Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-26
THE REVOLUTIONISTS AND THE
SENATE. o7rs u

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Washington correspondence of the Anti-Slavery
The New York Times gives undue
prominence to my last letter sent from
here. That it should do so may fairly be
set down as proof of the justice of the
structures it contains. True TO its in
stincts, the Times congratnlates itself
that my letter is an evidence of the Con-
servative reaction in the Senate. Moth.
ing so respectable even as our conserva-
| ton can be set down to the credit of the
Radical traders in patronage. Only a
mere greed for barter and sale; the
merest dregs Of corrupt intent is at the
bottom of their action. l am not writing
for the sake of rhetoric--not ranting
mere fustian--when | say that the major
ity of the nominations sent in since the
present extraordinary session began,
have been the result of trade" be-
tween the Executive and Senators. Take
an example. One Western Senator
prominent as a Radical, sent an Illinois
politician here, supposed to be in good
standing at the White House, to tell the
President that he would oppose summer
session of Congress, provided he received
certain offices. The Senatorial barterer
did not get the offices, but did most streni
uously oppose the proposed summer
session. General Garfield, of Ohio, was
smarter than the Senator, for he got his
pay. Perhaps the General was considered
worth more for future purposes than the
Judge. After the adjournment, as the
story goes, the Ohio Representative got
General Gordon Granger to represent to
the President that he, Garfield, so acted
as to materially aid the defeat of the
summer session movement as first pro-
posed by General Schenck. A certain
postotfice was the reward wanted for this
service, and General Garfeld's man was
nominated and confirmed. The charac-
ter of the service for which postoffice
was considered fair reward ought to be
known. When, on Monday preceding
adjournment, it became evident that the
advice of high officials against an ad.
journment without day was having its
effect in the House, General Schenck of
fered a resolution providing for four days
between the day to be fixed and the reg
ular time for reassembling ON which
Congress could meet and adjourn over,
if no cause demanding session had, in
the meantime, arisen General Garfield
voted and worked against the demand for
the previous question, and, when that
was sustained, left the hall, thus lodging
the final vote. ef ;.
That was one way of sustaining the
President; another was when, on the
presentation by Sidney Clarke, of Kan
sas, of a preamble and resolution setting
forth the action of the House on the i'm
parchment question, and requesting the
Judiciary Committee to report at the
reassembling of Congress in July, Gar
field killed the preamble by cowardly
criticism on its language, as committing
the House to the impeachment of the
President There we're other services as
for instance the very coarse attack made
by the General on Thaddeus Stevens
during the debate on the original Military
bill But the illustrations have given
are surely sufficient to entitle the Repre-
sentative to as much bread and butter"
as a second-class postofiice will obtain
for an ally. if.I .-gf.T
Among the traders Simon Cameron
is conspicuous. He has entered into
combinations with Buckalew, Cowan,
Randall, Boyer & Co. The latter do the
outdoor business-attend to the White
House and departments, while Cameron
and Buckalew run the Senate. Judge
Kelley's, Thaddeus Stevens, Koontz'
and CoVode's districts have been the
especial subjects for Senatorial trading
Let me mention another illustration of
Cameron's management. Every body
here knows that Isaac Newton, Commis-
sioner of Agriculture, is uncommonly
incompetent for his position. With all
who support him it is question only,
not of competency, but Of how much
they can secure from his Department for
their support / am not in any Of the
"rings" for or against Newton. The
President has nominated Col Capron, of
Illinois, who. is very generally pro
nounced ht for the place, good soldier
and reliable Republican. Cameron IS
Chairman Of the Committee on Agricul- |
iure. Only four members are present |
Cattel, Of New jersey uniting with
Cameron, agreed not to report on the |
nomination, so tits killed. Newton made
great many promises Of places and 4
seeds TO accomplish this.
The New York Senators are in the
trading ring The Brooklyn Offices have
been the great bone Of contention. Conk-
ling wanted the postofice for a State
Senator who voted for him; Morgan I
wanted the Assessorship for the Third
District for another who voted for him
Let rs see how this works General
Roberts'W6b noIainuted bT the President
for the postofics Of the City Of Churches
! an assured By prominent Radicals
that Roberts had algays been 90 anti
slavery man, and was an excellent sol ]