The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-17
THE PRESIDENT ELECT.
General Grants Speech and the Politi-
cians-The Place Hunters Set Back
Tenure-of-oaice Aot-The Senate and
General Grant

i
more sun writes under date of the 14th inst. :
The reply Of General Grant TO the Congress
sional Committee yesterday ls the topic OF con
versation among all classes Of politicians. His
remarks seem to meet with appreciation h1m
all save, perhaps, the aspirants for Office. Inc
speech of yesterday gives evidence that Gene
raj Grant does not intend to be governed IN
the selection of bis Cabinet by the dictatlon OF
the manipulators Of political interests, but VIII
exercise his own judgment without taking TO
his confidence either the men who desire
place in the Cabinet, or the friends Of those
who expect much by Wy Of official patronage
when their favorltes get into power. General
Grant SAYS in the selection OF officers he WILL
be governed alone by the necessities OF the
service for the present; therefore, there Is
lull in the business OF the place hunters anu
seekers of official pap, their occupation ls gone
at all events, until alter the 4th SI Marcn, II,
indeed, their business is not indefinitely post
poned, The few reporters {but three or four)
who were fortunate enough 10 be present &C
the interview between General Grant and the
committee, differ somewhat as to the phrase
oiogy of the remarks made on the occasion,
but all agree as to the purport OF what was
said which was somewhat III the conversation
al style, The features of that which came from
General Grant were briefly that he would de-
mand economy, relrsnchrent, faithful dis
charge of official trust, collection OF the reVe-
nue., payment of the public deD.; th:t % ac-
compish this he will not hesitate to IL Z out
any officer, high OF low, and appoint his sue
cessor, and that he will not announce the names
OF the members OF his Cabinet until nc taxes
the presidential chair. -,
Democrats. as we'll as Republicans, with the
exceptions named above, say to this, Amen"
Meantime it is observed that there is more
quiet in Washington than was ever known be-
fore at O. corresponding period. There are
fewer strangers present. than heretofore upon
the eve OF an inauguration.
It ia argued by some that that part OF Cen
eral Grants remarks relative TO the renovai
and appointment of officers will probably de-
termlne the Senate 10 the disposition OF the
bill to repeal or modify the Tenure-of-office
act. The Senate has had taste OF power un-
der that law never heretofore enjoyed by tnat
body. which it will be 10th to surrender, and 1t
is not now believed that the Senate will agree
to arepeal of the act, aud possibly not even TO
q modification Of 1t, until General Grant DIS
covers his mode OF getting rid OF and appoint
ing officials.
A Visit to General Grant-Whnt He
Thinks of tn Frnnking Privilege nnd
the Tenure-of.office Law.
A Washington letter dated February IL, to
the Newark Courier. says:
General Grant receives visitors daily, from
10 to 12 o'clock. at army headquarteIs-ap plain
three. story brick building, with high pllared
plazza located on the corner of West Seveo-
teepth and M-streets. In company with a
couple oHladles and two or three gentlemen OF
distinction we had pleasant interview or
half an hour or so with him this morning. DE
received the party with cordiality, but with
no unnecessary display, and at once entered
into conversation upon the current topics OF
the day. The COZ versation turning upon the
tendency TO extravaganza in the govern
ment, he declared, with tine utmost em-
phasis, the conviction that Congress should
seek, by all means in its power, to stop
the leaks which are from time to time dis
covered-commencng with the complete abo-
ltlon OF the ranking prlvilecc.- -Which-ha
REGARDED as an utter abomination. Why not,
he incurred. do away entirely with the prlvi-
lege, and require members Of Congress to pay
their own postage-alloTlng them therefor IN
the settlement OF their accounts This is the
rule he added, as to the generals of the ar
mes. and 1t is the right one TOR all cases.
members of Congress have frequently pro-
posed to give me tra trankng privilege, but
have uniformly declined /; the quartermaster
allows me for my actual expense of postage,
and I don't want the government to do any
moro than this" To q suggestion that there
seemed to be proprietv in permitting mem
bers of Congress to transmit to their constltn-
ents documents OF public interest and value,
General Grant replied that, according to MS
observation, the great majority OF those who
receive the documents care little or nothing
for them. though some probably feel hlttercd
by their receipt, and IN his Judgment hepeo-
pie would be quite willing to iorego their share
in the benefits OF the exercise OF the privilege
for the sake OF getting rid OF tho abuse 10
which it has given rise. 1t leads to an en9i ,io
nous expense, is unnecessary, emu snoulu po
torn up by the roots.
In reference to another matter-the extraya-
gance of Congress in tho printing OF docu-
ments-General Grant expresses himself with
equal emphasis. One of the visitors expressing
o. wish that the subsidzng OF the Coogres-
sional Globe might be stopped, and law pass
ed requiring every member to pay for the prl 1T
ing OF his own speeches, the General said that
this. while desirable, would abate only small
part Of the evil. Tons OF documents are print
ed every year which are Of no conc .ivable in
terest TO auy one, and have no value outside OF
n very limited sphere. Why should money he
wasted in printing what no sans publisher IN
the land would think of touching for mo-
ment? The whole thing is wrong, and ought
TO be stopped.
There can be no doubt ut all that General
Grant desires the repeal OF the rerurc c-ot-ofice
law. He feels that so long Us II remains upon
the statute book, he viii! be unnecessarily ham,
pered and restricted IN purSing the various
branches of the goycr" mont service OF corrupt
and dishonest officials who, haviug got into
power BY appointment OF MIR. Johnson or the
complacency Of tho Senate, are now able 10
command Influential supporters III the latter
BODY. 1t is q vol known fact that even the
clerks OF the department have been able, by
roenaces and otherwise, to drive members OF
Congress into the support of their scheme for
an advance Of their pay; and it this could be
douo by persons OF lucunsiderable influence,
what might not be done by the wealthy rings"
in whlskey, in Indian affairs, &C., toward
preventing the removal of corrupt men and
the appointment of honest officials III their
stead? General Grant said that, 50 far as he
knew, every thief III the governments employ,
and every 'tring" which isengaged in debauch-
ing legislation, wanted the law to stand as 1t
is. Returning to the objection made by some
that to repeal the law now would amount to
confession that it was passed solely TO embar-
rass MIR. johnson, General Grant remarked
that this was, undoubtedly, the object Con-
grass had in view-the preservation OF the pu-
rlty OF the public service against the lnroads
of rascality and incompetency, and he saw
nothing in that fact OF which any man need to
be ashamed.
General Grant and Political PARTIES
Th1nss to he Remembered.
The New York Times, in the course OF an
editorial, makes tho following admissions
There are some leading flcs which it may
be well for those who are SO ANXIOUS concern,
ing General Grants party relations and
probable action, 10 bear in mind. Tno Re-
pub icaus. for ex mplt, who lDslst that he
ought to be, in the strcL seEsb Of the word,
party President. taking tho advice OF thn