The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-10 00:00:00

THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

General GRANT was installed as President of the
United States last Thursday, when he broadly
shadowed his designs in his inaugural address. In
the first place he announced a well-known fact, that
he will commence his duties untrammelled. hen
he states that, although without a policy to enforce
against the people's will, he will have a policy to
recommend. In this he clearly intimated his well
considered intention of upholding the power and
dignity of the Presidential Office ; and that there
might be no mistake, he added that he will veto bills
when he believes such an exercise of the Executive
authority to be necessary. Having thus quietly in-
formed Congress of the position with regard to
them and the extreme Republican party he de-
signed to take up, which tallied with his announce-
ment to the Congressional Committee sent to in-
form him officially of his election, that he would
remove officials, whether appointed by his predeces-
sor or himself . when they failed to discharge the
duties of their office to his satisfaction, he stated the
measures he considered most advisable—the pay-
ment of the United States debt in Gold, and the
early resumption of specie payments. He thinks
the public debt can be discharged within 25 years,
but for this a system of economy and retrenchment
must be enforced, and holesty insisted upon in all
officials. No repudiator should, in his opinion, hold
any public office—a declaration which will be re-
ceived with dismay by many, and probably direct
against him much animosity. His conclusion,
however, is based on sound reasoning ; for
those who advocate a dishonest policy for the na-
tion can be but little influenced by feelings of
honour in the regulation of other business, and as
the PRESIDENT holds it to be of paramount import-
ance that the affairs of the nation should be admi-
nistered by honest men, he is justified in taking
such views as indicative of immorality. He sup-
ports the adoption of the recent Negro Suffrage
Amendment, and in this he appears to be in har-
mony at lea't with the State Legislatures, if we may
take the rapid ratification of Kansas, and Lou-
isiana, Missouri, and West Virginia, and what
really does surprise us of Nevada as proof, though
that State has just introduced a bill to protect
Chinese settlers. The PRESIDENT had the good sense
to abstain from committing himself on the Alabama
controversy or about Cuba. Although he might
have spoken a few words on either subject to arouse
enthusiasm in the country,`yet Gen. GRANT is not the
man to imperil his reputation for a wise caution, the
national peace and that of his own administration,
for the sake of any popularity. There are subjects
enough likely to cause difficulties without the
complication of a PRESIDENT committed by a hasty
and inconsiderate pledge. The address is satis-
factory in the highest degree, as it embodies the
policy to carry out which GRANT was elected, and
his firm determination to uphold the Constitu-
tional status of his office will meet with approval,
for men now begin to ask themselves whether
during the unfortunate contest between ANDREW
JOHNSON the Republic has not drifted too far
from its Constitutional landmarks. The Senate
has evidently been pushed by Senator MORTON into
a direct vote on the repeal of the Tenure-of-Office
Bill which it has refused to pass by 26 to 22. This
itself proves the danger of placing an authority out-
side the Constitution in the hands of any body.
The Senate now has the power, and though both
the PRESIDENT and the House of Representatives
desire to:withdraw what is no less than an encroach-
ment on the prerogative of the PRESIDENT they
have as yet failed in doing so. It is in vain to tell
the Chamber that it was a temporary power dele-
gated to it to checkmate ANDREW JOHNSON, that
the necessity having ceased, the unconstitutional
weapon should be given up. Like in all such bodies,
once secured, the power is tenaciously held, and
even in an an expiring Senate, with some members
voting about to leave the Chamber for ever, the
repeal of the obnoxious measure could not be ob-
tained. Thus the PRESIDENT commences his term
with a subject of dispute between the Executive
and the Senate, which it is evident from his address
may ripen into a quarrel, for it is clear that lie has
no intention of being a " dummy," however silent,
and not only has he a policy, but has determined to
select and remove on his own judgment alone the
great officers of State.

CONGRESS.

SENATE.

On the 11th Feb. the Jud'ciary Committee asked

to be discharged from the inquiry into Judge Un-
derwood's decision, as they did not think it proper
to interfere by legislation with the special adjudica-
tion of a court. Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, offered
a resolution declaring " the noisy and disorderly
conduct of Benjamin F. Butler and other members
of the House of Representatives, during the count-
ing of the electoral votes, a wrong and insult to the
Senate of the United States." At the instance of
Mr. Ferry the resolution was laid over. The bill
for the execution of judgments in capital cases was
passed. The Currency Bill was considered. The
bill authorizing importation of machinery for repairs
was passed. An evening session was held, at which
the River and Harbour Bill was considered.—On
the 12th the bill for the better administration of
justice in the Territories was reported with amend-
ments. The bill relating to the public debt and
currency was considered. Mr. 'Williams' amend-
ment to prevent the conversion of more than two
millions of currency into bonds monthly was re-
jected. The River and Harbour Bill Was considered
in evening session. On 13th the credentials of Sena-
tors-elect Fenton, New York, and Stockton, New
Jersey, were presented. Mr. Stewart introduced a
bill to allow of naturalization at once. Air. Robert-
son introduced a Constitutional amendment provid-
ing for the decision of questions as to the validity of
electoral votes. The Judiciary Connnittee reported
a Naturalization Bill, making the term four years
and six months, and requiring application to be
made of the United States Courts or of the Regis-
ter in Bankruptcy. The River and Harbour Bill
was recommitted.—On the 15th Mr. Howard, from
the Committee on Ordnance, reported a bill to esta-
blish an Ordnance Commission, and consolidate the
Ordnance with the Artillery Department. The bill
to authorize payment of Treasury officials in the
South who could not take the test oath was dis-
cussed. The replies of Gen. Grant and Mr. C3l-
- to the notification of their election were pre-
sented. The Indian Appropriation Bill was consi-
dered.—On the 16th the House bill to prevent
loans and United States notes was passed, and goes
to the President. The credentials of Carl Schurz,
Senator elect from Missouri, were presented. The
joint resolution granting a pension to Mrs. Lincoln
was taken up, and Mr. Sumner moved to make the
amount $5,000. After considerable discussion the
bill was laid aside, and a local bill taken up, by a
vote of 21 to 19. Mr. Morton moved to suspend
the order and consider the bill repealing the
Tenure-of-Office Act, but the Senate, without act-
ing upon it, went into executive session, and then
took a recess. An evening session was held, at
which the House bill relieving certain Southerns
was concurred in.