The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-16
General Grants Appointments.

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public Offices men who ere mos recognized
in the party sense as having claims-men
Who have not fought the party sghts, ana
arc not considered 40 entitled to share In
the spoils, Those who bore the orun' Q,
battle. Who worked and prevaricated, and
thus had their Characters damaged, OF had
no characters to damage, behold through
the French plate glass the ano-party
men comfortably ensconced In the otiices
they had set apart for themselves fhey
are enraged. They vent their indignation
bycriticism Of the Cabinet, and by oister
ridicules Of the numerous appointments
made from amongst General GRANTS rela-
,;vea. The Tribune correspondent in this
brief paragraphs sets forth the widespread
discomfort at Washington:
aTbe appointments outside the Cabinet
do not suit the politicians any better than
the first Cabinet did, and mutterings are
made on every hand, not only on the streets
and IN the hotels, but by members and sena-
tors, and the cases are not exceptional"
Let. Why all this potherS What right
have these gentlemen to complaint Did
not they choose General GRANT to save
themselves from defeat? Did they not rely
on the military arm for support Had
GRANT Joined JOHNSON what would have
become of themY Had the Democrats nom
mated him, would not the Republican party
have perisheda Did they not simply, to
save themselves from such fate, nominate
the General themselves, although they pre-
ferred several Of their own party leaders
to himY Does not General GRANT know
all this as we'll as themselves And did
he not tell them IS much in his inaugural
when he said the Presidential office came
to him unsought," and he entered upon
its duties untrammelled p And now,
after ell this, the politicians are offended
at his exercising his own judgment and
preferences-we may Say instincts-ln
giving few Offices to his relatives and some
unostentatious, sensible gentlemen! This
is gross ingratitude and arrogant selfish
ness. -,
I'd. Is not this the first stage Of the i'm
perial sge? Did not Congress, by its tex
ira cons titutional legislation render the
exercise Of imperial authority indispensa-
BILE, and knowing that it could not be eff
GENTLY welded by the many of Congress, did
they not ally themselves with the ofpow-
er and will as matter of prudence and ne
cessity9 Most assuredly and in 80 doing
the first stage Of the imperial age has been
fairly reached. 1t is most fitting ct such a
time that the family Of the ruler should be
taken care Of. 1t is so, and has been so the
world over. A poor hero he must be in
deed who may not gather his family about
him in few Offices without increasing the
public expenditure And ingrates indeed
they must be who raise great clamor
against 80 small recompense for such
great services
Sd. 1t is well-known foible of men that
they are rather jealous Of relations. Rich
and favored men generally look with sus-
picion and GOODNESS upon their brethren,
cousins, and decrepit uncles and aunts.
The idea is that they always want some
thing and an old proverb says if you want
any assistance 60 to anybody but rela-
tive Now, General GRANT is not of this
class of persons; he takes care of his kith
and kin, and thus shows his superiority to
other men. He deserves the commenda-
tions rather than condemnations Of the Re-
publican politicians for the natural affec-
tionateness Of his disposition!
4th. Will any one be SO unjust as to
assume that because man is related to
General GRANT he is not competent to fill
an Office What Republican politician can
assume any such ground as that Then,
if a man is not incapable simply because
he is relative of General GRANT, it is no
argument against his appointment that he
is 50 related No; these people want those
Offices themselves, and not getting them,
they are going to complain: any ground of
objection suits them. Our own opinion is
that the appointment Of his relatives is o
mistaken kindness in General GRANT unless
he shall be President for life. Federal
Office is o calamity to men who hold their
appointments through only one administra-
ton. They become unfit for other pursuits,
and the remainder Of their lives is unsuc-
cessful and unhappy. The Generals rela-
tives are sure to go when he retires. The
Republicans will more certainly turn them.
out than any other party; for they are
deeply incensed against them now. They
cannot bear to see the Offices in the family.
They would cut up SO nice amongst the
party leaders!
9Th. The Republican politicians are great
at providing against oil damage to their
party and any chance Of change in their
- principles" so called, by constitutional
amendments. They are grossly offended at
what is styled "nepotism the distribu-
ton Of favors amongst the relatives Of the
chief executive officer. We recommend
them ct once to rig up the Sixteenth amend
amsnt to the Consultation, declaring that no
relative of the President Of the United
States nearer than torty-Second cousin
shall hereafter be appointed by the Presi-
dent to any Office under the Government on
pain Of his impeachment and removal from
Office. That'll fix "nepotism - and keep
the Offices for those who labor for them
the psrtissns! What a beautiful thing an
amendment to the Constitution is. to be