Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-04


The New York Tribune saws that President
JoHSsox is understood to have put bis foot down
frmly for retrenchmens and economy. The sub
jet Of the reduction Of the expenses Of the gov
eminent, and theduty Of making an earnes, ef
fort TO get those expenses back near 10 the old
peace footing as they can be got Under the
changed circumstances of ihe country. were
brought to the attention OF the cabinet in is de
Iiberations within the first week after President
yoHxsoS's accession TO Office We note this i'm
,ortapt statement in Mr. JAY CooxK's new sd
vertisement of the seven thirty loan: ut now
ssem. probsble that no considerable amour, be
yond the present series will be offered to the
public. The rebellion Is suppressed. and the gov.
eminent has already adopted measures TO reduce
expenditures as rapidly As possible to peace
footing. thus Withdrawing tom the market as
borrower and purchaser"
We would not detrsct one iota of the credit
given 10 President JOHNSON by The Tribune Tor
determining to reduce the expenses Of the gov
srnme,, to the lowest possible point consistent
with the public interests. A course Of this kind
would be in entire harmony with his past public
career. Retrenchment and economy have al
ways been advocated by the democratic party
aud practiced by democratic administrations.
While Gen. Jackson was president the public
government annually. while he was executive.
did not amount 10 more than the cost of running
the machine now for about three weeks. But OF
course the circumstances were different then and
there is but little prospect that shall return to
the old peace footing in the economical admins
ta,ion Of the government The country will
rejoice to learn that President JOHNSON has no,
only put his foot down firmly for retrenchmeni
and reform" but il viii require a great deal oil
nerve and determination to keep it down. The
people have got so accustomed to extravaganza
and recklessness in public expenditures. and 90
many men have fattened at the public crib, that
il will be exceedingly difficult to restore the old
order Of affairs. But If the president succeeds in
the work he has undertaken he will establish
him self firmly In the respect aud regard Of thu
great mass of the people. whose only object is to
secure and maintain a pure, economical, stabl,
aud free government But there are others &C
cupyng public positions whose influence will b,
felt in the attempt to bring back the government
as near as possible to the old peace footing.
As soon as General GRANT felt that the rebel
lion was crushed. he Immediately inaugursted
measures to cut down expenses, thus demonstrat
Jog that he possesses qualities that are as vel
adapted 10 the cabinet as the field. We are happy
to notice that the policy of General GRANT hae
the full sanction Of the secretary of war, anC
the recent orders of that iunctionary will Gu
down the public expenditures fully one halt. Tit
promptness with which he commenced the work
Of retrenchment is further evidence OF his re
markable executive ability. and there are few
men who could have discharged the srduous du
ties which have been imposed upon him, as sue
cessfully a. be has done We cheerfully conced'
this deserved credit to Mr.. STANTON. while we re
gret that his Official career has been stained Will
the unnecessary and unjustifable exercise of ar
btrary power. -
In this connection give the following con
versation with General GRANT, which shows no
only his modesty but his great merits. We quot,
from The New York World:
A friend who with General Grant imme
diatey after the cspulation Of Lee, relates to u:
conversation which that brave and modest sol
der had with his wife and staff officer at City
Point. well. general, said the latter you
will go up to Richmond to morrow. suppose?'
NO" said Grant, Il have days work in Wash.
ington, and then want TO 20 on with Mrs Grant
to New Jersey and see the children" Whats
to be done at Washington was the astonshed
reply, zone would think you'd like to see the in
side of the city you have been pounding at for q
year" Said the general: why We must stop
the draft: let the sick soldiers that can uave
home, and want to, be paid off and sent To their
friends. and begin cutting down expenses. II
there is any more fighting TO do. we have more
than enough men 10 do II.
1.-THE counsels of such men as Genera
GRANT control the action OF tbe administration
we shall have hope that the old peace footing
will be restored not only in retrenchment anC
economy in the public expenditures, butsin th'
complete supremacy of the civil authority.