Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-04
GRANT AS PRESIDENT.
A Timely Expression by senator Will
SON. of Massachusetts.

eno iohONiuS fuu'SosiOs VI iSo'~~"s
Grants administration, from the pen of
Hon. Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts:
Two months have now passed since
Gen. Grant. in the presence of assem-
bled thousands of his admiring country
men, took the oath prescribed for the
president of the United States. To him
these have been months of trial such as
he has never known. From all sections
of the land came an earnest, persistent,
vehement pressure for place, such as no
president had ever encountered. Per-
haps the pressure for offices was for a
few days in 1851 quite a. strong; but
the impending civil war checked it,
Many who then sought civil service hast
ened to join the nations defenders, and
patriotism demanded the retention in
office of some democrats who were loyal
10 their country. Then disappointed
aspirations were forgotten in the clash of
arms. Now nothing came to break the
terrible pressure upon the president
Now, nothing comes to arouse to high
deeds, ungratified ambitions, nor to
silence disappointed aspirations. Many
seek, but few can be taken. That few
are, doubtless, more than satisfied that
their own merits, rather than the presi-
dents favor, won for them the glittering
prizes. The many who were not taken
see no merit in their successful rivals,
nor sagacity in president who could
overlook claims like their own. The
successful few, having won only that
which they think of right belong to them,
are chary of their thanks. The unsuc-
cessful many, having had that which they
think should be theirs of right, withheld
by an unapprecIating and ungrateful
president, are profuse in their censures.
Several appointments have been made
that were "not fit to be made" The
truest friends of the president see this,
but they confidently hope that these
errors will be speedily corrected, that
these errors will be admonitions in the
future. In spite, however, of the mis-
takes, for which the president is not
alone responsible, the new appointments
have been, as whole, marked improve
ments. Four-fifths of the appointees
are ADLER and purer men than the men
whose places they take. No man at all
acquainted with the public men Of the
country, no man who has any knowledge
of the men removed, or the men APP
pointed, can doubt the correctness Of
this declaration. More especially is this
true of the internal revenue appoint
ments. The commissioner iof the inter
nal revenue is gentlemen of large capac
ity and practical experience, and be has
brought to the public service an inhexible
purpose to reform abuses and collect the
revenues. The future will demonstrate
the fact that the assessors and collectors
he has appointed are. as whole, greatly
superior TO the officers whose places they
take.
Whatever may be the merits or the
dement's of the appointees to office, there
is, and there will continue to be for some
time, expressions Of disappointment, un-
friendly criticisms and carping censures.
But the patriotic and liberty loving
masses that made Gen. Grant president
should not allow themselves to be blind
ed by the dust nor prejudiced by the
clamor raised by the disappointed appli
cant for places. In the multiplicity of
his appointments the president has some
times failed "to put the right man in the
right place." hut he has not failed to
firmly maintain the patriotic, liberty low
ing, just and humane ideas, principles
and policies that made him chief magis-
trate. Never before has the nation been
SO exalted. Never before has the gov
eminent been administered for sixty
days so in harmony with the demands
of patriotism, liberty, justice and hu-
name and Christian civilization.
There no longer goes out from the
executive mansion words that embitter
men against their country and their coun-
trymen. The chief magistrate now seeks
to bring all branches of the government
in accord, and TO inspire hope, confidence
and good will among the people. He
joins congress, or, rather, be leads con-
gress, and his countrymen in the grand
work of restoring the union, and of MAX
ing the nation one in affection and pur-
pose. Inspired by his words and acts,
tens of thousands of his countrymen in
the states, lately in rebellion, are now
striving to restore the unity of the nation
on the basis of loyalty and equality of
rights. Patriotism applauds the firm,
wise and practical action of President
Grant for the restoration of the states
aud the unity of the people.
President Grant is the first chief mag
istrate Of the republic who is committed
to the policy of securing to citizens with
out distinction of color or race the right
of suffrage. He accepts in all fulness
the policy of human rights that recog
nizes the equal citizenship of the black
man. In appointments to official posi-
tons he has bravely recognized the rights
and privileges of the colored race. Two
colored citizens represent the nation
abroad; two colored citizens have been
made assessors of internal revenue, and
another colored citizen is post master of
Columbia. the capital of naughty South
Carolina. Through all our history the
conduct of the nation toward the black
race has been in violation of the spirit of
christianity. Grant was elected by the