law which it was understood lc
would execute. We claim that II is not exc
cutting the law TO restore Monroe Ted-handcd
to Office, and to give Wells another chance at
the four millions which are said to have eX-
cited his political cupidity. The organ from
which we are quoting makes no such claim. but
puts the decision upon other grounds. " An
drew Johnson" il assures us, in that spirit of
elegant toadyism which seems to be
official "is no less patriot in the
Executive chair than he was in the
dark days of 1867 the Radicals want mil
/ itary regime in the South to perpetuate their
power "and the nation cares more foI peace
and permanent union than it does for any or
all parties." I'm other words, this whole
measure is a Radical contrivancc, intended as
| an electioncering dodge, and lis EXccllcncy, the
patriot of 1860, intends to put his foot down
and have no more of il. Instead Of executing
laws according to Congress. these Radical
Generals must obey his commands. IT Sheridan
will not we presume Rousseau VIII, or, in a
last resort we have Custar. The country is
expected TO view these acts in the interest OF
peace and permanent unon.'
The purpose Of the Military bill Is to give
certain Generals supreme power To that end
each General Commanding is absolutely in COM
mand, and all officers, civil or military, are
merely so many lieutenants for the expression
Of his will. If any officer intcrfcres with this
duty, he is to be pat aside. Congress intended
! this. and what is more, the President recog-
nized the intention. " The power thus given
"to the commanding Oilcer' Inc said,
in his veto message, over all the
"peOple OF each district is that Of an
absolute monarch. His mere will is to take
" the place of all law No master ever had
a control so absolute over his slaves as this
"bill gives to the military officers over both
white and colored persons And 50 on, with
the most elaborate argument How can the
President reconcile his present decision with
the reasoning of the Veto Message
Congress intended these soldiers to have
absolute control. But how can their
control he 20 if under his command
certain civil officers are permitted to exercise
independent and irresponsible powers How
can Gen. Sheridan carry out this bill with
hostile Governor like Wells. with Monroe con-
trolling tile police, and Abel proclamng the
law If it is wrong TO remove Wells, it is, Of
course, wrong TO interfere with him, and If
that person makes up his mind that the Re
construction bill shall not be obeyed what can
! Sheridan do 2 Behind Wells stands the:
President and he bids his General
to stay his hands, and allow these.
! civilians TO do as they please. lie protects
| them as unassaable. In palmer terms under
! the Presidents construction OF this bill, the
! Generals Commanding have no more power III
| tile South than Gen. Meade in Pennsylvania,
! or Gen. lIalleck in California. Reconstruction
passes from the military to the civil power,
| and by civil power we mean the choice Of the
men who opl osed us for five years in war II
| is an impcItinence 10 suppose that Congress in
! tended anything of the kind fn la1 bas 2
We feel that the Presdentiis treading on
dangerous ground-not only for himself, but
for the country. His organ assures us that he
does not forget be was a patriot in lS6O-wlicl
means, we fear, that he is in Il combative, ugly
humor, and intends to have another contest
with the Radicals This humor Is a small
consideration. We leave the President
and the Radicals TO fight it out. Be
yOnd all we see danger to the country.
Insecurity comes to tie North, anxiety to
the South our discussions gow angry
and bitter; the gentle, soothing work of Re-
construction is arrested and postponed. We
wish for the best but We confess to much
uncasincss. We had hOTcd for reunion of these
States in the next Congress, on the basis OF
impartial suffrage and all rights for all. We
of al, f., President