, 1868-09-18
Grant and the Cotton specuIatIous.

CFdnt anu INT COttOn cpCCuAduOuSs
The radical press have been very anxious
to cover up the disgraceful facts relative to
the speculations attempted by General Grants
father in connection with the house of Mack
Brothers, of Cincinnati. The facts were
brought out by an indiscreet suit commenced
by jesse Grant against the firm of Mack
Brothers & Co., for $4,000 as his share of
profits arising from trading with the rebels
through the. lines of the army on permits
obtained by him. His claim for a share in
the proceeds was founded on the agreement
that he should use his influence in obtaining
permits to pass the lines aud trade in con-
traband goods. That be defined in the suit
he commenced, the amount of profits arising
from the trade, proves that he fulfilled his
part of the agreement, and that he was cons
pelled to sue for his blood money shows
that the Grant family were cheated in their
wicked bargain, and from the fact that they
were overreached by the Mack Brothers, a
Jew firm, may be found the secret, the in
centive, of the order for the expulsion of all
the Jews from the Department of the Ten
nessee. Connected withthi question is a long
train of evidence going to show the corrup%
tion which prevailed during the war; having
its center of operations at Washington, and
carried on through those Generals of elastic
consciences, nearly all of whom rose to pro.
minent favor at headquarters. We know of
some officers, actuated by strict sense of
honor and duty, and, although possessed of
great ability, they fell; and others whose abil-
ity was not prominent, rose rapidly into the
front rank and into wealth. Can we not
attribute the rise of General Grant, in a
great measure, to the corrupt influence gain
ed by these breaches of honor and duty in
conniving with the spectators? Can we
not prove that the war was carried on III a
great measure, or prolonged for the benefit
of these cotton and contraband traders?
Whether prolonged or not by such actions,
it is very plain that it was conducted in a
manner that this class should specially profit
by it. The exposure brought about by the
suit against the Cincinnati firm shows beyond
dispute that General Grant was connected
with these shameful speculations. 1t proves
him as corrupt and corruptibe as any of the
party, and when this is said, it sinks him low
indeed in the scale of morality 1t was at
first supposed that his SURF ender to the con-
troll of the radicals of the Sumner, Stanton
and Butler stripe, was 10 consideration of the
promise of the high position Of the Presiden-
cy; but this exposure shows that it is not
the first time his honor was bought-n fact
it shows that he has no honor at sll An
attempt has been made, in view Of the very
damaging effect this malapropos suit will
have, to contradict the statement altogether,
and for this purpose a letter has been put
in circulation, purporting to be from one of
the Mack Brothers, saying that no special
permit was given, and that General Grant
was astonished that his father should write
him asking such favor for any person. The
suit was commenced, and the subject is
matter of record. The facts were brought
out from the father of General Grant, and
cannot be denied. The defendants plead
the fraudulent act of the plaintiff, and, in
consequence, he could not maintain an action
to support wickedness. 1t is, of course,
necessary to get up something to cover up
the disgraceful proceeding. To those who
desire to be blind it may please, but the
people are generally seeking light in this i'm
portant campaign, and the shallow device will
not answer. General Grant is convicted, by
his own father, of conniving at rascality for
his own benefit; and when cheated is shown
to have turned and vented his spleen upon a
whole class. But the fact that General
Grant participated in these contraband spec
ulations, is proven without this case of the
Mack Brothers. Other members Of the fam
lily were permitted to pass the lines and trade
under the protection of tie army The
most scandalous proceedings have been rela>
ted of the transactions carried on under the
supervision of this leader of the purity party.
BY his silence he has saved himself, in great
measure, from exposure, but his relations and
friends have proven less discreet, and the
damaging facts have been made public. In>
stead Of being paragon of honor, as has
been claimed, he is found TO be of the same
nature as the corrupt leaders of the party
which has placed him in nomination for the
Presidency. There are but few few who
believe otherwise than that the radical lead
ers are most corrupt and dangerous to our
Government, but the hope is INDUCED in
that Grant will prove differently, and will
disappoiut those now in the leadership.
These hopeful republicans should open their
eyes. Let the whole question Of the Gener-
ais conduct be fully investigated, aud he
will be found in full accord with the corrup.
tionsts who are backing him.-,S Reporter