New-York tribune., 1868-07-28

gravest public topics has to be postponed-.s =
the next meeting. The hundreds of pension.
granted in this way, we dare say, were In g,o
main well deserved, but the general laws ouoI,s
to be made broad enough TO cover nearly Il,
these cases, and it would be better to leave
little more discretion to the Commissioner Than
to permit the attention of Congress to be dis.
tiacted by such matters from the serious atfai,,
which press upon them. AT any rate, let n.
have the business of the nation settled Grst
and private bills may come aeterward.
MEN or THE SOUTH-GRANT OR SEPMOuR,
At the fall of the Rebellion, had tie con.
quered Rebels been asked to designate "a.
Northern citizen for whom they would most
freely and heartily vote for President Of ta
United States, they would have selected, with
great unanimity Gen. Grant. His freedom from
political bias his skill as great commaadey
and finally his magnanimity in the hour a
victory, compelled their confidence in HI,
chiyalric manhood and their respect for HI.
executive abilities. He was Oae OF the Gr..
citizens of the North to make the tour of the
Southern States after Lees surrender, and was
everywhere treated with courtesy and appar.
ent cOrdiality. Upon the vexcd question, whether
the Southern States should be reconstructed on
the White vote only or on the votes Of both
White and Black, he never exercised feathers
weight of influence, but purposely and nfex
bly, abstained from urging any policy except
that reconstruction, on whatever plan, should 10
immediate. He was satisfied with Mr.. JOhnsons
plan until its weaknesses became apparent, and
then he as readily acquiesced in the plan OF
Congress- In the strife between Andrew johnson
and Congress, lie acted as a mediator and
peacemakef until his services in that difficult
and thankless capacity were dispensed with
by an ungrateful President. Up to the tine
when he accepted the Republican nomination,
Gen. Grant had never done an act or uttered
a word designed to aid the success of any
political party. Until within six months Of
his nomination, the journals Of the South aad
of the Democratic party had announced hm
as their candidate, and declared their purpose
to elect him unpledged, as they would elect
Washington, without platform or committa;
trusting to his high merits as a man, soldier
and statesman. He had stood as bulwak
between the Union and its assailants in The
hour when the tempest OF war ragged nost
fiercely, and even the Rebels, whom he bad
foiled and defeated admired him for the great
work he had performed. He had stood over
the Rebel leaders and armies whom he had
captured and parOled, and shielded them from
the weak cruelty of a demagogue who
would have executed them to promote his
chances of reelection; and, while the Rebels
thanked him, all men of honor and courage
were proud of him. He had protested, with
equally undaunted front, that the Southern
people were loyal and had no more thought Of
Rebellion, when the timid majority in Congress,
afraid either to be magnanimOus to the falea
OF lust to those whom they had freed, dust
not grant universal amnesty and impartial SAT-
frage, but borrowed time to grant the ballot
under pretense Of waiting for returning loyalV.
Afterward, when Congress had justified its DE-
lay and redeemed the time by extending tas
suffrage aud a recreant President undertoek
to contend with the legislature ana defeat ue
law, Gen. Grant stood forth as the shield and
armOr of the law against Presidential usuIpa'
ton.
With such a record, what have even the
Southern people or the Northern Democracy
to gain by defeating Grant and electing Ser,
mOurl If the Southern Whites are conquered
despoiled, and weak, who 80 powerful and
generous as Grant to protect thems They
have leaned upon the Northern DemOcrauc
demagogues again and again, and each timsI
the broken reed has pierced the hand thst'
rested on it. Their Pierces. Seymours, and
Vallandighams, lured them into the Rebellion
1. IL. r. H., 10
which, when the test came, was not fOrtheOm-
ing, or was arrayed against them. The same
influences encouraged them to fight on to the
bitter end, and so made their subjugation
more complete, and their final overthrow
more crushing and decisive. The same in.
fuences induced them TO reject prOilered
terms Of reconstruction, which would have
given tho control of the South TO the
White vote only. BY their rejection Thereof,
they brought upon themselves universal SUI.
frage, or, as they style it, negro domination.
Have the advice and influence of the Northern
Democracy thus far been beneficial or baneiul
to the South They certainly have aided IN
producing all those results which form the
burden of Southern complaint and lamentation.
Suppose, therefore, they elect Mr.. Seymour
what will they have gained Is the triumphant
and powerful North, whose legions swept ths
South with the besom of destruction
for its attempt at disunion, to consent TO th
reversal of all that was decided in its favor bY
the war; No! Mr.. Seymour would have one
of two things to do-tO obey the laws of Con-
gress or be removed from Office His Vice
President would share the same fate. The
time is past, and can never return.
when President could control the political
policies Of the country. The election OF
President is the choice of an Executive
merely, not of an autOcrat. While Seymour
u 4 Z .lnAl