The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-08-29
COLUMBIA.
Thursday Morning, August %. 1867.
The ca, Inet.

significant article from which we ex-
tract the following paragraphs:
"Unfortunately for the President,
he retained the Cabinet which had
the confidence of his predecessor. He
may have thought that the retention
OF men who had stood by Mr.. Lin
coin in the prosecution of our great
struggle ought to have been suffi-
cient guarantee to the people that he
was not as false as was represented.
He may have been satisfied, from the
personal character and abilities of
these gentlemen, that the affairs of
their respective departments would be
well managed. or he may have had
such strong confidence in the ulti-
mate triumph of the truth and in the
final judgment of the people, that he
felt he could afford to wait. It was
mistake. Some of these gentlemen
played into the hands of the men
who were combined for his political
destruction. Some of them had the
grace to withdraw. Others used their
authority and patronage to curry
favor with his foes.
"We apprehend that the President,
following the example of his prede-
cessor and his own lifelong usage,
has trusted that the people would in
time come round right; and they
would put their foot on the efforts
made to convert our Government
from one of constitutional obligation
into centralized, consolidated, rep
resentative democracy. But we think
that the experience of the past few
months ought to teach him the i'm
portance of two things de-
cided action and a united Cabinet"
Concerning the retirement of Mr..
Seward, the Inteuigeucer, of Saturday,
says:
"There is one gentleman of distin-
guished ability and eminent public
services whose name has been unfor-
tunately more or less identified with
the obnoxious Secretary of War. To
his influence with Mr.. Lincoln, whe-
ther unjustly or not, the public
largely attributed Mr.. Stanton's re-
tention in Office. In most of the
struggles which took place in that
Cabinet they heartily co-operatSd.
Public rumor has attributed to them
agreater a closeness of relationship in
the present Administration whether
justly or unjustly, does not affect the
real merits of the question. Unfor-
tunately, too, several circumstances
have strongly corroborated that sus-
picion, for several of the strongest
friends of the distinguished Secretary
of State have been the sturdy cham
pions of the Secretary of War. The
.Jidus Achdtes of the former, who con-
trolled the political fortunes of the
Empire State for years, and has dis
played q political sagacity, varied
ability and consummate tact that
has not, perhaps, been surpassed in
the history of that State, has on all
occasions defended the defunct Cabi-
net minister. His echo-who follows
afar off his great exemplar-the trim
ming editor of the Times, has also
energetically come to his rescue. To
the exertions of these three gentle
men, more than to any and nil other
causes, is the fact due that Mr.. John
son so long delayed netting out JUS
tice to his refractory subordinate.
The association has damaged Mr..
Stewards usefulness. We are GER
tainly not among those who deny his
exalted ability, his unfinching pa
triotism, or his great services to his
country. We think that he will live
in the future pages of its history
long after the petty crowd of his
detractors shall have sunk out of
sight and be utterly forgotten. But
there are times when the only ques-
tion patriotic man should ask is,
how can I best advance the interests
of my country by harmonizing all
the friends of constitutional govern.
ment? The associations of which we
have spoken will prevent that unity
of support among the friends of the
Administration which, in our iudg-
ment, are indispensable to its success.
Under such circumstances, it is be-
lieved that no true friend of the Sec
retary could object to his retirement
from the Office he has filled with so
much ability and with such honor to
himself and the country"
From these indications, together
with the removal of obnoxious mill
tary commanders, it is becoming evil
dent that the President has at last
determined to make direct issue