Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-03-12
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
WILMINGTON. n. c..
saTuRnAY. MARCH G, 1869.
President Grant.

We have already laid before our readers
the inaugural of President GRAFT oLor''
unmeaning, pointless, without slnG'e
salient conclusion, everything in genera
md nothing in particular. we have the trsi
ztate paper of the world-renoWned warrior
In fact, except that he declares IN favor ol
the adoption OF the proposed Fifteenth
Article to the Federal Constitution there
is no specific recommendation or OPINION
expressed in his inaugural. And SO guard
ed is he in recommending the adoptioh oi
this amendment that it seems to be rather
The result of q desire to get rid Of sub
iect (which is likely to agitate the public
fI,sn from an honest conviction that
It is founded in right and justice.
To be sure he promises always to express
his opinion to Congress upon oil Ieaalhg
questions, and even, if pressed threatens
MS veto, but warns them IN advance that
be will quietly submit to their opinion as
the representatives of the people, for he
takes pains to reiterate that he has no
policy as against the will of the people.
The Presidents financial policy, like
his other views, will conflict with the opln-
ions of no one. He desires to do every
thing to give strength to cur credit, but
proposes nothing. Economy and honesty,
cheap commodities in Presidents lnau-
gural, are vaguely limited at, but We ven
ture the opinion that the thieves IN othce
are too g Ioil " to fall under the froWns OF
the incoming administration. Fealty TO
party, rather than an honest performance
Of duty, will be the open sesame to renewed
preferment.
AS State paper General GRANTS lnau-
quraI is miserable failure. Neither indI-
cation of talent or of future policy is
oviuced. But We hope this paper does
not do him justice. He was not elected
because Of his great civil abilities par
ty in power, defeated in preliminary bat
ties, took him as the surest method OF
securing their continued success. They
counted not without their host. An unde-
sired candidate led them VIGOROUSLY
through the contest. AS general and I'M
meaning as is this address, We trust we
SEQ in it well-defned purpose to deal
Justly with all portions of our common
country. As Commander-in-Chief of the
Armies of the United States during the
war, Gen. GRANT cannot but despise
The cowardly politicians whose warfare
upon the South only begun after
he had compelled q surrender Of their
arms. If he has any warlike procliV-
tiles he will seek to exercise them else
where than over the men whom he met in
battle and overcome. Ho Will not emulate
the example of those whose victories are
accorded after tie cessation OF hostilities.
No politician, not even e civilian, he
nay for a time give way to tbs party pres
sure which will be brought to bear But
we cannot believe that the heart which
dictated the terms Of surrender 70 the army
of Gen. LEE, will use the prerogatives Of
a yet higher Office TO punish meu whose
only fault was an honorable and gallant
devotion to their section. We look, then,
not for brilliant administration, but one
marked by strong common sense and a
high regard for justice.