Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-08-23
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SAERLDAA -REMG&FED
General Sheridan has been removed
by the President from command of the
Fifth Military District for no other ap-
parent cause than the qualification of
Executive spite growing out Of gallant
Pbil's faithful and energetic perfor-
nance Of his duties. In this act the
President has exhibited not only a de-
termination to thWart the laws of Con-
gress, and a despicabIe personal malice
beneath the dignity of man, tsl say
nothing of a President, but he has also
shown the basest cowarGice. Unwilling
to take upon biu1seIe the responsibility
Of his act he has eudeavored to shield
himself, just as he did in his circle
swinging. operations last summer, be-
hind the personal popularity of a sub
ordinate sworn to obey his orders It
is affirmed, and we hope truly, that in
displacing Secretary Stanton and Cen
eraI Sheridan, Grant has acted SIMPLY
in compliance with military require
ments binding upon him as a suborCiin-
ate commander Of the army. It but
adds however to the wiczedness or the
President that he should take advan-
5age mis- authority to forcibly degrade
the General OF the Army to a tool for
the accomplishment Of nefarious pur-
poses
Mr.. Johnson processes 70 be a man OF
uncommon courage and great moral
convictions. He has defed Congress
and faced popular opprobrium. Why
does ne now dodge like a coward behind
Grant Why has he not been manly
in his malice ? Why not at least do
gallant Phil Sheridan, a stainless sol
dier whom General Grant himself mod
estIy pronounces the hrst military char
acser in Ameriea-why not do brave
Sheridan, the hero Of even more victor
les than Johnson has had defeats, the
honor Of assigning the reasons for his
removal ? But the fact is too patent
that there is no sufficient reason. Gen
eraI Thomas is removed from his clos
en- Department OF the Cumberland
where he has been eminently useful,
and sent to New Orleans to do precise
Iy the same things that Sheridan has
been doing. The order of General
Grant states that 'eATajor General q. II.
Thomas will continue TO execute all or
ders he may find m force in the Fifth
Military District At the time of his as
suming command of it, unless author
lied by the General of the army TO
annul, alter, or modify them.o Now
what good is to be accomplished by
sending Thomas to execute Sheridan's
orders Why simply no good except
the qualification of Presidential NAL
evidence toward Sheridan, if, indeed,
that is a good.
The cause OF that ma.evolence is
quite as apparent as the thing itself.
General Sheridan has gained special
distinction for his energy and faithful
ness in executing dhe laws of Congress.
ReconstructitJn is now farther advanced
in his than in sttty of the other Depart
menls, and not because the difficulties
in his way have been less, for, on the
contrary they have probably been great
er, but simply because of his superior
energy in overcoming them. One OF
Sheridan's last official acts was to for
ward to Washington the result of gis-
tration in Louisiana, and this, we be-
lieve, is the first insurgenJ State in
which registration has been completed,
a substantial proof of Sheridan's eff
cheney.
But gallant Phil has incurred John
sons hatred by taithfulness in execu-
ting other features Of the law. He has
been as prompt to displace some OF
Johnson's rebel pets from office as he
was prompt to head off Lees army at
Five Forks. First he put an efectual
extiDguisker on Mayor Monroe, the
chief instigator of the New Orleans RI
OF, and a pardoned Executive favorite.
Next he f'dried up Wells,'' the uncer-
tain Governor of LOuisianst who under
the livery of loyalty was doing the dew
lis work of Obstructing the execution
of the reconstruction law. Next he
sent 4vhirling from the pinnacle of Ex-
ecutive power ThrOckmorton, of Texas,
under the shield of whose authority the
Union men of that State were being
murdered and the law uuIIihed. All
these removals were clearly justifable
under the authority conferred by Con-
gress, but they were so many enemies
made, enemies, too, Of powerful inf1u-
enee at the Executive Mansion as the
sequel has proved. A loyal soldier
stands no chance at all in the clement
Executive heart, when a rebel enters
his plea against him, particularly if
said soldier happens to be friendly to
the Congress of the United States.
General Sheridan is ordered to take
command ofthe Department of NIissou-
ri, relieving General W. S. Hancock
who is ordered to the Department OF
the Cumberland.