The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-04-06
The GiftRusiupss.

After President johnson took his
seat, a number of the leading CONNER
cial men of New York, including the
great rival of Stewart, Clahin, presented
the President with handsome carriape
and span of horses, to which he made
the following answer:
PRESIDENTS JonNsON's REPLY.
WASHINGTON Cry, May 90.
KeSSrs. 4. Il. Lou, Esq. Phelps, D0dge
& Co., Hoyt Brothers, j. S. Schulz,
and others.
GESrLEMEN-I am in receipt of your
very complimentary note, dated New
York, May II, 1865, wherein you re-
quest my acceptance of coach, span
of horses, harness, &C., as q token of
your high appreciation of my public
course.
While | fully appreciate the purity of
your motives in thus rendering to me
such substantial evidence of your re-
gard and esteem, am compelled, solely
from the convictions of duty | have
ever held in reference to the acceptance
of presents by those occupying high
official positions, to decline the offer
ings of kind and loyal friends.
The retention of the parchment con-
veying your sentiments, and the auto
graphs of those who were pleased to
unite in this manifestation of regard is
a favor l would ask; and l assure you,
gentlemen, l shall regard it as one of
the highest marks Of respect from any
portion of my fellow citizens.
Trusting that | shall continue to mer-
it your confidence and esteem in the
discharge of the high and important
duties upon which have just entered,
and with the best wishes for your health
&c, individually, l am, gentlemen, yours
truly ANDREW JOHNSON.
After this letter was published the
President was released from any further
temptation in that direction.
The World puts the other side under
the present rule, thus:
1t is but three short weeks since Gen
/, eral Grant became the President of the
United States, and the notorious scan
dad attaching to his name and record as
general receiver of all sorts of gifts,
from houses and horses to boots and
stockings, is already a national shame
Lazarus catching at the crumbs which
fell from the table of Dives was not
more ravenously open-mawed than is
Grant to receive anything from a $685..
600 check to q bull-terrier pup. The
mere bagging of booty-anything every
thing which might be stuffed into his
hat, his haversack, or his coat tail pock-
cts-can be readily understood by those
who consider that, within a very brief
period. Grant has been advanced from
position at $40 a month in tan yard
to 1.-The potentality," or the possibility
'of wealth beyond the dreams of avar-
ice" 1t is the old story of Cassims
suddenly inducted by the merest chance
Tito the cave of the Forty Thieves. But
when it is understood that the presents
are to be returned in kind, not from the
benificiary's pocket, but from the public
treasury that houses and horses are to
be Offset with honors; that the givers
of checks and cigars are to be compen-
sated with consulships; that choice
breed pups will bring country -postmas-
terships that Cabinet officers must lit
orally be men of gifts" and that the
new administration is indeed to be con-
ducted, as has been boasted, upon a
Cuisines basis" we begin to realize
what scandalous state of affairs has
come with the new administration
Viewing that administration solely upon
its boasted ''busi ness basis" few Of
the accounts stand on the newly opened
books as follows:
| U. S. Grant, To A. T. Stewart, DIR.
To services (items not stated.
Or.
BY the offer of the Treasury Depart
ment.
U. S. Grant, To f. ,Washburne, DR..
To services individually" See
Grants letter.
Or.
BY the State Department 3 days, and
the mission to France 4 years.
U. S. Grant, To Adolph E. Borie, DIR.
To subscription to the Philadelphia
house on Chestnut, above Twentieth.
Cr.
BY the Secretaryship of the Navy.
Z. S. Grant, To f. R. Hoar, DIR.
To one small but select library
Cr.
By the Attorney Generalship.
U S. Grant, To Moses H. Grinnell, DR..
To one dinner (the wrong one) from
Delmonico's.
By the Collectorship Of New York.
U. S. Grant, TO George Wilkes, DIR.
To rides and horse talk.
Or.
BY the mission TO Mexico p
u. S. Grant, To A. r. Easton, DR..
To getting Grant the Office of Coun-
ty Surveyor in st. Louis.
By an Assessorship in St. Louis.
Us. G. To Messrs Casey Il Sharpe DR..
To being brothers-in-law.
CIR.
BY the Collectorship and Navy Office
at New OrleaCS.
U. S. Grant, To James Longstreet, DR..
To puffs and relationship to the Dent
family.
Or.
BY the Surveyorship Of the Port of
New Orleans
u. S Grant, To A. r. Fould, DR..
To being an "old friend" )"
Or
By the Cincinnati Postmastership.
Z. S. Grant, To John A Rawlins, Dr.
To being fellow-townsman and an
early friend.
Cr.
BY the War Secretaryship.
U. S. Grant, To NJ. J. Cramer, DR..
To marrying Grants sister,
CIR.
BY the Consul Generalship at Frank
fort.
U. S. Grant, To John S. Nixon. DR..
To being 'particular friend Of the
family"
Or.