New-York tribune., 1867-08-21
SuERLpAN IND GENT.

,oloriously desired to remove Gen. sheridan
eno,, command in the South, but dared not do
- hos ot last found his opportunity. Sheridan
: sdonoscd-punished- -disgraced-for such splen-
J;d service to the nation as no other soldier has
had tbe chance to perform since the end OF the
var Upon no other of the District Command
ors in tbe South important as their duties were,
was such o weighty responsibility imposed. lie
wos pivcn the command of the two most
dsloyal of the Rebel States; even South Caro-
Iino has her 100000 freedmen to make the State
Iovol Inv a majority not to be overcome. But
Louisiana and Texas have been preeminent in
disloyalty; outside of the large cities, Texas
has been the hell of freedmen and the paradise
Of guerrillas, whilo tho whole State OF Nlr-
ginia has not given the Government as much
trouble as the single city of New-Orleans'
Sheridan was sent in May 1865, straight from the
battlefield to these States. With an insufficient
military force and with the Rebel government
of ThrockmortOn and the corrupt government
of Wells against him, he was required to en-
force Justice, and with the President OF the
United States for his bitter personal foe, he
was expected TO give satisfaction to the coun-
ty. The war which ended for Sherman
and GHnt when Lee surrendered has never
ended for him. From the day he took COM
nand his administration has been one long
struggle with Rebels in his department
and the friends of Rebels in Washing
ton. There is not another man in the
country who has had as hard work to do, no
one who has met such savage opposition, 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 Johnson was declaring
Congress a body of traitors and the Union
men of Louisiana guilty of murder, Sheridan
Obeyed Congress and put the blame OF the
New Orleans riot on the authorities OF the
city. When he found q man in Office pro-
tecting traitors, permitting Outages on loyal
citizens, and preventing reconstruction, he
removed that man. Throclmorton, and
Wells, and Monroe, and Heron, and Abel
were Justly removed. Does not Grant think
sol Are not all loyal men agreed upon 1t
Yet with what moderation has Sheridan acted
in all things. Whom has he imprisoned, what
tyrannical laws has he imposedf Never was
there military ruler with so much reason
TO use force who has used so little; the
magnanimty and prudence of his admin
istration have equaled its bodness and
Justice, and his endeavors have wholly been to
rcOrganize the States under his command, that
their loyal citizens might rebuild their govern
ments and restore them to the Union upon the
basis which Congress had determined. These
things he has done, and for these Andrew
johnson, in the order from Gen. Grant which
we print to-day, turns him out OF his command.
Gen. Sheridan leaves that command with an
IseI nf ia
countrymcn 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 Gen. Grant
accepted the purely ciSl 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 fIom strlk-
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 Shcrdan's removal we do not doubt !;
in the Presidents hands now, il is said is
written argument or protest from Grant. From
his directions to Gen. Thomas to continue
to execute all orders now in force in the
Vth District till authorized by the General
Of the Army to change them, we are dis
posed to hope that Gen. Grant thinks that
Sheridan has done his duty. Yet this, if it be
so, but adds TO the sorrow Of his friends.
If he had lost his confidence in Sheridan, if
he disapproved of his acts, then we could
respect the part he has taken in this national
shame, though deploring his difference with
the people. But at once TO oppose this removal,
and to order ito believe this and do that
this is an maccountablc position for the Gen
eral of our Armies. We do not know what
there is i'll Gen. Grants duty orin the Presidents
authority that should compel him TO accept
a civil Office to become the instrument of
Andrew Johnson's policy. That instrument
which Edwin NJ Stanton refused to become
which no power Of the President could make
him, Grant is. We judge by the facts. For
one year Andrew johnson contemplated the
insult to the nation of removing the soldier
who of all our soldiers best represents its
principles, but dared not, could not while Mr..
Stanton was in the Cabinet. On August 12,
Mr. Stanton is removed; OH August 12 Gen.
Grant accepts his place; on August 10, Gen.
Sheridan is removed. Why, this is logicl One
little week after Gen. Grant becomes the Secre-
| tary of War, Sheridan is disgraced. How is tho
conclusion TO be avoided that the President
sought and found in Gen. Grant the means by
which he might break down Sheridan, and with
him the spirit of the peOple7 Bitterly, indeed,
have the loyal men been deceived who thought
that Gen. Grant might have said to an apostate
President If become part of an admins
"tration which every patriot despises, and take
cat your hands this civil Office, which have
Gas much right to refuse as that of Postmaster
L. n ID. Il Il