Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-29
GRANT PROMISES ECONOMY.

A Washington correspondent OF
the New York Tribune states that
Senator of the United States
called on Gen. Grant on the 23d
inst. and informed him that he was
" going away and would not return
for some weeks. and that the
General replied that he was sorry
he was going, but if he was in favor
Of expanding any more money from
the government treasury to aid
Pacific or otlrvr railways, he hoped
that he would go and stay away.
The correspondent gives this rose
colored representation of what then
occurred:
"SeveSal members Of Congress were
present, and brief discussion ensued
on the subject OF government subsidies to
railroads and other corporations. The
President elect spoke with emphasis
against any further aid being given to
the Pacific railroads. He said, substan-
TALLY, it was very apparent to every man
in the country that our finances needed
the closest attention, and that it is vitality
important, if we intend to pay of the
national debt and tighten taxation, to
practice the most rigid economy, and the
place 10 begin with is the bills that are
pending in Congress granting further
subsidies to the Pacific and other rail-
roads. No matter what may be said
about the prospective benefit we are TO
derive from these roads, it is too long TO
wait, and we should make the best pos
sible use Of our present resources,
without increasing the burden of cur
debt by mourning expensive risks which
are hazardous. The Congressman who
were at the interview were astonished at
the frankness with which the General
expressed his views, while they one and
all pledged him their support. The
General at the same time gave his opinion
that there should be an extra session OF
the forty>frst Congress. The existence
Of the present Congress is for so short
time that there will be just barely time
to pass the appropriation bills, and it is
doubtful whether the great question of
our finances can be properly cared for
The tribune goes into ecstacies
over these reputed declarations Of
the President elect, declaring that
it is splendid news" that "Gen.
Grant has taken a step which will
endear him still more TO every
patriot that instead Of waiting
for the hour of his new office, he
announces a policy that will do
more good than a thousand ora
tons ;" that "he demands from Con
gross honesty and economy" and
that 1.-The the time to squander has
ceased; and if our easy going
Representatives intend TO vote
millions for every plausible scheme,
it must be done over the veto of
the new President" The Tribune
accepts "Gen. Grants declaration
in the joyful hope that we have
seen an end of real estate spccula-
tons in the Improbable dominions
of other countries, of immense law
ycr's fees for Washington lobby
ists-of land grants and Indian
treatics-and Of the astounding
frauds in the collection Of customs
and taxes and then breaks out
d" We look for his coming as men
who gaze through the darkest night
fervently yearn for the morning.
Grants declarations are very
slender to make so great fuss
over. Substantially the same
thing has been said repeatedly by
almost every leading man in the
party that elected Grant, and re-
solved by every convention Of that
party for the last eight years. Yet
the history Of those eight years
shows that the administration of