Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-28
EAST TENNESSEE.
Dissatisfaction with Grants
Appointments.
What lie Is Doing for the Sol.
oilers. 2

What lie Is Doing for the Sol
dIers.
Andrew Johnson at Home.
A Talk with the EX.Presldent,
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial
GREENEvILLE, March go, 1S69.-It is
useless to disguise the fact that Grant IS
appointments in this part Of the country
are not giving satisfaction. Ofcourse the
appointees are very we'll satisfied; but
the citizens generally dislike to see 3
| competent, faithful and efficient officer
turned out, and an untried one put in,
especially so when the one going out has
been tried and true Union soldier,
while the one going in is q citizen Of
doubtful political antecedents, as is
frequently the case. For instance, the
Postmaster at this place, L. +. Self was
appointed just after the close Of the war,
and there never has been Postmaster in
GreeneVille who has given such univer.
sal satisfaction. All the citizens 10
Greeneville, regardless of party or color,
unite in saying this. Mr.. Self is an
honorably discharged Union soldier and
not only he, but all his household able to
bear arms, entered the Federal service
earl y in the war, and continued in until
the close of the war. One of Mr.. SIS
sons lost his health and ruined his eye
sight forever while in the service of his
country. Yet this man is turned out by
the new administration, and a man put in
who remained in GreeneVille until near
the close of the war, and then became a
amp-follower. l do not pretend to say
but that he is honest and capable; but
he, nor no other man that lives, can give
any more satisfaction than did Mr.. Self.
John Wolf, Postmaster at RogersVille,
an honorably discharged Union soldier,
has been turned out and citizen put in
his place. None deny that Mr.. Wolf was
as faithful in the discharge of his duties
as any man could be, yet, notwithstand-
ing his faithful service in the army, and
his competency in the Office he held, he
is turned out to make room for a man
who remained at home during the war.
George A. Rainwater, Postmaster at
cambridge, Union soldier from the be-
ginning to the end-a man whs was faith
full alike in the field and in his Office, is
deprived Of bis position and the Office
turned over to ''stsy>at-home>and. do
nothing either. side" His successor
may be competent, but what's the use of
turning out the man whom all know to be
faithful, and putting in one who is un>
tried?
S. S. Lutwell, Postmaster at Jonssboro,
an honorably discharged Federal soldier,
is turned out and an old citizen put in
too old to attend to the business himself,
but having son in-law, an ex-rebel SOL
der, who will, doubtless, manage the
business for him.
And thus it is that gold tried in the
fire, is thrust aside to make room for tink-
ing Cymbals of sounding brass-brass
that was not heard from during the war,
but which made great noise after the
conflict was over and nothing more.
ANDREW AT HoME.
Since his return he has not made his
appearance upon the streets, but remains
quietly under his own vine and tig-tree,
receiving visits from his own acquaintr
ances. As might be supposed, his con-
versation is almost entirely confined to
political subjects, and he takes as much
pains to explain and defend his course
while President, to neighbOr who hap
pens to drop in, as he would to an audi
eHce of thousand people. lis says if
his policy had been adopted in the mat
ter of reconstruction after the war, that
to- day We would be united and happy
people, without the internal broils and
confusion which are too apparent on
on every hand in the South, lie says he
regards the American people in the light
of large family, who have unfortunately
fallen into dispute, and where mutual
concessions are necessary on both sides.
A family may quarrel bitterl y, and come
to blows, but after it is all over and
quoted, through the exercise of chris
tan and forgiying spirit. each one of that
family feel even better than they did be>
fore they had the disturbance, for they
have the inward consciousness Of having
forgiven each other their trespasses.
He says that the reason Grant gives
so much dissatisfaction in the appointment
of officers is, that he is not experienced
in public life, and has no chart or COM
pass to go by. Without a man has car
dinal points laid out and harb0T to
steer to, he will become befogged and
confused. 1t can not be said that he will
lose his course, for he has no course to
90 by, but drifts about at the mercy of
wind and wave Grant, he says, is a
man picked up for his great military rep
utation, and consequently his great popu-
larity. The Radicals had to take him,
although they were somewhat in doubt
as to his being genuinely Radical, but to
save themselves from defeat they took
him, and his record as a brilliant com
mander in the field elected him. lie hal
never held a civil office before-neVer
had been taught ia the school Of expe-
rence, and blunders might be expected
in the selection of subordinates. But
every thing will come around right after
| a while. The mass of the American peo-
| pie, at heart, are attached to the Union,
| and the constitution as no people ever
before, and though they may be led
astray by politicians for while, they will
| see the danger before it is too late, and
rally to the support Of the con-
stitution of our fathers. He has
an abiding faith in the people, and faith
that has never been shaken. AMI So
the exePresident will talk by the hour
to any and all who may call upon him,
from the highest to the lowest. None
are so humble, or so poor, or so illy-clad,
but whom he will take by the hand and
converse with. The old citizens oil
Greeneville say that this is the great
reason of his popularity. He says him
self that he never so far forgets his own
humble origin as to turn away from the
poor in purse and low in spirit. At Jones'
boro it happened that three little fellows
were crowded up right against the plat
form of the special car. Ashe came out
he bowed to the crowd and then shook
the hands of these little boys, who were
evidently astonished at such extrordina
ry conduct. They at first looked puz'
zled, but as he spoke kindly to them
their young faces lit up with joy. Doubt
less in after years they will look back II
the time when they received such tokens
of regard from man who will occupy 81
large place in history.
dropped in upon Andy (as he is ia