Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-24
Letter from Washington.
Special correspondence PUBLIC LEDaER.l
10

Special correspondence PUBLIC LEDGER.
WASHINGTON. November II. 1858.
The visit of the President elect to New
York and West Point was made simply
for the purpose of attending to private
business, and was not flight to escape
another impetuous charge of office
seekers, as has been represented. have
it from good authority that the General
will hereafter tolerate any public demon
station that may be offered in his favor
by the class referred to, but will invaria- :
bly, hand over the names of his tormen-
tors to General Badeau, of his staff, who
will record them among the "outs" Of
March next.
An uneasy Auditor is the gentleman
whose name was connected with the late
proposed visit of Treasury officials to
General Grant. Obtaining his appoint
ment under President Lincoln in 1868,
he was known as War Democrat Since
the close of the war, and up to few days
prior to the late election, be was strong
supporter of President Johnson, with an
abiding faith in his views of reconstruc-
ton and an apparent belief that ne 1.-THE
President was the best abused man in
the world A change came over the
spirit of the Auditors dream, however,
aud q few days prior to the election no
one feeding at our public crib exhibited
more zeal in supporting the principles of
the Republican party than he. Indeed,
he even went so far as to threaten the
utter demolition of the huge columns
of figures named by Mr.. Delmsr, but
afterward thought better of it and satls-
fed himself with having the fact of his
tremendous zeal in behalf of Grant tele-
graphed throughout the country. He it
was who had prepared an adulatory
speech for the ear of the President elect,
whose timely visit to New York saved
him from infction. General Spinner it
was who, when asked to join the knot of
parasites, said he would have nothing to
do with such a id nonsensical proceed
ing.
The proposed civil service bill, pro-
viding for rigid examination of all
present clerks in the departments, and
of all who may hereafter become appli-
cants for position under the government,
might dispose of many incompetents for
the time being, but would ultimately
prove a lamentable failure. Influence
not to be withstood would be brought to
bear on the examining board, and the
result would be that it would finally
become useless sppendage to the gov
ernmentsl machine. The pressure In
every department of the government is
always heavy, and some of the means
used to possess and retain clerical posi-
tions are ingenious and amusing. Here
is one way which usually proves success
full, especially with a young man from
the West who desires a clerkship in the
Treasury Department He writes for
publication in his village journal a
description Of the capital ;..and advised
by shrewd old coous who had been
through the mill, dsvotes a long para
graph to Auditor L., whom be describes
as a most eentlemanly parsonage, q man
of wonderful ability and a remarkably
efficient public servant The next day
the applicants friend, generally an un-
scrupulous NJ. c., happens TO drop in
on Auditor l., and after pleasant chat,
during which the NJ. c. grows remark
ably complimentary, be says;
"By the way, Mr.. Auditor, saw a
handsome notice Of you few days since
ia the Journal / wish / bad the paper.
o. think l have It with me, after ALT
The little seven-by. nine sheet is spread
before Auditor l., and the fulsome
paragraph read With evident relish
That is very handsome; / wonder Who
wrote H. A young man Of great abil-
ity, sir; an extrsor5issry young man,
air corresponds regularly for the press
TIE press, you know. is powerful lever
In this country" No doubt Of Il, sir,
rsioins The tckied Auditor. Do yss