The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-04-30
Mlatella menns.
From the Nsw Fork SIN, .4priI 1
Secretary BOrie.

The Hon. Adolph E. Borie, titular secre-
tary of the navy, is personally a most esti-
mable gentleman. He is about So years
old, immensely rich, long retired from all
active business, charming companion;
giving the finest dinners in the world, and
generous patriotic man. But for all that,
he is disqualified for the office ofwhich he
is the titular incumbent; and out of regard
to Gen. Grant, to the interests of the coun-
try, he should resignit instantly.
The reasons why Mr.. Borie should quit
the navy department are very simple, but
they are very strong. In the first place, he
is unable to do the duties of the Office
The condition of his health is such that
he cannot read, or think consecutiyely, or
attend to any serious business for an hour
at time without experiencing great pain
and suffering. This is the permanent.
chronic state of his nervous system. If he
were, by great effort, earnestly to devote
himself for single day to the hard work
OF learning how to administer the navy de-
partment, he would probably not recover
from the exertion for month. He is not,
therefore, and cannot be, in any fair sense
OF words, the secretary of the navy.
To make up for this physical incapacity
of Mr.. Borie, Admiral Porter has been as
signed to assist him. Mr.. Borie has the
title and draws the salary; Admiral Port ,r
possesses the power, furnishes the ideas,
and does the work. Borie is the pretend
ed, Porter the real secretary. Now, if Ad-
miral Porter is actually to fill the office,
very well. We think there are serious OBJ
jections to the appointment Of men hold
ing military commissions to civil stations;
but if the president should choose to nonlin-
ate Admiral Porter, and the senate to con-
firm him, it would probably be legal. At
any rate there would be no false pretences
about it, no sham, no attempts to carry on
one of the chief offices of the government
behind the veil of transparent deception.
Along with the regard justly due to truth
and fair dealing with the public there is
another consideration which should have
forbidden Mr.. Borie-- and forbidden him
as sternly and unalterably as the voice of
conscience herself-from seeking or ac-
cepting either place in the cabinet or any
other Office of power or emolument under
Gen. Grants administration. He is Pc
cuniary benefactor of Gen. Grant. He
has given the General money. He was a
very large contributor toward the purchase
Oft house in Philadelphia, worth some
$50, 900, which was presented to the Gener-
al. The present was proof of Mr.. Borie's
good feeling, and that of his associates in
the benefaction. We cannot say that it was
wrong for the General to receive it at that
time, though other prominent officers of the
war have refused such gratitudes. But one
effect of these donations isnow too evident
to be a subject of serious dispute.
Every man who has bestowed such gifts
on Gen. Grant is thereby disqualified from
holding any Office of power or profit by
Gen. Grants appointment. We don't mean
that he is legally disqualified. There is nc
statute bearing on the subject, because none
has ever been thought necessary, but dis
qualified by the law of personal delicacy
public policy, and decent respect for the
worlds opinion. Cannot Mr.. Borie I'M
derstand that people will say that he has
bought this great office, that he has OBJ
tanned it by gifts of money and of other
things2 Ofcourse, we do not admit for a
moment that such is the truth, for we I'M
derstand Gen. Grant too well to believe
that he would be influenced by such sordid
motives. But Mr. Borie, who is man OF
the world, and cannot put in any plea Of
| Ignorance, was bound to understand from
! the beginging that he ought not to seek for
or to take any such place, because the ben
eliciary, or, if YOU prefer, the pecuniary re-
lations between himself and the genera
were such that he could not decoronsly re
ceive any Office except one of mere com
pliment at his hands. 1t will not do tt
have the honor OF the presidency and thu
most important function of the executiv,
government soiled and degraded by giving
even our enemies the least ground for sus
pecting them to be allotted upon reasons o
pccuniary influence and obligation.
/ MIR. Borie is gentleman of scrupulou
integrity. He has got himself into thi
false position, hurtful to Gen. Grant ant
most Of all hurtful to the dignity and wei
fare of the country, without sufficient,
rejecting upon the grave and pregnan
error he was committing Is it too mucl
tohope that he will early come to percep
. tion ofhis lamentable mistake and prompt
ly withdraw from complication that !
.t..L gFh|..s