The national Republican., 1868-12-18
c,.,... speeuIs,,onsrh washington

To rHE REPUBLICAN,: Though no efforts
re being made by Republicans Of Congress TO
niue nee Gen. Grants selection Of q Cabinet
In itself state Of things Is extraordinary
Is oommendable-it is undeniabiy true that
great interest Is felt among them on the sub.
ect. They discuss II with oprnestness when.
svsr and wherever two or three get together.
The Republican party congressional fsvorite
for the Treasury Department seems to be the
Hon. Geo. 8. Boutwell,; though 1t Is univer.
sally conceded that Gen. Grant 10 inclined to
call the Hon. &. B. wsshburns to the posi-.
tion. Mr.. Boutwslls sIperisnee as an ad.
ministrativs officer, and the excellent bal.
anoe Of his temper, As we'll as the perspicuity
of his intellect, (which quality Of mind he
possesses in . remarkable degree,) form the
basis Of the preference for him for the posi-.
tion I mention above. Governor Morgans
appointment 10 advocated, 10 conversation,
by parties principally not Of cOpgrsss) who
reflect the sentiments Of the great monsysd In.
tsrests Of the cities. They favor his appoint.
msnt on tho ground Of his extensive sIpe.
rience in large hnsncial transactions or opera
tions.
It seems to be generally understood, how
ever, that Mr.. washburne 10 to be the man,
df he will accept the pOsitiOn,) and that his
probable selection will be the result Of Grants
confidence, in which everybody shares, In the
unyieiding integrity Of his ofhcii life, his
energy and his emphasis. The New York
outside interest alone vehsmentiy deprecats
his selection, and only on the ground that,
icing Western man and without partic ular
administrative or anancial experience, he will
fail to appreciate the national importance Of
the great monetary interests Of the North and
East. However, no serious disagreement In
tho party can grow out Of his appointment to
be Secretary Of the Treasury, as the dispo'i-
tion to acquiesce frankly and cordially In
whatever Gen. Grant may foel called on to do
In the construction Of his administration 10
universal. So capital 4 sentiment on such a
point never before existed here 90 close upon
the Inauguration Of q new President. The
Congressional feeling in favor Of the selection
Of Ben. Wade to be Secretary Of the Interior
Is very strong. Tho business Of that Depart
ment arpertains more exclusively than that oi
any other to Western affairs Itis universally
known that no other public man Of the times !,
better acquainted with the necessities Of The
West and the points In connection with Watsrr
governmental Affairs that require to b,
guarded with increasing solicituds.
The sensation wrought by the obituary
honors paid to the memory Of Thaddeus ste
vsps to-day in the House hall was profount
indeed. These honors were no mere cere
mony. The hearts Of many Of his bitt eros
opponents, while living, were evidently q
deeply impressed as those Of his wsrmest per
sonal and political friends. Tho spectael
was that Of whole nation mourning throug
its representatives. All seemed to realize q
last that his spirit had done far more than |,
share In tho work Of blocking our country
apparent glorious future out Of the chaoI IN
threatened general ruin Of the late war. /
truth, the occurrences Of the day were
glorious tribute to the old mans public SUI
cess at q time wheu. without such leader !
the House OF Representatives, the principle
Of civil liberty would have been 10 great dar
ger, and It would have been next to imposs
BILE to secure for the people the substanti'
advantages legitimitsIy to be drawn from th
nations new departure incident to the sx
geneiss Of the war. 1t was his spirit that nj
only KEEP. the cause Of popular rights At a
times in the ascendant in Congress, through
out the war and since, but so guided legisli
tion as that that which was designed to owe,
throw them was, through Gods blessing
made the means OF strengthening them in
ueasurably throughout the civilized world
Oppressed humanity in every cline owl
Thaddeus Stevens q deep debt Of gratitude f
the manner in which he triumphantly ei
grated upon the Government Of tho Unit
States, grand ideas Of liberalism and progres
Isgitimatsly to bo drawn from the events
the war, which wero however often In gre
danger from the tinidity aud conservation
many able and patriotic minds less advanc'
and less hopeful and confident than his ou
IIsarn that the deliberations Of the Senate
Indian Affairs Committee this forenoon
developed tho fact that they will surely Z
port unfavorably on the House bill, trar
{ fsrring the Governmsnts Indian relations
s the care Of the War Department. Tho int
0 cations were, decidedly, that they will repC
'. IN favor of Senator Pomsroy's bill, to create
s separate department Of Indian affairs, to
d in charge of a new secretary, who shall be
Q full member o, tho Cabinet. The friends
/. the House proposition regard Senator Pou
/, roy's scheme rs being simply equivalent
o getting our Indian affairs ''out Of the fryin
a pan into the fro" Thsy look with as mu
d disfavor upon it as upon leaving them in t
!. keeping Of tho Interior Department. The
d Is certainly destined to be . tremendous strr
~ gle over the question shortly after the he
\. days, In which those interested In the GC
;. ernments Indian disbursements, in the cit
, Of the coast aud In the Wost, will play a 90
|. spicuOus part.
y Judge Underwood, Of the United StatoI d
, tret Court Of Virginia. Is In Wsshingto
doubtless attending to the onslaught upon hi
self involved in the current Congressional mo
:, towards an Investigation Of the charge th
he is turning loose all Virginia convicts /
7, prisonsd under judgments Of the State ju
ciAry. without knowing what may be
:, ultimate results Of his decision, that all
u State Judges OF Virginia held their Offices II
y gaIiy, (for such 1t Is said to amount to,
i know that no such consequences rs alloe
D. have Usf oocurfed One such convict only