Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-12

Z ~ "a 40 II Will De MS uuty 70 6Q-
minister the Government wisely and
Justly. It will be his interest to 70 do so.
Whatever counteractlng Influences may
be brought to bear upon him, the para
mount design TO deserve the appreciation
OF his wi conscience, the appreciation
OF the good and wise men Of the earth,
and above all, the appreciation Of the
} Chief Executive of the Universe, will,
we have a right to hope, control his ac-
tons.
You say you believe with the New
York Tribune, that Gen. Grant Is bound
IN honor to administer the Government
upon Republican principles. His oath OF
office will be his only bond, and the Con-
stitution of the United States will be his
only platform by that he ought to be
guided, and, / trust, will be. II the plat
form, made by the political wire-work-
ers Of the Republican party is q truly
republican platform, there Will be no
necessity for the new President TO assume
q position Of antagonism to the party
that elected him. Political platforms, In
general, are so constructed that every
body can construe them to suit their "
peculiar views, and I presume the Re-
publican platform will not be found to be
an exception to the general rule. There
are some curious facts connected with
Gen. Grants nomination, which justify
the hope that he will be the President OF
the people, and not merely the tool of a
political faction.
In the autumn Of 1867, Congress adj
49, DIT - Nn-Anahna
At the time Of adjournment, there
seemed to be a strong inclination to
impeach President johnson, and
Judge Chase seemed 70 be the
favorite OF the Republican party as their
candidate for the Presidency. When
| Congress met on the 21st of November
the programme was changed. Impeach-
ment was abandoned, Judge Chase was
regarded as unavailable, and Gen. Grant,
who had bsen often spoken Of as the
1 candidate Of the Conservative party,
was brought prominently before the peo-
pie as the most available candidate of
the Republican party. In New York,
on the - day Of January, 1865, the
largest meeting that ever assembled At
the Cooper Institute, nominated him as
the peoples candidate, ignoring old party
organization. A committee of twenty
five, with A. L. Stewart as chairman,
was appointed, and instructed TO publish
an address to the people of the United
States, calling on them, without regard
to party, to elect Grant President as the
best means Of breaking up the corrupt
political combinations with which the
country is cursed.
When the politicians met in Chicago
they nominated Grant because they fear
ed that if they nominated one Of their
old political hacks, the people would
nominate Grant, and defeat their party.
1t is certainly true, that his acceptance
Of the nomination commits him to the
conditions upon which they rendered
their support. but what those conditions
were I will not undertake to decide. The
New York nomination is as valid, and
quite as respectable as the Chicago NOM
ination; and Think il will be found that
il was IS potent in making Grant Presi-
dent az the meeting in Chicago. The
Chicago Platform is not before me, hut
[ don't remember anything in it that
will prevent the new President from act
ing IS the President of the whole people,
guided by the Constitution he will be
sworn 10 support.
The following hints on the subject,
clipped from the Washington Express,
was written by 8 personal friend Of Gen.
Grant, and may be safely regarded IS g
true indication of the general principle
by which the new President will be
guided
WHAT OF NIGHT?
II 1t be true that " coming events cast
their shadows before Them" then are
those of great Importance nigh at hand.
The incoming OF every new RdmiDistTa-
ton IS we'll calculated to awaken serious
thought, and this Is especially the case at
the present time. With all his expert.
eDoe in other matters, Gen. Grant is
comparatively untried in national politi-
cal life, and it Is perfectly natural that
anxiety should exist among thoughtful
minds az to the probable course Of his
Presidential campaign. We say cam
psigu, because mis- antecedents justify
the conclusion that he hss carefully
studied the whole situation, and that his
line of action has been ali drawn cut in
his own mind. This, II we mistake not,
is the character of the man. He leaves
nothing whatever TO contingencies that
De can by any possibility make certain.
His very reticence Is g proof OF this fact.
Instead Of some showing, as soma sup
pose, that he has not talked because he
mas not yet made up his mind, his re-
maTkabIe silence, at this crisis, clearly
proves that his mind made Up, and that
be deems it the part OF wisdom to keep
his own counsel.
e. - IL -
Is likely that ths attention of the Grant
following topics: =
/. The maintenance Of the Union on q
constitutional basis. I
.. Increased economy In the Govern !
ment. |
8. suppression Of unlawful monopo-
lies. 4
4. Security to the rights OF American +
cit z 4 abroad. :
8. An improved Indian policy. l
9. a constitutional executive power. I
HeIe is 3 field sufficiently large and {
to command The best energies Of O
the forthcoming President. That he will i
be decided la presenting these and kim Y
dT5d matters TO Congress and the people =.
there should be no reasonable DOUBT. =
Grant is a decided man. We believe he Q
: A-A aAAAS-AA ga Al AS N@OALCA1 Va
be will dissolve it. Admitting, az a mat t
Of Justice, that he has the best good d
Of the people in view, it must be borne a
IN mind that he is personally responsible
TO them, and must render his account at
to their tribunal. His constitutional
are equally under obligations to
The supreme power of the land, but they
not taken the oath that rests on .
him, nor are they liable to the penalties y
shich be assumes in that high seat 4
We are prepared to judge the Grant K
Administration by 3 fair test. All that al
: right we are 10 duty bound to approve. c,
His most blatant followers cannot, or !,
ought not, do more than this. =
Whether they will all be united in doing =
o remains, OF course, to be seen. Some
4 them tell US, with very owl-like shakes d
4 their heads, that if the sky falls We q
hall catch larks. Very true. But these oil
giseacFes will be pleased to remember
hat the political skiss havs fallen, and -
ometimes the largest specimens of party :,
sTks have been caught. IL is sufficient ..
to add hat what has been may be '
gain. Yours, h. r. A. oil
-One Of the hRndsOmest and best ed to
IL r.sfnsavrs v~a.Ega-. i aka - - | n