Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-03-31

"a GIT Enterprise.

Mack, writing from Washington to the
Cincinnati Enquirer under tho caption OF
"The Great American Gift Enterprise, y
SAYS General Grantacabineti ip more of
gift enterprise, than / at lrst supposed.
/ havealready stated that Stewartsappoint
ment looked like the quid pro quo for the
house and lot recently occupied by Grant
in this city, and that Borie's secretaryship
of the navy was a receipt in full for the
Philadelphia mansion OF the new President:
But was utterly at loss to discover where
withal Mr. Atty-Gen. Hoar had paved his
way to the presidential affections,
The mystery is solved by the ascertainment
that Mr. Hoar gave Grant fine library, q
year or two ago, which however. Judging
from tie knowledge of law displayed by
'the great captain oftheage on he second
day of his administration does not appear
to have included history of the initial
period of the United States government.
So here we have the gift enterprise feature
of Grants cabinet completo Applicants
for office under the new administration
must take notice that the safest way to ap-
proach the new administration is through
a house and lot, Ia Stewart and Bore
Hoar got through tho cheap medium of
library, but it is safe to say that there is
nothing more to be disposed of at that low
rate.
"Lest there be those who think slander
the great captain let me mention another
fact. The public have recently been in
formed of the gift of Grants former resi-
dence to Gen Sherman How was this
brought about, and by whom p? The leader
in this item of the great American gift en-
terprise was man who expects to be col
lector of the port of New York, and who
knew the influence of Sherman over Grant,
and the Importance ofplNcing Sherman I'M
der obligations Of this kind. Nor is this
al Crlt had previously offered to sell
the property for $40, 600, which was the
annual amount raised by the expectant col
lector OF customs. Mr. A. T. Stewart then
came forward and said that the price was
too low; being only little more than he
had paid for the house four years ago, when
twas originally given to Grant. SO he
put his hand in his pocket and drew
ont n check of S2l 000, - making SEQ, 900 in
all, which was paid to Grant for the house
and lot. Truly nice thing for Grant, but
a nicer thing for the custom house man,
Just here let me enter protest against this
kind ofprivate sale of public office. / in
sist upon an auction at which all shall have
an equal chance to bid. The New York
custom-house would bring half.a-dozen
such houses and lots as Grants under any
sort ofcompetition, In the declining days
of ancient Rome, The empire was put up at
auction by the Prmtorian guards, and sold
to Didius Julianus after some heavy bid
ding between him and Julpicianus, alta
price equal, think, to $40 0O0, 600. If the
good old American Republic is to be dis
posed of in this way, let not all the pro-
ceeds be given to one man, or two or three
men, as seems to bethe present disposition,
but let there be something in the nature of
n fair divide
Gen. Grants gift enterprise standard of
qualification for Office is in strange and UNI
happy contrast to the conduct of his much |
abused predecessor. Among the many
faults ofAndrew Johnson faults which have
not been slow to point ont and condemn,
faint of personal corruption or venality |
can not be in cluded, We all remember |
that when some citizens Of New York pro-
posed to present him with n carriage and
paid of horses the peremptorily declined
the gift, And to the Last hour of his ad-
has he adhered to the practice
of keeping himself Independent of such
personal obligations to those who were or
might become candidates for Office The
ordeal Of the impeachment trial
failed to stain his character with single |
instance even of constructive bribery. Let
hose who have indrlged in those unexam-
pied vitnperiion of Mr.. Johnsons 'corrup-
ion contrast all the usual facts in their
against Shin with those which
.he first week Of Grants administration
have blazoned to the world, and then let
hem draw their own conclusions,