The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-22
Sheridan and Grant.

nOtOrlOuSly desired 10 remove Ueuerdl phell-
dan from command in the South, but dared
not do it, has at last found his opportunity.
Sheridan is deposed- -disgraced-
for such splendid service to the nation as no
other soldier has had chance to perform
since'the end of the war. Upon no other of |
the District Commanders in the South, i'm
portant as their duties were, was such
weghty responsibility imposed He was given !
the command of the two most disloyal of the
Rebel States; even South Carolina has her
100, 600 freedmen to make the State loyal by
majority not to be overcome. But even Loui-
siana and Texas have been pregminent in dis
loyalty; outside of the large cities, Texas has
been the hell of freedmen and the paradise Of
guerillas, while the whole State of Virginia
has not given the Government as much
trouble as the single city of New Or
leans. Sheridan was sent in May, 1865,
straight from the battlefield to these States.
With an insufficient military force, and
with the Rebel government of Throckmor-
ton and the corrupt government of Wells
against him, he was required to enforce
Justice, and with the President of the
United States for his bitter persOnalfoe, he
was expected to give satisfaction to the ooun-
try. The war which ended for Sherman and
Grant when Lee surrendered, has never ended
for him. From the day he took command his
administration has been one long struggle with
Rebels in his department and the friends of
Rebels in Washington. There is not another
man in the country who has had as hard work
to do, no one who has met such savage oppo-
stion, and not one who has done better work.
That is his crime. He did too well. When
Andrew Johnson was justifying massacre,
Sheridan was putting it down; when John
son was declaring Congress body of trai-
tors and the Union men of Louisiana
guilty Of murder, Sheridan obeyed Con-
gress and put the blame of the New
Orleans riot on the authorities of the
city. When he found man in Office protect
ing traitors, permitting eutrages on loyal
citizens, and preventing reconstruction, he
removed that man. ThrockmOrtOn, and
Wells, and Monroe, and Heron, and Abell
we're Justly removed. Does not Grant think
soH Are not all loyal men agreed upon it ?
Yet with what moderation has Sheridan acted
in all things Whom has he imprisoned what
tyrannical laws has he imposed Never was
there military ruler with so much reason to
use force who has used so little; the mag
nanimitt and prudence of his administration
have equalled its boldness and justice and his
endeavors have wholly been to reorganize the
States under his command, that their loyal
citizens might rebuild their governments and
restore them to the Union upon the basis
which Congress had determined. These things
he has done and for these Andrew Johnson
turns him out of his command.
General Sheridan leaves that command with
an unstained record, and the confidence of his
oountrymen in his ability is far greater now
than even at the close of the war. But the
manner of his removal moves the heart OF
the nation with regret. When General
Grant accepted the purely civil office of the
Secretary of War, it was hoped that his
presence in the Cabinet would in some measure
restrain Mr.. Johnson's violence. Mr.. Stanton
had held back the Presidents arm from strik-
ing down our trusted servants, and we deemed
that Grants vast influence would at least be
as potent All this was idle hope. That Grant
opposed Sheridan's removal we do not doubt
in the Presidents hands now, it is said, is a
written argument or protest from Grant. From
his directions to General Thomas to continue
to execute all orders now in force in the Fifth
District till authorized by the General of the
Army to change them, we are disposed to hope
that General Grant thinks that Sheridan ha:
done his duty. Yet this, if it be so, but adds
to the sorrow of his friends. If he has lost hi
confidence in Sheridan, if he disapproved o
his acts, then we could respect the part he has
taken in this national shame though deplor
ing his difference with the people: But a
once to oppose this removal, and to order it
to believe this and do that-this is an unac
countable position for the General of ou
Armies. We do not know what there is il
General Grants duty or in the President
authority that should compel him to accep
a civil Office to become the instrument O
Andrew Johnson's policy. That instrument
which Edwin M. Stanton refused to become
which no power of the President could max
him, Grant is. We judge by the facts. Fo
one year Andrew Johnson contemplated tn
insult to the nation of removing the soldie
who of all our soldiers best represents its prin
ciples, but dared not, could not while MI
Stanton was in the Cabinet. On August l:
Mr.. Stanton is removed; on August IL, Geners
Grant accepts his place; ON August l9, Genera
Sheridan is removed. Why, this is logic On
little week after General Grant becomes th
Secretary of War, Sheridan is disgraceC
how Is the conclusion to be avoide
that the President sought and found
General Grant the means by which he migI
break down Sheridan, and with him th
Splrlt Oh the people Bitterly, indeed have th
t0yal men been deceived who thought ths
Genera Grant might have said to an apostat
fresldent:-"h become part of an admir-
lstratlon which every patriot despises, an
take az your hands this civil Office, which
have as much right to refuse as that Of Pos
master-General or Postmaster do SO ON tn
condition: You shall respect the loyal princin
OF the nation-you shall not remove Sber
dan" But as General Grant did not saw tbi
the President took him into his Cabinet an
dictated to him the order by which Sherids
is dishonOred and the people threatened a,
defed. We say dishonored, because his remov
is intended as disgrace and punishment.
matters not where he is sent, or who is I
successor. He is deliberately expelled frC
the command of the Fifth Military District
daring To protect lOVal citizeHs and put 40,