North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-06-12
Special Correspondence of the Muscatine Journal.

Especial Correspondence of the Muscatine Journal
WASHINGTON, d. c. May 25, 1867.
MY DEAR INGERsoLL You think Gov.
Smiths introduction of Colfax as the COM
ing President must have dashed his mod
esty. A very natural presumption. But
under the circumstances think otherwise.
l think it pleased him for Schuyler is in
dead earnest about being President AS
he has a right to be, and there might be
worse Presidents than he-better ones,
too, without much difficulty. lie is not
my man SO long as there is a better
chance.
l allude to your passing comment, be-
cause there is some serious effort making
for him-perhaps l should say rather,
there is considerable tendency towards
q settlement of opinion upon him,-not
very strong, but noticeable. Colfax is a
smart, bright, prompt, wordy man quick
to discern the signs of the times, and with
sense enough to keep the main channels:
with an excellent faculty for business, but
of no great power of character or bulk of
brains; a man unfit to guide great move
ment or stem a torrent; a man more
likely to yield with grace than to fight with
courage whose heart is right and sound,
but with much moro Of coinplaisance than
undA.needncss in it's constitution a man
for good-natured and sociable times rather
than for times that call for great firmness
and intrepidity-for times that demand a
leader with the grip of fate, and profound
convictions concurrent with the wisdom
and spirit of the hour.
You think Wilson and Price his supe-
riors. So do l, considerably SO. The
fact is, there are not many men here now,
who think there is anybody in the House
superior to Wilson, except Old Thad., and
some candid, observing men in the House
consider Wilson, taken "by and large
the greater man of the two. That is say
ing good deal. might say it., but
would do SO only with deliberation and
explanation. Each has gifts that the
other has not.
The Presidential itch has beenye quiet
here, considering the nearness of the cam
paign. But it is beginning to show,
though there is yet no oyershadowmg
name. Gen. Grant is not as much talked
of as he was, partly for the reason that
there is n growing inclination to take some
man who is right. not from policy, or from
recent conviction, but spontaneously and
from long training. Leading New
York politicians think Chase will be the
man, on that account. May be. ] don't,
yet. Gen. Howard has good many
friends, and they are increasing. He is a
good man--all right, firm, sound, with
high moral aims, comprehensiveness OF
mind, and administrative ability of high
order. And Gen. Thomas has friends, too.
| don't know but am one of them my
self. lie is splendid man. We might
do worse, and arc not likely to do better.
| have heard Sheridans name mentioned
by some admirers. The President talks
Of removing him from his present position.
1t is in Johnson's power to persecute
Sheridan into first rate show for the
Presidency. Then, Stanton is now on the
slate, high up. And that's another man
that | could fight for with right good
will. think that is name hard to i'm
prove upon. The stcaming corruption
consequent upon the war, inflated cur
rency, speculation and Generalization
needs the weight of his hand and the chas-
tening scorn of his vehement and pelf-
hating nature.
Nobody mentions me yet. But here /
lie, like diamond in the mine, waiting
for some earthquake to throw me up into
the glitter of daylight, or the pick of some
enterprising explorer. When I'm Presi-
dent I'll make you Public Printer and En-
ginecr-in-C Chief of the Press. Would mt we
drive stiff team? We wouldn't bail
jeff. Davis. And we wouldn't turn our
backs on our friends to conciliate our en-
emies. Would we? Truly,
Iowa.