Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-15

Iearneu III StaVesnansnlp, (yeI con-
ceding to him experiences in arms,
it was naturally expected that he
would have called around him
gentlemen of high character, well
known to the people as statesmen,
from whom substantial benefits
could be derived, not only to him
self, but to the nation. 1t was ex-
pected, moreover, that such selec-
tons for cabinet officers should /
come from the liberal wing OF the
Republican party, and not from
the catalogue of extremists. This
was the natural inference drawn
from the Chicago platform as well
as from Grants speeches or rather
muEerings Z o.l 81 s1.as -. .e4.i
A nation was to be reconciled TO
itself-the wounds of war to be
healed-enteIprise to be re-estab.
lished-poverty to be alleviated-
national expenses to be reduced
enmities and strife to be assuaged
and merged into kindlier feelings
the credit of the nation to be pre-
served and northumberland lastly,
but not least, the status of twelve
million citizens, white and black,
to be permanently established, be-
yond all contingencies of party
policy or political intrigue. Con-
sidering the expansive and almost
illimitable field for craftsmanship,
we urge, it was within the most re-
stricted bounds of reason to pre-
sumo that the newly. fedged Presi-
dent would comprehend 1.-THE Of
the situation; and, in the choice of
his advisers, select men fitted for
the times and place. How he has
utterly failed to do this, we refer to
the Republican press Of the North
for testimony. We cannot refer to
the Republican press of the South.
for they are unable to speak and act
independently, and are compelled
to be the mere todies of the pow
ers that be, at Washington
| We are not moved or actuated by
| party prejudices when we assert
that Grant as a President, has
proved total failure. We assure
our readers that it is with no feel
ings of bitterness or unkindness
that we repeat the prophecy of
Secretary Seward" that in less
than two years, the administration
of Gen. Grant will be the most often
sive to the people that has ever
supervened. Such must be the
result when the incumbent Of the
presidential chair, at crisis like
the present, is vacillating, weak
and insane, with no will or purpose
of his own, with no original ideas
Of matters and things-depending
upon the advice of an incompetent
cabinet, like child attempted to be
nourished from the dugs of dry
nurse.
| We do not and have not expected
any benefits from the administra-
ton other than general and ma
tional-such as all citizens, of what
ever mood Of politics, are entitled
to receive at the hands of their
rulers. 1t is only in such sense,
and in this connection, that we hurl
this philippe. The President is
supposed to be the executive of the
whole people-a supposition we
admit to be often a violent one, and
particularly so in the case of Gen.
Grant.
| The President may puff his fine
cigars, hiding his actions and words
in smoke-he may bowl along the
turnpike behind his team of fast
trotters, handling the ribbons like
a Jehu or "Bonner'-he may
make flying excursions to the Wa
tering places and metropolis, where
sights are to be seen, champagne
| popped and to be quaffed an tnfnt-
tum-he may accept donations of
fine residences and sell them to
other recipients of testimonials"
by way of eccentric pastime-he
may find warm nests Of Office for
his relatives and personal friends
to the exclusion Of those better en-
titled to them-he may, like the
fool in the Proverbs "shut
his mouth and pass for a
wise man. he may Eight it
out on this line if it takes all sum,
mer," but he will, if he does not
| quickly pursue wiser and more
generous course, find out to his
sorrow that he has been meanwhile
a mere tool of intriguing, second
rate politicians, whose whole efforts
have been to make him ridiculous,
and who have well-nigh succeeded
in their task. The days of Wash
ington and Napoleon have passed,
and Gen. Grant might as we'll try
to come down to the level of a sen
sible man.
The following card from Gen
Frank p. Blair in regard to the af-
fair at the army of the Gulf"
banquet, the other day at Long
Rrancb is q specimen of steel pen