The New York herald., 1869-03-17
THE PRESIDENT AND THE POLITICIANS.

ttt WASHINGTON, March 49, 1869.
Yesterday being Sunday was general caucus day
among the several State delegations on the subject
Of disposing OF the numerous Offices OF honor and
emoument in the gift OF the President and Secre-
taries. With the view OF obtaining information Us
to the 'undercurrentsv setting in the direction OF
the White House and public departments, visited
the principal hotels and collected the political gos
sip ofthe hour. To give even brief ana ineligible
synopsis Of all the plans and efforts originated and
put in force to control the patronage Of the govern
ment would I'LL many columns Of the HERALD.
shah, therefore, state in general terms that the
various State delegations in Congress have, SO far,
failed to impress ON the President their theory
that the local appointments belong to them and must
not be nterfered with by the President or his Secre
tares or Postmaster General. They claim that this
has been the uniform practice OF the government
under at least dozen administrations and 1t Is the
only method OF securing efficiency in the local ad-
ministrarion OF the public service. The politicians
say-H0w Is the President to dispense a patronage
embracing ten twenty thirty thousand appoint
ments unless he accepts the nominees OF the peoples
Representatives?
But while the President may feel it necessary to
yield the MINOR local nominations to the representa-
tves for the reasons urged, he atly refuses to re-
appointments and those OF any value In
the departments and the states. For instance,
he has designated Generals Butterield and Sickles
for foreign missions without consultation with the
prominent party leaders OF New York. who have
sought foreign mission for Mr.. Francis. or Troy.
The President, however, has taken his stand, and
says New YORK has received her quota In the two
generals already designated and can have no more
1orclgn MISSIONS lie has also appointed post.
master ut Mobile and number OF other officials to
important positions In that and other States, with
OUT consulting the Senators or representatives
content to allow the President to give away all the
fat oces to his personal friends and favorites and
give them the residue OF small pickings II question
that q lew DAYS more Will determine.
The tone Of such OF the New York men as have
cldedly beincose. one man who has done much %
for his party. II not for his country, broadly In
siDuated that the President taking care first Of
all, OF those who had taken care OF hln-those who
raised the funds, first to purchase his Washington
aud Philadelphia residences and then raised money
sbp puy ,e s,c, 20 70 Genera
hotels and the streets OF the capital Il Is right that
the President and the public-the parties most IN
terested and cOncerned-should know 1t. Your cor
respondent, having full confidence IN the wisdom
and patriotism OF General Grant, hopes that ne
knows what he is about He believes that while he
what properly belongs TO the national legislature he
viii exercise his executive duties with justice and In
These foreign appointments are unimp0rtanf CON-
pared with those relating To the collection and ad-
mnlstrsuon OF sne puonc nnances. Inc collector
whose duty 1t s TO prosecute for frauds the reve-
nue. stand foremost In the list Of reforms. Several
Of these from your CITY usually considered, though
not always specially designated. being at the
head OF the "whiskey ring,n have lately been very
assiduous their efforts appear honest ana EN-
cient, are here making known their zeal for the
public welfare IL is generally believed by those
processing 10 be In State secrets that most OF these
gentry Will be sent 70 the right about Several OF them
have ike most parvenus latterly made rather too
great display OF their suddenly acquired wealth re-
have been just little imprudent In keeping about
them too many hungry professional Witnesses
ready TO- swear to anything required OF them. as
means OF assailing all external enemies inqnsl-
tive outsiders, either by threats OF indictments
other expedients. These professionals generally
great Ieeches, and cannot always be 'layedu like
troubled spirits. Suflce IL to say, have heard Just
enough from very reliable source TO enable me TO
state that neither new born zeal the testimony
these very dsinterested Witnesses will be likely 10
avail with the new Secretary OF the Treasury when
ne has had time to direct his telescope In the drec
tion OF New York city. Therefore look out for
pretty clean sweep. The Secretary Is at present
making the necessary reforms In the Department
here thus commencing at headquarters