The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-30
The Gift Rusiness.

- meu OF NOW ASAhy AhN .9 a.
rival of Stewart, Clatlin, presented tn'
President with a handsome carrlag'
and span of horses, to which ne Hao'
the following answer:
PRESIDENT JoHNsON's REPLY. ..
WASHINGTON City, May p.
Messr,. A. A. Lou, Esq, Phelps, Dodge 9
Co., Hoyt Brothers, ). 5. Sch"lts' AM
others.
GENTLEMEN-I am in receipt of YOU
very complimentary note, dated New
York. Nav II, 1865, wherein you reques
{ nv acceptance of a coach, span o
horses. harness, &c, as token of YOU
bipb appreciation of my public course
: While l fully appreciate the purity o
your motives in thus tendetlhg TO me
such substantial evidence of your re-
gard and esteem, | am compelled, solely
from the convictions of duty have evel
held in reference to the acceptance o.
presents by those occupying high off
cial positions, to decline thegofterings ol
kind and loyal friends.
The retention of the parchment con.
veying your sentiments, and the auto
graphs of those who were pleased tC
unite in this manifestation of regard j:
favor I would ask; and l assure you
gentlemen, l shall regard it as one OF
the highest marks of respect from any
portisn ofmy fellow citizens.
Trusting that l shall continue to
merit your confidence and esteem in the
discharge of the high and important
duties upSn 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 auder
the present rule, thus:
1t is but three short weeks since
General Grant became the President
of the United States, and the notorious
scandal 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 raveDously open mawed than
is Grant to receive anything from q
$65, 900 check to buli-terrier pup. The
mere bagging of fboOty-anything every
thing which might be stuffed into his
hat, his haversack, or his coat-tail
pockets-can be readily understood by
those who consider that, within very
brief period, Grant has been advanced
from position at $40 month in tan.
yard to "the potentiality," or the posi-.
bility "of wealth beyond the dreams OF
avarice." 1t is the old story of Cassims
suddenly inducted by the merest chance
into the cave of the Forty Thieves. But
when it is understood that the pre- sents
are TO be returned in kind, not from the
beniticiary'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
stated with consulships; that choice
breed pups will bring couAtry 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 q
"busineSs basis" we begin to realize
what scaudalOus state of affairs has
come with the new administration.
Viewing that administration solely upon
its boosted business basis" a few of
the accounts stand on the newly
opened books aa follows:
U. 5. Grant To s. T. Stewart Dr.
To services Gtems not statedJ
Or.
By the offer OF the Treasury Department.
U. S. Grant, To Elihu b. Washbuue, DR..
To services individually (See Grants
Or. lletterl
mission to France years.
U. S. Grant, To Adolph E. Borie, Dr..
To subscription to the Philadelphia house in
Chestnut, above Twentieth.
BY the Secretaryship of the Navy.
U. 5. Grant, To L. r. Hoar, DR..
To one small but selsct library.
Cr
By the Attorney Generalship.
o. S. Grant To Moses H. Grinnen Dr.
To. one dinner tthe wrong one) from Del
By the Collectorship of New York.
L: 5. Grant, 70 George Wilkes, DR..
To rides and horse talk.
By the mission to Mexico %
|. ). Grant To A. K. EastOn, Dr.
To getting Grant the Office of County Survey.
or in st. Louis.
L. 5. Grant, To MessTs. Casey & Sharpe, DR..
To being brOthersin.law.
Cr
BY the Collectorship and Navy Office at New
Orleans.
U. 5. Grant, To James LOngstrect, DR..
To putfS and relationship to the Dent family.
Cr.
BY the Surveyorship Of the Pert of New Or.
leans.
U. 5. Grant, To A. r. Fould. DR..
To being al old friend"
Or.
By the Cincinnati Postmastership
U. 5. Grant, To John A. Rawlins, DR..
To being a fellow.townsman and an early
friend.
Cr
BY the War Secretaryship.
L. 5. Grant To N. j. Cramer DR.
To marrying Grants sister.
Cr.
By the Consul Generalship at Frankfort
U. ). Grant. To John s Nixon. DIR.
To being a particular friend of the family"
Or.
BY Revenue Collectorship Sixth District,
Kentucky.