The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-14

General Grant and Csadensed statesman ship.
The correspondence between 6 ,nerals Grant
and Sheridan shows up the recons ruction busl.
ness in msterly light. Here we have two of
our best soldiers explaining in tsrse, pithy and
solid argument the Reconstruction &C! in ac-
coriance with q mastery common sense. The
ideas ara not dressed up In fro by legal en-
velopes OF too dense q texture for the brain to
penetrate, but in the clear logic Of conviction,
that says more In one line than johnson or
s!anbery could crowd into six columnA The
opinion Of General Grant, clearly stated, is.
throughout, in favor Of General Sberidan's
translation of the Reconstruction bill; and it is
a good sign for us that the forcible intellect Of
our principal general has been found by this
correspondence ON the side Of the loyal States.
We like the Straightforward Ian susge of
Sheridan In speaking Of the reasons for which
he removed Governor Wells:-"I feel as the
people oft e whole State feel-that we have got
rid Of an unprincipled Governor and the set of
disrepntable tricksters he had sbou. him." This
says what the author of 1t meins, and it Is .
1t is great pity that we cannot have infused
into our legislative bodies little Of this frank
ness We should then have lore republican,
ism, better government and less legislation.
Gene al Grant hits the centre Of tho target
when he says 10 General Ord:-"Ths law, how
ever, makes District Commanders their own in
terpret,rs of their power and duty under 1t
and in my opinion the Attorney General or
myself can no more than give our opinion as
TO the meaning of the law. N sither can en-
force their views against the judgment of those
made responsible for the ia 'htul execution Of
the law-the District Comm, dsrs" This is
common ssnsa, and had President johnson
actd upon this view of the geh gu astion we
should not we had the reconstruction process
retarded and ON extra session of Congress to
screw down the brakes little tignle-, 80 that
The people of the South can und ,rstand what
we Nom.
The more Mr. johnson swings round the circle
the more danger tiere is of his fyiny out
of his orbit, or else, the gravitating power of
Congress- losing all control over him. he may,
by sli ling off on q tangent, make final swing.
l. is great misfortune TO the country that the
acts of the President force US to be m )re severe
with the Soath than we have any desire to be
and the more the reconstruction Of the country
is re tarded by the false position OF the Execu
tive the greater the Sou viii suffer. 1t must
be understood tl'at the loyal States which have
spent so much blood and treasure to preserve
the nation intact are determined to have some
return for the expenditure. Il is our right to
reorganize the rebel territory and rid It OF some
OF the evils that might continue TO curse our
progress weIe we to admit it to the equal en-
joym mt of the authority it attempted to usurp.
These evils once era1icated, the South steps
into the Congress of the nation and rules its
destinies in common with us but it must come
pur 70 OF the disease TINT nearly disiategrated
the Unit d States. Mr.. johnson must under
stand this. But 1t is evident that thoss words
which convey an idea 70 q man Of ordinary
intellect ore not potent enough to act on the
dull brain of our President The nation, in
good solid English, told Mr. Johnson what was
/ 9 will at the last session Of Congress. Robin
son Crusoe, however, finding that he could not
launch his canoe in the loyal tide, called in his
MN Friday, whose opinion on such weighty
matters appears to have confounded his master
and ruined his hopes.
The people ofthe North, the great loyal ele-
ment which has fought out this contest with
such terrible earnestness are disposed to
90 her some results from their sacrifices. They
endorse the clear-beaded and laconic explana-
tons Of the recon struction &C! by Grant and
his generals; and now, through Congress, find
ing that the Chief Magistrate is not equal to
his task, they are about to place The power in
the hands Of those national servants who are
willing to do their duty.