The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-03

will perhaps be no other way open for the
paci6oat.on OF the country.
President John sons Admimfs str M ioH and
Chase's Custom Houses
IL il an old and true saying that a house
divided against Itself cannot stand. We safl
upon President Johnson to apply this axiom
to the Custom House and Internal Revenue
officials. Under the administration OF Presi-
dent Lincoln the officials who now occupy these
departments were carefully selected and ap-
pointed by Secretary Chase. The Secretary
was intriguing for a Presidential nomination,
and he placed his followers advantageously in
these positions We need not recall the story
Of Chase's failure to obtain the nomination,
and of his appointment to the office OF Chiei
Justice. The point to which we wish to direct
the Presidents attention is, that Chase's men
yet remain in office and are materially assisting
him in his violent opposition to the Presidents
plan of reorganization. The attaches OF the
administration are thus enlisted against the
administration. The patronage Of the govern
ment is used to thwart the policy of the govern
mcnt house thus divided against itself GER
tainly cannot stand.
The President must by this time be con-
vinced that Chief Justice Chase is organizing
regular campaign against the administration.
His stumping tour through the Southern States
and the radical, revolutionary and incendiary
speeches which he then delivered, are incon-
trovertible evidence Of this fact. But, indeed,
the Chief Justice has himself avowed his deter
mination in his letters to his Western friends
informing them that the time had now come to
organize party upon the basis of universal
and immediate negro suffrage. Add to this
the presence Of Chase's agents in the republi-
can conventions Of Ohio and New Jersey, and
we see that the scheme of opposition to Presi-
dent Johnson is not only matured, but it is in
actual operation. So far it has been failure,
as we trust and expect that it always will be,
before the people; but still it has strength in
the Custom Houses and in the Internal Revenue
Department, and the sooner it is deprived of
this power the better. It will not do for the
administration to feed its own enemies at the
expense of its friends. Neither in politics nor
in human nature can we find any justification
for such an eccentric course. The present APP
pointees owe their places to Chase, and believe
that they cannot be removed until he says the
word. They expect to be rewarded for their
fidelity to him and to his interests by continu-
ance in Office. Consequently common graft
tude for favors received, and the politicians
gratitude for favors to come, conspre to keep
them faithful. Fidelity to Chase means simply
opposition to President johnson. And yet the
President sustains these men in Office, as if
house divided against itself could possibly
stand. >
We have already sold that :. .se OPPOSITION Of
Chief Justice Chase s: sau the squads which he
has quarteES,i ID our Custom Houses and in the
Internal Revenue Department does not amount
to anything before the people. But it is not be-
fore the people that this opposition is to be
feared; nor is it there that the Chief Justice
designs to begin operations. His first move
ments, now that the convention intrigues have
fallen through, will be in Congress, and there
the radicals will have their best opportunities
for mischief The ssano,uvres of the Custom
House and Internal ReveH1e officials will have
great effect upon Congress. The radicals who
now hold these positions may pc able to get up
public meetings which shall not result so disas-
trously for them and so gloriOusly for the Pre-
sident as that gathering at the Cooper Institute
which General Logan addressed. The usual
tax upon the employees of the departments in
question will supply the Chase faction with the
sinews of war to carry on their campaign, in
fluence the republican press, pay for orators and
brass bands and keep the country in a contin-
ual ferment. Are the members Of Congress in
sensible to appeals of this Sort Will they act
regardless of the fact that the surest way to Sc
cure and retain their customary patronage in
the Custom House and Internal Revenue de-
partments is to go against the administration
upon certain vital measures! President john
sons experience as politician will enable him
to answer these questions most decidedly in the
negative Make it to the political interest Of
the Congressman to vote down the administra-
ton measures, and down they will go. The
President is strong with che people; but in
Congress he will find plenty Of opponents, and
If he does not make a clean sweep Of all ex-
Secretary Cbases appointments he will dis
cover that these opponents are fighting him
with the very weapons he leaves in their
hands. Nothing will then remain but defeat
or compromise, and in President Johnseus
case compromise will be defeat. We urge
him, therefore, to clear out the Custom Houses
and the Internal Revenue Department. He
ought not to be content to administer Secretary
Chase's estate. A house divided against itself
cannot stand
HONORS TO GRANT