Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-02-19
General Grants Late specrh

the South.
General Grants Late Speerh.
The following version Of the reply of
GaneraI Grant to the congressional JOINT
cnInmiftpe OF notifications Of elcctlnn, on
Saturday last. is published hy the National
Inteiigencer. Il says
.>Geaeral Grant replied to 60, werner horton
! foiiove
Il car rrn.i.isa the comIoi;tee that Il HiH he
nv enIea7or to cali around me- as ASSISTANTS s!ch
men Gully Sc Ihlrk vii! carry out tie pfihciiiss
which ron have sail the country Cesirss to he
c4ssfui--eGcnurnT, retrenChment, faithful col
lection Of the revenue. and payment Of the public
debt. IF | shollld fail IN my first choice, ehai
not at any time hesitate to make second, OF
even A. third trial, with tie concurrence Of The
Senate, who have the confirming power ehonjd
iust es soon rSmore one of rny own Apprentices as
the appointee OF my rredeceesor 1t would make
no difference.
"Therc ~ one matter that ] might properly
sneak o. here. and that ia the selection of cah1-
net. / have always felt that 1t would be rather
indelicate to announce or even to consult with
| the gentlemen whom thought Of inviting 10 po-
sitions in my cabinet before the Official declara-
! ton Of the result OF the election WAS made
: although [ presumed that there as no doubt
shont y hat that declaration would be. But after
confederation have come to the conclusion that
there is not in the country who could be
invited TO place In the cabinet without the
frieuds Of eon,e other gentleman making an ehort
10 secure the position not that there would be
any objection to the party named, out that there
would be othera whom they had set their hearts
upon haging IN the place. / can say that much
from the great numher Of requests which come to
me in writing end otherwise, Tor this particular
person. OF that one. from different sets and dele
ratiuus /? announced IL advance, efforts would
he made To change ny dCterlnlnat1On and, there
fore [ have come TO the conclusion not to an
nounce whom am gong to invite to soats IN the
cabinet until eend IN their names TO tbs Senate
for continuation, ii say anything to them ABOUT
it. it will certainly not lie more than two or tdree
DAYS previous tn sending III their names.
think Il we'll to make public declaration OF this
to the eorioltiee. so that my Intentions may be
known.
| This speech has the merit OF beiug the
most lengthy that the very reticont Presi-
dent elect has yet made. 1t has in it no
great display of intellect, but it never
theless attracts our attention by the firm
ness Of tone, the exhibition OF character
and the decided outlines of the future policy
which the incoming Chief Magistrate en-
phatically declares he will pursue. That
stubborness with which General Grant has
| been accused Of being affected has shown
itself here in the form of q resolute will
Reliance upon his own Judgment, though
that Judgment may prove wrong, saves
him from the opportunities and annoy
ance of the politicians who besiege him,
and by establishing considerable degree
of fear will also secure him against some
opposition. It is plain that he denies the
Republican party which elected him any
portion OF his confidence, and will pursue
his own policy with determination and
without seeking advice. This will save
him from artful men, and prevent their
obtaining an undue ascondency oyer him
and swaying his public measures.
he promises that lie will nse his best
endearors to SECURE economy, retrench
ment, faithful collection Of the revenue
and payment of the public debt" For This
purpose he will choose his assistants tc
please himself, but declines announcing il
advance who they shall be. f these suit
him not he says he means to turn them
ont as freely as his predecessor, and if it il
necessary to try rot only once but twice
and even several times. until he gets the
right man in the right place. Surely here
is declaration in advance that he desires
not TO be hampered by the Tennre-of- Office
act This law permits him to select {
Cabinet, but for full four years docs i
secure to them their places, and The Presl
. dent is ruwerless tn turn them out unles
, the Senate Is pleased Ia have it SO. Genera
} Grant virtually III his speech demands
rceeal If the Tenure ot.ofhCG act. Let u
Al, Il he Inv
rassment of the Executive and for the Pre-
} tectiUn OF corrupt suburdiDates, will b.
continued to hamper General Graut As i
was msde tn hamper President johnson. -
If The act is rot repealed, then will not tn
Republican rarty defeat its own union. ant
the new administration start With mutua
want Of confidence, as has been intlmated
) between the President and the Republica,
3 Senate i? Can the party stand the shocl
OK such collision ? We shall see.
! The Supreme court Of the United State
has decided one point III relation to tn
, Loyal Tender act. It holds that a eontrac
= which was made expressly payable in gold
can be specifically enforced, and cannot b.
satisfied in legal tender notee. But upoI
the question of the constitutionality OF th,
Legal Tender act itself, the Court express
es no opinion whatever.
One of Robert Halls congregation tool
him to task for not preaching more fire
quently on predestination. Hall replied
"i perceive you are predestined to be al
> sss, and what is more, see that you ar
!. determined to make your calling and cleo