The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-22

demonstrations" but he should require no
other political test, and distribute his patron
age with perfect geographical fairness.
For the purpose of accomplishing this,
General Grant should cause IL to be under
stood that he does not desire repeal of the
law which requires the new Congress to as
semble on the 4th Of March, as he wishes to
be spared the necessity of calling an extra
session. The next day after he is inducted
into Office, he ought to send message recon-
mending removal Of all the political dis
abilities imposed by the fourteenth oonstitu-
tional amendment. He would naturally state
in such a message, if he should send it, that
1t appears, on the face of that amendment,
that the disabilities were intended to be tenn
porary, as evidenced by the authority con-
ferred on Congress to remove them at any
time by a two-thirds vote. Their only laud-
able purpose, he would naturally argue
was to prevent public Offices being filed by
persons who would obstruot the settlement of
the reconstruction question on the basis re-
quired by Congress; and as a President is
now elected who will appoint to Office no per-
son who does not acquiesce in the reoonstruo-
tion measures, these disabilities can no longer
serve any useful purpose, and the public
interests require their removal. He could
remind Congress that there is, in all the
Southern States, multitude of local Federal
offices which ought to be filed by men of ap-
proved integrity and intelligence, and that the
range Of tit selection would be greatly
widened, and the public service rendered more
honest and efficient, by permitting President
who means to carry out the reconstruction
policy in good faith to use his own judgment
in making appointments, subject to the con-
stitutional confirmation by the Senate; the
assured loyalty of all parts of the appointing
power, and removing power, being a sufficient
guarantee against improper selections or the
holding of Office by relapsed Rebels.
There would be ample time for Congress to
act on this subject before the next President
would be under any necessity of appointing
his Cabinet. By the Tenure of Office act all
the members of the present Cabinet will re-
main in Office for one month after General
Grants inauguration, and when the disabili-
ties were removed, the President could make
such an equitable ad ustment of geographical
claims as would announce to the South and
to the world, that "peace" had come at last;
that peace had come in earnest; and that the
language of General Grants letter of accept
ance was not an empty flourish. The repeal
of the "iron- clad" test oath would be a neces-
sary accompaniment of the removal of the dis
abilities imposed by the fourteenth amend
ment; and to round off and complete the work
of paofcation, the new President should pub
lish a universal amnesty, and cover even
Jefferson Davis with the mantle OF executive
mercy.
HlteE suOu d Lue WOulU
be convinced that the era of strife had finally
closed, and that bygones were at last to be
regarded in good faith as bygones. The long
recess of Congress which would Immediately
follow would enable the country to settle into
repose for the first time after the convulsions
and agitations of the last eight years. The
opening OF the Pacific Railroad in the course
of the summer would bring together great
festive party of leading Northerners and lead.
ino Snnfborpara apd tho oavotios of o,,ob
occasion, with the peace giving President
himself of the party, and abundance of con.
| gratulatory speech-making along the way,
according to our American custom, would
mark the era of good feeling in a very fitting
and distinguished manner. The completion
of that great national work should turn the
attention Of the whole country, in the absence
of political excitements, towards the material
interests of our magnificent future; and by the
time Congress would again meet, the people
would be- in temper OF mind favorable to the
selution Of the great financial problems which
force themselves more and more upon public
attention.
General Grant might, in the meanwhile,
avail himself of the soundest and best in
structed financial heads in the country (whc
would gladly give him their assistance), aud
be prepared to recommend in his annual mes.
sage fiscal policy rs judiciOus as his amnesty
policy was wise and patriotic. Congress will
evidently do nothing to reform the currency
at the present session; and the postponement
| is of little Importance considering that full
revival of the cotton crop is one of the main
| prerequisites to specie payments. Let the
| planters be encouraged to put in their seed in
| the spring with new courage and hope; let il
| grow during summer of real peace; and
after the harvest, Let the new President, aided
| by the wisdom of sagacious advisers, lay be-
fore Congress recommendations which shall
make him the Inauguration of prosperity as he
had previously been the author of peace.
We have sketched the things at which
General Grant may reasonably aspire in the
| first year of his ADMINISTRATIONS policy
which would make it the dawn of bright
era. We have but faint hopes, however, that
we shall witness anything but great oppor-
tupities sighted by President who does not
understand his epoch and is unequal to his
responsibilities.