New-York tribune., 1867-08-28
THE PRESIDENT 1ND THE DISTRICT COM
MINDERy

degree their friend. III any purpose Is pldln, II
is his He has made it clear by word and act
that he hates the method of reconstruction laid
down by Congress, and is resolved to use bis
whole executive power to destroy IT..
His veto messages were threats; BIS
removals are blows yet when blow
is following blow, and the attitude OF the
President is one of deliberate menace, Ihe
Erening Post can counsel moderation, and
quote his orders rs proof that he means to
execute the laws. Moderation Cowardice
and mischief. Has not the Republican party
ever been moderate? 1t has endured Mr.. John
sons notorious unftness for his office, his
teachcIy to the people, his alliance with
Rebals, with patience without paral-
lei. It has refused to impeach him.,
and in its magnanimity to the South framed
laws of restoration which it was hoped the
President could not override 1t has done
everything that could be done for peace and
reconciliation. To insist now that IT should be
moderate is to insult it with advice not needed.
Counsel the President to be moderate, restrain
his violence, but do not tell the people that
there is no danger except in their own foolish
excitement. and lull them into false security by
stories about Mr.. Joln>On's impotence, and
his yirtuous desire TO have the laws obcyed.
This The Post and journals of its kind are doing.
Mr. johnson removes Gen. Sicklcs, ii says, and
ono doubt many of the Republicans will cry ont
cat him for doing so; but would il not be
4" wiser if they discouraged Southern opposition
" 10 the Reconstruction act 10y emphasizing the
" fact that IN the same breath the President
orders Gen. Candy, when necessary to Il
So faithful execution Of the laws, to exercise any
90 and dH polrers conferred by acts Of Congress
:" upon District Commanders, and any and all
"'GufhOrifB pertaining 10 officers IN command Of
80 Military Dcpariments.' There is not much
comfort in those words-to the class which
"ressts the Reconstruction act"
TO us these assurances are folly. There is
every comfort to the Rebels in the removal Of
Sicklcs, and ample encouragement to them TO
persist in their resistance, in the very words
of the order For what was Gen. Sicsles re-
moycd2 Not merely for exercising the powers
conferred on him by Congress, but for using
them in the spirit Congress intended. Mr..
johnson will rejoice in the existence
OF those powers if the District Com
mandcrs will allow him to dictate
the method of their application. Give him five
plict obedience and he will turn the machinery
of reconstruction into an engine by which Reb-
els will crush loyalty in the South, and bring
back their States into the Union with popula-
ton of serfs ruled by an Olgarchy of traitors
He has made plain enough what he would do
with military power.
In July, 1866, the police force of New-Or-
leans, led by the Rebel Mayor, and backed by
n Rebel Judiciary, resolved to crush by force,
Convention of loyal men. The plot was
organized. preliminary riot instigated, and
the President was informed of their intentions
by A. J. IIerrOn one of the leaders OF the con-
spiracy. The President telegraphed at once
"The military will be expected to sustain, and
not TO obstruct or interfere with the proceed
" ings of the court Upon this hint the con-
spiratOrs acted, and two days afterwardthe mem
bers of the Convention were massacred by the
police force, acting with the sanction OF the
Lieutenant G ovemor, Voorhees,, Mayor Mon
roe. AttOncy-Gen Heron, and Judge Abel.
This was the notorious fact, and the first
thing Andrew Johnson did, when informed OF
tbe massacre. was TO authorize Heron to call
ON Gen. Sheridan to sustain with military
force the muderers This is the way in which
he directed the military commanders to exer-
" else any and all powers conferred by acts 10
"Congress" in 1866. Is there any reason to
suppose he would direct them otherwise in
1867
The evident fact is that the President wants
five Commanders in the South who will construe
the law as he constues it-as nulljty; five
men who will sustain his policy, and oppose
that of Congress. He tired to make Sheridan
such tool. We have not forgotten his telegram
of August H. 1866, in which he sent Sheridan
these leading questions every one OF which was
cunningly framed TO throw the whole responsi-
bility of the massacre upon the men who were
murdered:
"We have been advised here that prior 10 the
bling the Illegal and extinct Convention elected IN 1864,
nhammatory and InSuIrectOnary speeches. were nlauo
them 10 and equip themselves Tor the purpose OF
protecting and sustaining the Convention IN It's illegal
10 upturn aud supersede the existing state Government
of Louisiana which had been recognized hy the Govern
ment Of the United states. Further did the
purpose OF sustaining the Convention IN It's
IsurpatiOn aud revolutionary proceedings Have
uf who were supposed known 10 be connected with
ths mob Have not various individuals been assaulted
and shot by persons connected with this mob without
good cause and In violation OF the public peace ana good
order Was not the assembling Of this Convention and
the gathering OF the mob for It's defense and protection
main OF the rotous and unlawful proceedings oi
the eyil authorities of NewOrleansi Have steps been
taken by the cy authorities 10 arrest and Try any ana al
those who wero engaged In this riot ANA those who have
committed Oienses in violation OF lawi Can ample JUS
tico be meod by tho civil authorities TO all offenders
against the law"
The utter wantonncss of these questions was
plain enough at the time. Two days before