The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-08-06
The President and the Military Conn
manders,

manders,
The intention of the President TO re-
move Gen. Sheridan has been rumored
for some time and color is given to the
rumor by the organs which are supposed
to echo his views This intention, pub
licly known as it is,very naturally incites
insubordination to the obnoxious law,
and reconstruction is impcded. That
this is the wish of President johnson there
can be no doubt. Congress at its late
special session, did take away bis author
'ty. and lie, very naturally for him,
wishes to defy Congress no less than to
punish Gen. Sheridan who has dared to
obey his own convictions of duty rather
than the President. The New York
Times very sensibly asks GLOW will the
removal of Generals who have proved
themselves loyal and energetic help the
president ?" If his object be to punish
ihem, he fails, for removal would be TO
them, only the beginning of more brill
liant career. If he desires to spite and
resist the plain intentions of Congress,
his failure will be quite as marked, for
lie will "proyoke a storm before which
all that lie has and can do will be swept
into nothingr ess.'
But failure TO accomplish his purpose
is not the worst evil which is liable to
bcfall him. Impeachment, like the sword
of Damocles still hangs over him, threaten
ing instant destruction. The Times
always moderate ana sometimes conscrva,
tive says -
''The advocates of Impeachment have
been in the minority thus far, in con
sequence of a desire to avoid extreme
measures, as well because Of the country's
need for peace, AS because of the belief
that the President would intcrpose no
further obstacle to the operation of the
law. All this will change the moment
Mr.. JOHNSON makes known his purpose
to disregard the law, and to employ the
opportunities of his position adversely to
the Congressional plan. Here will be II
positive act-an unmiotakable contraven-
lion Of the law-just such an issue rs the
extremists have watched iorand who can
doubt its effect on the popular mind and
on Congresss beginnings Of this effect may
be traced now. Journals which have
steadily deprecated impeachment, hint
that, after all, it may be a necessity
Nothing short of blindness Or faulty can
ignore the fact. The States composing
the Government, having put down the re-
bclhon and asserted their determination to
enforce certain conditions upon the South
are not likely to permit the President TO
resist their will We are reluctant to
abandon the hope that prudent friends
will induce him 10 arrest his steps ere
The fatal line be passed. For If the
contest really becomes one between Mr.
JOHNSON and his policy and the govern
ing States and THAR policy, the result
will be beyond dispute. The country
may suffer meanwhile from embttcred
strife but Mr.. JOHNSON will assuredly
find himself powerlc-s before the outraged
patience and patriotic instincts Of the peo-
pie.
1t is idle talk, as Mr.. JoHNsoNs apollo
gists do, Of grievances inflicted upon him
by recent legislation. Ills authority is a
small matter, compared to the reconstruc-
tion Of the Union on a sound basis, And
though he may we'll chafe under restric-
tions which his own i'll judgment provok-
ed and justifies' he must not assume that
Others disregard the essential merits Of
The controversy"