The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-22

municipal reform than by the appointment of a
commission of the kind we suggest, composed Of
responsible and irreproachable citizens, with
thepresent Mayor at their head. There jsanother
ron son why this commission should be con.
stuct. I. 1t will not be many months before
the neon,'s Of the State will be required to
| take action reference to the Constitutional
Convention wb,o. \ is required to meet every
twenty wears The reforms demanded in the
municipal coyernm,s an of the metropolis will
command a large share Df the attention Of the
constitutional delegates, ,and now can the body
become better informed in the matter than by
reports Of these responsible commissioners
Unless the constitutional delegates are enabled
to act advisedly and intelligently' our citizens
can scarcely realize the amount Of oppression
they may be subjected to, and that> too, BY
constitutional and irrepealable enactmt mt. Our
citizens should not cease in their efforts 70 Pre-
serve New York free and liberal city by
pressing upon the Legislature the appointme ns
Of this supervisory commission. *
Financial Aspect OF tho Rsafcal Move.
ments I'm Congress.
In the ordinary affairs of life, when servant
misbehaves himself, Is captious, sulky, or does
not attend to our interest, we dismiss him. II
he be found plotting against us or insolent we
act more promptly in discharging him, because
our selfrespect is aroused, and because his
conduct has bad effect or contagious infu-
ence upon others. We turn out directors Of
companies or institutions whenever we discover
they are not acting in the interest of such COM
panies or institutions or of those who appoint
them to Office. 1t is the same in political life.
Members Of Congress, and even our Presidents,
are set aside as soon the term Of their Office ex-
pires If they prove TO be unfaithfll. The laws
of selfpreservation and moral right make 'this
the rule of life. Why, then, should not Prest-
dent Johnson act in the same way with regard
to his Cabinet, If the members do not suit him
or do not behave themselves?
There appears TO be no doubt that some of the
members Of the Cabinet have been unfaithful TO
him and opposed to his Southern restoration
policy. How many of them were SO or what
was the extent of their completely with the Jaco-
bin conspiracy against him, we are unable to
say. We have reason to believe several of them
were guilty Of such treachery. One, at least,
was unmasked. Stanton's afiliation with
those who are making bitter war on the Presi-
dent became notorious in political circles.
The conduct Of Stanton in the late affair about
Withdrawing the troops from the South shows he
was acting In concert with the radicals, and in
opposition to both the President and General
Grant No one seems to doubt now that he
was at the bottom Of the attempt to bring
scandal upon Mr.. johnson some time ago
through his man Friday, detective Baker.
Many other reported acts Of bad faith and
hostility toward the President might be cited.
to which The general conduct and bearing Of
the Secretary give q strong color Of truth.
While it is impossible to say how far he may
be guilty Of some Of these charges, or 10 what
extent he Is involved in the revolutionary
measures Of the Jacobin club al Washing ton, ono
thing Is certain, and that il, he is not in heart
Nth the -Pnasidant; in fact. h actad asainst
him; and Mr.. johnson might wen apply to him
the language Of Christ, "Hc who is not with
me Is against me; and he that gaiheretkuot
with me scattereth abroad To sup0Gn az
tent was this treacherous hostility carried In The
War Department and other departments that
we sre credibly informed the clerks In many
cases, dare not express adAirstion of the Presi-
dent and his policy from fear Of losing their
places. While that would not be made charge
against them, and they would be dismissed
apparently for something else, the real cause
would be their known sympathy with the
Presidents policy. They are aware Mr.. John
son could not investigate their indi vidual com
plants Il dismissed, and hence they keep
discreet silence Incredible ss this might
seem 10 some, we are assured by good au-
thority IL is. true What commentary IL
this upon the situation OF the PRESIDENT In
his own political household TO be surrounded
by enemies Jscobins nj the council board
The Jacobin club having spies and agents
in the Cabinet chamber, and holding .
rod OF terror over the employees Of the
government! Can this be SO? Is not this
q too highly colored pictures We imagine
we hear our sstorishcd readers ask. No, II liz
the naked truth; aud II is truth which shows
the urgent necessity Of making clean sweep
OF all In the Cabinet and In The departments
who are not heart and soul with the President
in bis policy.
The country in lis abnormal condition re-
quires the most skiifuI treatment 10 bring il to
permanently healthy state. II is giant full
oflalent vitality, with lis system disarrauged.
The President is an able physician, who UNDER
stands The case and who has applied Che pro-
per remedies; but unfortunately there arc
cthers--quacks and visionary thcorists--who
have hand in Il also. His healing measures
they attempt 70 obslfuct for their own selfish