Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-02-11
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
Special Correspondence of the Spectator
Z WASHINGTON. Feb. 9Th. 1853.

i WASHINGTON, Feb 9Th, 1868.
Since my last communication to the Spectd-
tor, we have had our nerves somewhat exer-
cised by two or three live sensations; the
Grant, ohnson correspondence in regard to
the Presidents head War Clerk. Edwin NJ.
Stanton, heretofore known as, and exercising
the functions of Secretary of War-but now,
in his present position strongly resembling the
graceful curl in the pig S tail-more ornamental
than useful The correspondence has been the
allabsorbIng theme of discussion by the Press,
and the -Quid Names, each one having his own
particular view and conclusion, in the imbrog-
Ito. That the Great Dry Pump shows spleen
and chagrln In his responses to the President,
is self-evident to the most casual reader. /
heretofore asserted that Grant was acting
treacherously to the President, and his pub
ished letter, and the disgraceful conduct of
Staunton, proves it, He Grant, was not only
friend and adviser of the President, but he was
guilty of the most culpable and contemplate
duplicity. From the beginning to the end of
the affair, Grant has played into the hands Of
the Presidents enemies.
The Great Dry Pump is in peculiarly per-
picking predicament Butler, the Beast,
proved him, (if the Spoons proof is any proof
at ALL to be a drunkard; and now President
johnson proves, by mdisputable testimony, that
he, Dry Pump Grant, is stupendous liar /
Of course Grants political partisans are using
their utmost endeavorS to make out the Dry
Pump paragon of perfection, In political con-
sistency and honorable dealing with President
johnson. Wonders will never cease, and this
is not surprising, when Radical paper boots
at the idea that the Great Dry Pump was ever
drunk The same paper with as much I'M
blushing efrontery would endeayor to present
the devil, in the eyes Of gullihle world, a
saint Of the first water if its pernicous partisan
ends were to be accomplished thereby. Such
is demagogism. Now tbs notorious fact
| care NOT what may be said to the contrary
that the Dry Pump and Tam 0'Shanter were
Fighting it out on this line," whisky
k'straight, ~ few Sundays ago in the vicinity
of St. Patrick's Church. When the Radical
hyenas boast of the Dry Pump being the great
est man and military chieftain of the age, they
are putting gas into an empty sack. They can
never make hero out Of Grant, but tbs very
easy for them to make him appear to be q
butcher of human beings. Men in his hands
were no more than so many cattle, to be offered
up on the altar of this line Grants glors-
fcation. His acts Of heroism are yet to be
enacted, and his deeds of daring are somewhat
akin to those of the doughty knight-old Sir
Jno Falstaff. Who ever saw or heard of Gen.
Dry Pump leading regiment, brigade, or
w
not always two miles in the rear when battle
was raging in front, smoking 'long nine ?''-
Was there ever any enthusiasm manifested by
his troops when he rode along the lines New
er as much as chip hurrah - If Grant
expects to walk over the ground into the White
House upon his military reputation, and leav-
ing politics in the back ground he will be one
of the worst defeated aspirants for Presidential
honors that ever sailed UP Salt River. Mark
my prediction The people ape getting both
tired and sick OF military rulers, North as well
as South.
The greatest feather in Gen. Grant military
cap is the magnanlmous manner In which he
treated the Southern chieftain-when Stanton,
Holt, and company wanted to hang the greatest
General that ever drew his sword in defence of
Liberty, independence and Right-RoBERT E.
LEE
Senator Sherman finance bill proposes fund
ing the debt in registered and coupon bonds
payable, principal and interest, in coin, and
bearing interest at the rate of FIVE per cent !;
redeemable forty years from date or at the
pleasure Of the Government, ten years after
date.
At public reception the other night, mem
Der OF q Foreign legation and a Yankee officer
came near having an irresistible s'set=to.' They
exchanged words, but concluded to postpone
That Radical Dutch sour-crout Carl Schurz,
is pulling the wool over Bismark' eyes, by ma
king him believe that he is somebody; bearing
Executive treaties in his pocket and as such
dined with Count Bismarck.
President johnson has Concluded the prepar-
ton OF a letter to General Grant. The letter
is in reply to the last one Of General Grant, to
the President, dated the Sd instant, and which
Mr.. Stanton sent to Congress before the Presi-
dent had time to answer. 1t is understood that
this last letter Of the President to General
Grant is of some length, and that its principal
feature is q severe rebuke to the last paragraph
in GeheraF Grants letter, in waieh the General
asserts that the course the President desired
the former to pursue was in violation of law and
without orders This last letter is said to be
an expose Of the entire J ohnsoh Grant Stanton
inbroglio, and its publication viii doubtless be
made in few days
The President Friends see no reason for his
replying to Grants last letter, as his main let
ter Is unanswerable, SO far as Grant is con-
cerned
Commissioner Rollins has decided that wines
made by grinding raisins and tamarinds, and
adding sugar, hit 70 spirits may be regarded
as wine made fiom fruit, and therefore exempt
from taxation under the act of July 1866. This
almost equals the decision Of poor old Judge
Clopton tnow no more) who decided that there
was ever difference in rotten eggs! Some
were more tainted than 9thegs: It is very pos
sible that the Bump Senate will refuse to con
firm the nomination of Gen. Winnel OF New
Y ork, and thus still retain the Radical Rollins
in the Revenue Office.
The anti contraction bill has become law
without the signature of the President, the ten
days within which he could return it having
expired.
Shoemaker Wilson, Senator from Plymouth
Rock, has gone to the Granite State to STUN stump
it in behalf of the Radical hyenas. What right
has Senator to leave his business in the Sen
ate (Rump) to go eectlopaering? One would
think delicacy and modesty would have in
duced the Cape Cod politician to mind his own
business in the Rump.
The House Judiciary Committee, at their
meeting ordered the summoning of several
witnesses, newspaper men and others, to ap-
pear and testify relative to the alleged express
ion of opinion by one of the Justices of the Su-
preme Court on the recolstrAQticn acts.
The Rump will remove disabilities from Gov.
Patton, of Alabama Canse-he favors Con-
gressional reconstruction and will doubtless act
with Southern Radicals, the most infamous
kind.
A joint resolution has been passed authori-
zing the Secretary of War to employ counsel
for military authorities, and before the Supreme
Court in the Reconstruction cases.
Mr.. Henderson, from the Finance Commit
tee reported the bill previously introduced by
himself, repeating the Limitation and the Ma
tional Banking bill in regard to the amount of