Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-31
GRANTS PROMISES AND PER-
FORMANCES.

n
~iIn-hjs inaugural address Grant pFoni-
ised that whenever any of his appointees
were found to be unworthy of confidence,
or incapable of performing the duties of
their offices, he would remove them as
promptly as he would the appointees OF
his predecessor. This promise led some
people TO expect something good from
Grants administration. What has been
the performance? Two or three noted
cases viii suffice to show. He appointed
his friend Washburne, Secretary OF State,
and after a weeks experience in that Of
flee, sent him as Minister to France. And
there he has shown as great lack of ca
pacity as he did in the State Department,
He is receiving sixteen thousand dollars |
wear in gold for the duties he is supposedto |
perform, and yet he has been found SO in
capable of transacting the first business OF
Importance which devolved upon him, that
another person had to be sent at great eX-
pense. to represent us in his stead. Senator
Ramsey was dispatched to France at
heavy cost TO our people, to negotiate
''postsl treaty" with the French govern
mept because our Minister to that coun-
try, whose province it was to manage this
affair, was incapable of attending properly
toit Here is a clear case of incapacity.
Still the Presidents pledge stands unre-
deemed. Grant appointed Sickles Minis
er to Spain against the almost unanim Gus
protest of the country. That laundering
piece of vanity, his desire TO gain addl-
tional notoriety, of however questionable
character, has not only rendered himself
ridiculous, but destroyed whatever influ-
ence should attach to the position he oecu-
| pies. His inordinate vanity has caused
| him to inflict an almost irreparable injury
upon the Cuban patriots struggling for in
dependence, and at the same time TO place
our government in an unenviable posi-
ton. Still this blunderer is left IL
bring further disgrace and humili-
alton upon his country. Another
noted case is that of Gen. Butterfield,
who was recently appointed Assistant
Treasurer at New York, a highly re-
sponsible position, and who has shown
his unworthiness by using his official
position to advance his own speculative
| schemes and those of the notorious gold
| RING in New York. When it was dis
covered that he had prostituted his official
position to purposes of private gain, there
was an almost universal demand, even
among Radicals, for his immediate dis
missal Instead of this, he is permitted
to resign, and his resignation is not to be
accepted until it may please Grant or his
Secretary of the Treasury TO appoint
successor. tits said Butteriield demanded
a full investigation of his conduct, and
thus sought to break the force of his
official corruption, for he knew that no
| investigation would be ordered, since such
investigation would expose parties the adj
ninistration would not desire TO impli-
cate. What court win take cognizance
of this affair, and pursue the in
vestigation into his official conduct is q
matter of some uncertainty, his posi-,
ton being such an anomalous one, and
whether any thorough investigation viii
be the result, is also a matter OF some
doubt. But an excellent opportunity was
offered the President to make good his
words in this as in the cases previously
mentioned, and TO remove not only one
whose reputation isso distinctlyimpugned,
but the diplomatic incapables who
have shown themselves so untitled fol
: | their positions and so unworthy of being
P | trusted. Were their fitness and capacity
put to the test, fully one-half of Presiden
, Grants appointments would be revoked
] but as such action might possibly be pro
, | ductive of some curious revelations, il
which the President might be revealed il
an unpleasant light, we need anticipate NJ
I such fulflment of his promise.