New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-23
.InHNS0N IND SHERLDAM


The telegraph informed us yesterday morn
ing that the President designed faithfully to
execute the Reconstruction bill Whlch Congress
had passed over his veto. Tins was pleasing
assurance, but with ii came an antiuote. tie
was prepared to bow to the inevitable, to yield
TO the imperative demand OF the nation; but
he could not forgive those who had antcipa-
ted him in obedience ito the popular will. He
vas ready TO carry out the law, but lie would
sacrifice first the man who Is the most
faithful exponent of the law. Congress is to
he obeyed, but Sheridan must be removed.
The conquered Rebels must submit to the just
precautionary conditions imposed upon them
by their conquerors, but they are to understand
ihat the President is with them, heart and
hand, in their opposition; that he sympathzes
in their rebellion; that he has no love for his
own generals; that he will bear them out as
far as he can i'll every attempt to evade and
crcumvent the measures upon which the
people have resolved; and that a jealous,
honest, faithful, straightforward performance
of the duties which the bill imposes upon the
military commanders will be visited with his
severest dspleasure.
In old times there was no more earnest
sticbler for the rights Of the people than
Andrew Johnson. The cardinal dogma of his
creed was that the people were the sOvereigns;
that their will must dictate the national policy;
that their will must determine the conduct of the
National Government; that Presidents, and
Generals. and all subordinate officers were
created only to carry out their resolves Has
he changed his principlesP From the most
= -. l,,.t ho hoo no mos
stately of ariStOcrats Does he believe that
he is no longer the creature of the people, as
he boosted himself in his memorable Inaugural
ton speech, but their divincly-appolnted guide
and director, whose office it is to point ont to
them what he deems the right way, and
force them to tread in it There Is
no man in all the United States whose conduct
the American people more heartily approve
than Gen. Sheridan. There is no man who has
unprecedented more clearly and carried out more
faithfully than he their deliberate policy to-
ward the unrcconstructcd States. There IA no
man in whose sagacity, and honesty, and un-
selfish devotion to duty and patriotism they
have more confidence than the gallant victor
of Winchester And there is no man with
whom Andrew Johnson can so Ill afford to
place himself in antagoniSm.
The President has lost a good many friends
by his course in this Reconstruction business.
He has now an opportunity TO regain them.
We do not expect him, we do not ask him. to
change his principles. We do not require that
he should modify his opinions We only de-
mand that he shall act up to them Time ana
again he has told It's that the will of the people
is the supreme law of the Republic. And what
can be clearer than that the will of the people
i'm the matter of Reconstruction Is that the
policy of the Government shall be Shen-
dams policy7 What can be clearer than
that the bold and determined course OF the
distinguished soldier who has so wisely dl-
rccted affairs in New-0rcans is the course
which the people have resolved to adopt all
through the unrecOnStructed SOUTH When
Congress met three weeks ago, il was to give
expression to the popular determination on
this very point. When they resolutely refused
to consider less important matters, 1t was to
give emphasis to their conclusions this sub
iect. When they passed by the Presidents OBJ
iections TO their supplementary bill, they were
only uttering the popular verdict that Mr.. John
sons theory was not the theory upon which the
nation had resolved to act but that Phil Sher-
idan's theory was. 1t remains now to be seen
whether Mr. Johnson will dcspise the judg-
ment of the tribunal TO which he has 30 often
appealed whether he will set the United
States at defiance 10y removing their most
trusty and fayorite commander, or whether he
will do what little still lies within him to re-
deem his fading name and if not to achieve
measure of popularity, at least to retain some
character for common sense and consistency.
But he may be sure of one thing: he cannot
remove Gen. Sheridan without arousing
storm of Indignation which he will never for
get till his last hour.