The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-24
GRANTS ACCEPTANCE.

GRANTS ACCEPTANCE.
When men offer poor excuses for an act,
be sure they have no good reasons to give.
The journals betray lurking distrust of
the propriety Of General Grants act in
assuming the War Department by the
haste they make to invent poor excuses
for it.. They tell Us the General was
obliged as military subordinate to obey
the Presidents order. If the act was
without any doubt good one, why seek
to excuse 1t on the ground Of compulsion
When Chase accepted the Chief Justice
ship nobody went about to find excuses
for him. Ah, gentlemen, this act of
General Grant you cannot think o good
one, else you would not seek to rob him
of its merit, and make somebody else re-
sponsible for it But we cannot do such
discredit to the leading journals Of the Re-
publican party as to suppose they believe
their own statements. General Grant is the
Presidents military subordinate-not q
ciui one. The President has a right to
order him to report for duty to Washing
tonic give advice on the Indian war-to
sit on a military commission. All such
orders Grant is obliged to obey. But the
ASoioNho loo ho kiEho W oioSi okoh0 w
paint the White House, to take charge Of
its garden, prepare report for the amend
ment Of the tariff, or do any other ciuil
duty. Now, the War Department is ciuil
office. These same journals allege that
johnson cannot remove Stanton because
that is forbidden by the civu office tenure
act, thus clearly confessng that the Secre-
taryship of War is civI Office, as, Of
course, it is. Mr.. johnson might therefore
as rightfully order Grant to hoe potatoes
behind the White House as to assume the
War Department. The journals know
this. SO does General Grant. Indeed,
the President, in his communication to
Grant, does not order him, but "auttorizes
and empowers him to act as Secretary.
And although Grants letter to Stanton
speaks confusedly of the Presidents di-
recting me to assume the Office still he
has sense enough to add, "ln notifying
you Of my ACCEPTANCE" Now, subordi-
mates do not accept orders they obey them.
"M1sTAKEs AND sERv1L1TY."
Let US hear no more of Grants being
obliged to take this office as, it was said,
he was obliged to accompany Johnson on
that disgraceful western tour. On both
occasions such statements we're only fimsy
excuses invented by Grants toa6ies to
cover up the mistakes and servility of their
idol.
The offering of such empty excuses gives
us painful doubts of the mood in which
Grant and his friends are at this moment.
Congress represents the Republican party.
Stanton belongs to it !; that is his offence
in Johnson's eyes. IF Grant is Republi-
can, by what rule Of party fidelity does he
accept the office out of which Stanton has
been turned simply for being Republic
can? According to all the well-known
rules of parties, Grant declares himself
not Republican,. Any one who remem-
bers Tyler's time will recall facts proving
this. The President put Grant into Stan
toms place only to divert public attention
and soften the indignation at Stanton's re-
moval with the content at Grants appoint
ment. Grant will serve to bridge over
from Stanton to Steedman, or some other
hanger-on of the White House. No doubt
the President intends to remove the dis
trict commanders. Then, he sees, Grant
must either hold on and be responsible
for it, or resign and make way for some
of Johnson's creatures. The only other
alternative is that Grant should sub
NIT to Sheridan's removal, and still hold
office under the plea Of preventing more
mischief. This is the plea on which STAN
ton has remained in office. He has worn
it to rags. This course is a sacrifice of all
personal honor. 1t degrades a man from
q Cabinet officer into spy. At such a
time as Buchanan's last six months, the
whole Government honeycombed with
treason, such course is allowable, as it is
in war. But in ordinary times no hOnora-
Bile man would stoop to it. In ordinary
times no theory of citizenship calls on q
man to spy and listen under the windows,
and stand before the world responsible for
policy he abhors, in order, by such de-
graduation, to serve his country. 81 will
| die to serve my country" said the old
Scotsman, "but l will not do mean thing
to save her" It is time Americans learn
ed this lesson. Forgetting it was the poi
son that ate out all national character in
times past. Besides, honest men consort-
ing with knaves, in order to prevent their
doing mischief, is false philosophy. 1t is
the presence Of honest men in the crew
that enables it to do mischief. If two
years ago Stanton and other reputable
men had quilted Johnson on the plea,
which they privately allowed, that he was
a traitor, he would have been checkmated
and thrown overheard.
To-day, if Grant had answered the Pre-
sident according to what is asserted to be
his private opinion): "Sir, you have no
authority to suspend Stanton, and denying
that right, as we'll as detesting the policy
which leads you to wish his suspension, l
decline to accept the place." Johnson
could not have suspended Stanton. Cheer
ed, taught, and sustained by such an act
on Grants part, the public would have
exhibited such indignation at Johnson, and
such approval of Grants gallant fidelity to
his comrade and his principles as to have
oyerawed Johnson. If after that he had
dared to suspend Stanton, no decent man
would have accepted the post, and the
moment Congress assembled Johnson
would cease to reign.
| GRANT THE STAFF" AND "AcCoHPLICE."
To-day Grant is the staff which holds up
the traitor President. Without him John
son could neither stand nor walk. Grant
to-day enables the President to 60 on and
remove Sheridan. It will be in vain foI
| Grant to resign when the act is done, and
CRY out, 81 disapprove." AS we'll might
the accomplce who hands the dagger to
the murderer cry out, when the victim is
dead, g disapprove."
WENDELL PHILLIPS.