New-York tribune., 1869-03-29
osSEw9.YoRk DAILY TRIBUNE. MONDAY. MARCH D. issa

character is safe? That money is often PAID
to influence the votes of legislators to whom
neither payer nor receiver can make corrupt
suggestion, is as notorious as that trees have
leaves in Summer. Even The Post would not
hang dog on such testimony as 1t relies on
to impeach the integrity and destroy the use
fulness of our new Senator.
The Post proceeds to assail Gen. Edwin a.
Merritt, our new Naval Officer, who has IN
Cured its hate by being the friend OF Gov
Fenton. 1t says:
"Tne Senate we hope will reject the nomination OF =;
A. Merritt who has been proposed by Gen Grant ior tne
post OF Naval Officer OF this city -. L
We have no charges bring against Mr. Merritt nor
Justify the Senate in refusing to confirm his nomination
GEN Grant has made Tioyous mistake and it Is the
the Executive IN the selection Of its agents to correct
M Merritt has earned no such reputation integrity
with the public Ask any person who knows what Is sa
of him. and who is at ell acquainted with he devices @ p
interests Of the Treasury and the honest importer ougnt
in any degree to be committed to the guatdansnlp .,
such u man. and they will hear an answer whlch Wouu
make Gen. Grant aud his Secretary OF the treasury coor
I'VE hope therefore that tho Senate will take time to
consider this nomination before confirming 1t; hat they
will inquire whether Mr. Merritt in tho general opnlon
be that rigdly upright. ncoTuptble ana sunny honest
man that Is t to be intrused with the duties OF the
Office They win not have to inquire long, II they 80
II ia said thai Merritt fought CALAMITY in the late
civil war and that this should be considered In his favor
so did Wilson's Zouaves but who would trust them In
the same with his tut Merritt was dashing cav
airy officer but that does not fit him for a responsible
place in the collection OF customs Some OF the ltaa
bandits who have robbed all their ives arc the DraVes1
men In the world. We hear OF daring burglaries.
"The blame OF counseng this appor tment is thrown
upon Mr. Fenton. the Senator FROM this state Fenton
has found Merritt convenient instrument IN MS pohil
cal designs and IL rs wonder that lie should desire TO
reward man seryceabe with one OF the most iucra
tive offices at the disposal Of the Goyernment hn n He
tIonss
Remarks by The Tribune.
Gen. Merritt was honoraby known as a legis-
lator and public officer before our late Civil
War. A lifelong resident of st. Lawrence
County, repeatedly hOnored aud. trusted by his
fellow citizens, he was Member of Assembly
when the War broke out, when he raised a
company of his neighbors and led it to the
defense of his country He served with
gallantry and honor till 1866, when Gov.
Fenton, on his election, asked Secretary
Stanton to spare him to take the then highly
responsible, laborious position OF Commls-
sary General, which he filed throughout
the last four years with eminent
fidelity and honor. There are few men better
known to our State than Gen. Merritt, and not
one whose character is more absolutely free
from reproach. Tried in the Legislature,
in the field, and in an Executive position, ne
was never found wanting either in integrity or
in zeal for the public interest and no breath
of suspicion has ever tarnished his good name.
1t is the very insanity of treachery that i'm
pels The Post to assail him. and the public,
that knows him well, will know how to esti-
MATE from this exhibition of its venom, the
Justice Of The Posts assault on Gov. Fenton.