Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-01
SHALL GRANT BE PREsEDENT?-
MUTTERINGS OF THE STORM

/
The Radicals and more moderate Re-
publicahs are already beginning to skirm-
ish for position, preparatory to COM
mencing the grand battle for the mastery
Of Grant and lis administration. There
is manifest disquiet in the ranks Of the two
wings growing out of their inability to de-
termine exactly what Lne of policy the
General will adopt upon his assuming the
reins of government. If this yexed ques-
ton could be definitely settled, the course
to be pursued would be plain. Shall
Grant be President ?" was asked by
number of Radical journals, Immediately
after the result of the election was known,
who seem to lack confidence in the Gen
erals fidelity to their wing of the party. |
This question was then propounded with |
reference to having the electoral vote cast
for Mr.. Colfax, for President, and thus
leave Gen. Grant tout in the cold"
But it soon became apparent to
the advocates of this revolutionary
movement, that it was utterly impractical
BILE in the present temper Of the people.
Their tactics have been changed, and
now the New York Tribune and its
echoes insist that Grant shall be subjected
to the same letters that now bind Presi-
dent johnson. The Albany Journal,
the Republican organ at the capital of
New York, takes issue with those of its
party who distrust Gen. Grant, and
strangely enough, in order to gain ground
upon which to stand in the fight is
obliged to admit the usurpations of Con-
gress, and the tendency Of its party to
Capitalization and despotism. The Jour
nal pitches into the New York Tribune
on account of its opposition to Grants
nomination, reciting some of its mali
cious thrusts at the Genera, and declares
| that whatever ostensible" reason that
paper may assign for its course now, it
really wants TO retain the disposition OF
executive patronage in the hand of Con-
gress, because it has not yet concluded
to trust Grant" The Journal adds:
| at will be a very great and possibly
fatal mistake to suppose that the people
| of this country intend to make Congress
the sole depository Of power, or that the
measures SO far adopted and justified
have any other than temporary PuF-
pose and a limited design. The SYM
metry and strength Of our republican
| system consists in its wise distribution
| Of powers between the executive, judi
| cial and the legislative branches. In the
| case of President johnson, Congress
has transcribed the ordinary limits
of ats jurisdiction, and found its rea-
son for doing so in the fact that he was
himself a usurper, and if left to himself,
instead of administering the laws in the
spirit of their creation, he would use the
authority with which he was vested to
set them aside. No reason less cogent
would have justified the enactment OF the
tenure. of-office bill 1t had its origin IN
an exceptional condition OF political al
fairs-could probably exist only as re-
suit of that condition, and was expected
to be removed when change should &C.
| cur. One Of the leading ideas OF the peo-
pie in promoting Gen. Grant was that he
would restore to the presidential office ITS
original dignity and efficiency. How can
F he DO this II, at the outset, he finds him.
self hampered by law which takes from
the executive its most essential preroga-
tive. snd makes the Chief Magistrate-as
Andrew Johnson now is-little less than
the Recording Secretary of Congress"
1t is curious to witness the excuses
these apologists for usurpation make fol
Congress in its war upon the executive
department of the government in the per.
son Of President Johnson. They seen
to forget that in demanding the repeal o
the restrictions upon the executive, they
are setting an example for every politlca
party that mag get control OF Congress
to make the President, if he should op
pose their schemes, the mere recording
secretary Of that body. There is SOM
consistency in those Radical journals tina
oppose the removal Of the restrictions b,
which President johnson has been ham
pered in his discharge Of the duties Of tn
presidential Office. They declare that
modification of the tenure of-office Law
would be an admission that the party hal
been acting wrong. This is a strong poin
. in their case. Moreover, they are not S
sure as to Gen. Grants fidelity to radl
caiism as TO allow him the reins wIthou
some check on his onward or backwar
. course. A discussion Of the materials on
: Of which Gen. Grants cabinet is to b
composed, has also stirred up rancor
Gus contention among the Radicals an
moderate Republicans. Upon this ques
9 ton, which seems to possess as much
the element Of discord as that tOuchin
the repeal Of the tenure EOffice law, tn
! New York Herald says:
There are already formed or in pro
g cess OF formation cabinet rings in tn
IF east, in the west, in the north and ever
a the south. The eastern, or New Englan'
~. ring has Sumner as its iayorite, with a
!. old regime, but rather enterprisin
Boston paper as an organ. The wester
J. or Chicago ring has Elihu S. WsshburI
h as its favorite, with Chicago quid nan
as an organ. The southern or carpet
bag ring, has representative man as it
c fayorite, with colored organ to groom
It him for the contest. But the grandes
t ring Of all, the great conceutric ring tn
a ring within rings, the ring that IS pre-
pared to dish up cabinet, ministers, Tor
IS eign ambassadorships, fat collectorships
and to serve out according to order a.
n the superb plums and delicious dripping
s from the larder of fresh administration
is the New York ring, with its impatient
y ousrrelsomo and troublesome organs
re Happily for the peace Of Gen. Gran
Is either Of these organs can furnish can
y didato for place in his cabinet or an am
:. bassadorship abroad without going out q
u II of tbair oyUr1 SauctuIOG Il