The Portland daily press., 1867-08-28
An Alderman. X sply to a so,a.ssr.,. Let

The last engagement of the rebellion proper
has been fought, and the hero OF AppomatoA
has added civic laures to the warlike bays
With which he was crowned when Rlchmohl
fell. Whether nationally OF NOT, the nation mas
been waiting, with feelings of intense anxiety,
to learn what protest Grant had made against |
the removal of a man whose fame, military and |
civil, has been as dear TO him as his own No |
wonder the President was solicitous to keep |
that protest from the people, for, now that is i,
laid before them, they cannot fail to see in it
the sturdiest rebukc 10 the would be imperial
nulifier that has yet been addressed to that
former recipient OF municipal honors. That it
is couched in the terms of courteous formality
which characterizes official communications,
does not give rise to uncertainty in a single
phrase, or ambiguity in single sentiment.
That soldierly protest destroys what lingering
vitality there is in the Presidents scheme. 1t
is the death blow to "my policy" 1t affords a
reasonable assurance that reconstruction on
the Congressional plan will 90 on, and that all
the States will be represented by loyal men in
the Forty First Congress. To General Grant
plenary power was given under the acts of
Congress, to superintend and direct the work
of restoration, and he has now proclaimed
himself, as clearly as language enables him
to speak, Jealous champion Of the loGal
plan. General Sheridan has performed
his civil duties faithfully and intelligently;"
his removal Is CONTRARY to the expressed wish
OF the country" and will be regarded by the
unreconstructed element of the country as a
triumph" and as an evidence that ''they have
the executive with them" What more could
the most exacting ask? lH941a9 EoHdal A45lr
The President, put upon the defensive, makes
the most feeble and self-ipculpatory response
that was probably ever vCuchsafed to so wejghty
remonstrance All his boosted Statesman
ship-which is not even states-craft of average
quality-only enables him TO dispute the fact
that he is opposing the will of the people be-
cause, forsooth. the specific question of Sheri-
dams removal has never been submitted for
their decision As if the general question
clearly embraced in it had not been submitted
to them two or three times, and decided uni
formly against him-each time with greater
emphasis. He thinks it "unjust to the army
to suppose that no one but Sheridan can con-
troll Louisiana and Texas. That is his puerile
way OF combating statement of fact; and, as
far as relevancy is concerned, he might as pro-
perry have responded that the popular impress
sion among boys, that the man in the moon
carries lantern and is followed bv A dog is
fallacious. He thinks it probable that Gen. Tho
mas may feel some delicacy about s,pplantine
Sheridan, but has no doubt that he will "obey."
The latter gentleman he assigns to the plains
with complimentary phrases which are meant
to be fearfully ironical. Under the guidance
and instructions of Sherman" he will, no
doubt, soon iamliarize himself with the neces-
titles Of Indian warfare! There need no Pres-
dent waste his ink to tell us that Victory has
always attended Sheridan, whether leading
his troops on the Atlantic or Pacific coast or
on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico In Indian
warfare he is no novice, for he won his first
promotion for gallantry in fighting the red
man. The President means to send him into
such poor substitute for Siberia as he happens
to possess and his return may be, in the in
creased splendor of the illustrious exile, like
C@sar's return from Gaul. ze.. 5....J,. -
Some days since, while expressing an abid-
ing confidence in the patriotism of the Gener-
al OF our armies, we nevertheless protested
against regarding him as the sole support of
Republic,and the great palladium of our nation
al safety. Even lift had proved that he was in
sympathy with the Conservatives, no perma-
nent injury could befall in consequence. He
is great and strong but the Universe is great
er and stronger; and he who fights against the
truth has the weight o. the Universe against
him. As well could he arrest the operation
o. grayitation in matter, as the moral grayita-
ton that increasingly draws the human race
toward justice and right But it is neyertbe-
less matter ofgreat importance that the Inns
That have SO long been silent have at length
spoken in such manner as to confouud and
abash the scoffers who have claimed the fell
loWship and sympathy of such powerful am
ally 1t has been evident that Grant could
carry out the measures of Congress even in op- |
position to the Presidents wishes, if he would. |
we are now assured that he aoiW He may be |
removed from the War Department, but not |
from the head of the army, unless the Senate
assents. In the exercise of wise foresight and |
Just estimation of the character of both men |
affected by the law, Congress has secured the |
General-in-Chef in his position. This being |
the case it matters little if Steedman, Blair and
Black take the place of the members of the |
present Cabinet who are little better than |
themselves -.' d i.'i-'aa sii-fitaa