Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-11-28
Belmont g6roniCfe
Maior-GeneroI siokies.


From the New York Tribune.
The President has issued an order mus
teripg Gen. Sickles out of the SERVICE
We have been expecting this for some
time, although we hoped his Excellency
would refrain from an act of vindictiv6
ness toward a gallant soldier. General
Sickles retires into the grade of a colonel,
to be ordered, perhaps, to proceed to
Walrussa, and report to General Rous-
seaa, who was promoted by johnson as
partisan ofhis policy, and confirmed by
the Senate Notwithstanding. There are
one or two points about the career of Gen.
Sclxles which make this peculiarly vim
dctive. When secession was threatened
In the House, Sickles, then Democratic
member from New York, made a speech
as patriotic as that which gave Johnson
his fame. When the Sumter guns were
fred he was among the first Democrats
to volunteer, and he raised the first bri-
gade that entered the service. He serv-
ed through the war; losing his leg at
Gettysburg and gaining military dis
tinction which no other military officer
from civil life has surpassed.
When Reconstruction became neces-
sary, Gen. Sickles was continued in his
command. He possessed the confidence
of the President in large degree. Ofall
the Reconstruction commanders, he was
the one in whom the President most con-
fided. AS the policy of Mr.. Johnson de-
veloped its antagonism to the country,
Gen. Sickles used his best efforts to warn
him OF the danger of his course, of its in
Justice to the freedmen and the loyalists
of the South, of the impossibiity of re-
storing the Union upon any basis but
that of Liberty, Mercy, and Justice
When the Reconstruction act was passed,
no commander was more earnest to exc
cute the will of the people. His admin
istration of the Carolinas exhibited q
broad, generous, intrepid craftsmanship.
Justice was done to all. The freedmen
were protected. The Rebels were not
oppressed. We remember how he made
the Rebels respect the flag, and bow
swiftly he put his sword through the
laws which sought to restore the lash for
the negro. When famine threatened
the people, the foresight of Sickles pre-
vented its coming. But he ceased tC
please Mr.. Johnson. He could not carry
out the infamous policy which the Presi-
dent sought to impose on the country
and, in defiance of the wishes of Con
gress, Ire waa removed. That removal Is
now followed by his degradation from
the rank OF Maior-General.
The people will insist that Congress
shall grant some compensation. 1t il
dreadful TO see one after another Of ou
champions stricken down for devotion t.
us, while men like Rousseau are promo
ted. Terry is banished from Richmond
Sheridan is whirled out to Kansas, Sick
les is reduced to his colonelcy. We pre-
sumo Howard will follow. The Presi
dent seems resolved to punish every maj
within his reach who dares to oppose hi
policy. At the same time he succeeds in
coaxing Congress to confirm his favorites
This must end and Congress should i
possible, make an example Of the case o
Sickles No officer has sacrificed NOR
to the cause of Liberty and Justice, ant
our representatives should find u way o
rewarding him.