Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-03-16

After having enjoyed the dignities and
honors of the Presidential chair for week or
more, General Grant has finally filled the
different positions in his cabinet with men who,
it is assumed, (says the N. Y. Denocrdt,) are
bot averse to accepting the duties, honors, and
responsibilities.
This will be generally gratifying.
The very undignified disturbance and un-
fortunate misunderstanding which the per.
too much conceit and self.esteem and too little
good sense, has instigated, has been universally
deplered by every american citizen who loves
his country, and who has been wont to speak
exultantIy Of its great Republican institutions,
their quiet workings, aud beneficial results.
The want of knowledge of the statutes
and laws Of the country, for which Ulysses S.
Grant is the Chief Executive, has led to it all,
and the complete dead. lock which it brought,
with the unfortunate position in which certain
high officials were placed before the world, has
brought out the sneers and jeers of the staid
old monarchies of Europe. 1t is assumed to
be jagged point in the rock upon which our
government is based to which they are not
subjected, and they are not slow to dscov er it.
The conduct o. Mr.. Alexander r. Stewart,
whose uncomfortable desire to bear the name
of Secretary of the Treasury, did nothing but
improve and augment the embarrassment.
which could have been almost entirely obviated
had he possessed in the slightest degree the
spirit of patriot, and at once placed his
deelination in the hands Of the President. and
not attempted to get the repeal Of a law that
had been wisely made by wise men. In send
ing to the Senate the message he did, Prcsi-
dent Grant compelled that body to snub him,
although they did it as mildly as they could.
Possessing the slightest sense of duty, and
knowing the feeling of the people of the whole
country, they could not, without some thought
and consideration, relieve Mr.. Stewart OF the
operation of the law. And herein is where
General Grant again manifested how little he
appreciates the important obligations of civil
law.
There was bat one thing to be done, and
although it has been tardily done, the country
will be happy that the ludicrous dilemma no
longer exists.
During the first seven days Of Grants adj
ministration, nearly half his cabinet officers
have been changed. Mr.. E. B. Washburue,
the original appointee to the position Of Score.
tary of State, goes out. 1t is very evident
that his ambition was gratifed when he Sc
cured the name, aud could feel that history
would connect his name with the State De-
partment of the United States government
There was time when such thing was an
honor to be sought, butso much cannot truth
fully be said now Mr. Washburne is not
physically capable of performing the duties of
the Office, and it is we'll he was possessed of
enough good sense to appreciate this. His
successor is Mr.. Hamilton Fish, ofNew York,
whose name, during the past three months,
has been mentioned in connection with several
cabinet positions, but who most likely would
have enjoyed the income of some other
position, had Mr.. Stewart not proved ineligible.
His appointment is not pleasant to the ultra
Radical politicians, good deal less so even
than was that of Mr.. Washburne. Mr.. Fish
has not been much in politics of late years.
and it was generally supposed he had quietly
retired. He was never a Radical, but always
an opponent Of Democracy. In former years
he has held the position of Congressman,
Senator, and Governor of New York, but it
is generally accepted that the positions dis
tiaguished the man rather than the man the
positions.
The Treasury Department, which Mr.. Stew.
art SO much coveted, will be managed by Mr..
BOUTWELL, who is the especial representative in
the cabinet of the politicians who have been
shre"d enough to beat Grant at his own game,
ana place themselves in control of the most
important positions of them all. He is all
that hadicaiism could desire. Biyoted, in
tolerant and sectional in his political views,