The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-08

|
extraordinary cast of the Cabinet. Republicans,
| amonr themselves, do not hesitate to say that
| they have Grant now on the hip aud mean TO
throw him. There are those, however, who do
| not scruple to state that when a show of hands
| Is made the repeal will go through both houses,
| and that in the face of patronage the Congress
| will knuckle down. This is the other side of the
| question, and fails to receive so much credence
| or authoIlty as its reverse. A great deal of
| criticism, passed by Republicans on General
Grant for not taking politicians into his coun.
| cis, has been rebuked by the equal inculpation
Of the Senate with Grant as to ignorance of the
act OF 1889.
AttOrney-General HOar.
Ffonl the Boston EUeniag Transcript, March 9.
Judge Hoar is the third Attorney General
from Massachusetts,. Levi Lincoln Gather of
the GovernOr) served in Jetferson's Calumet
during his fist term, and Caleb Gushing was
Attorney General through the Presidency OF
Franklin Pierce. Theophlus Parsons was in.
vited to the position by John Adams.
judge Hoar Is sitting among his associates on
the Supreme Bench in this city to-day, quie ly
listening 10 the arguments OF counsel in civil
cases before that tribunal,
The Treasury Complication.
The New York Tribune Of this morning edi-
torially says:--
The Treasury complication, we hear from
Washington, is to be solved to-day by the with.
drawal OF Mr.. Stewart from position which
has sought him, but which he has not sought.
ard cannot, under the circumstances, accept.
With the news of the changes to follow this
formation Of the Cabinet. Mr.. George H. stuart,
we are now told, was offered the Treasury
Department The condition of his health was
such as to forbid his acceptance. Then it be-
| came necessary to recast the organization
already decided upon. Mr.. Borie was taken
from Pennsylvania in Mr.. Stuart's place; and
Mr.. A. 7. Stewart was then selected for the
| Treasury. Mean while Governor Boutwell,, who
had been offered the Interior Department had
| declined 1t, and thereupon Judge Hoar had been
selected in his place as the representative of
Mas ssachusetts in the Cabinet. Now, MIR. Stew:
art declining the Treasury, Governor Boutwell,
| IS to be offered that, and is expected to accept.
| Judge Hoar is thereupon expected to resign,
leaving the Attorney-Generalship for Judge
sented to the, Senate, will, of course be
promptly confirmed. General Grant, who
is the responsible head, is wisely exercs-
Ing his individual judgment in selecting the
men on whose aid he must largely rely for
| the success of his administration. Senators
were clearly right in objecting to any hasty
| action in setting so important precedent as
an enabling act for Mr.. Stewart would have
| been; but they will make haste to approve any
| nominations OF Cabinet officers General Grant
may think proper d to SEND in FOR 1.-THE the rest, rest
creetur" called the Democracy, may as well
abandon the sudden inspiration of cheerfulness
that has prom pted the prediction that Grant
and Congress were about to disagree. The news
OF to days prompt action In completing the
Cabinet will show Democratic Jeremiahs that,
as of old, for them eVerythink goes contrairy."
The N. Y. Times concludes long editorial as
1t would be a public misfortune II General
Grant and the country were to be deprived OF
MIR. Stewards services, which are evidently
| essential to the success of his plans, by a law
which, however just and wise In ITSELF Is not
needed to prevent practical mischiefs in this
| case. Mr.. Stewart is among the largest impor-
tiers OF dry goods, II not absolutely the largest.
IN the United STATES; but we take 1t for granted
no one supposes for q moment that he would
use his power as Secretary of the Treasury, over
the department OF imports, for the promotion
| of his personal advantage. No possible harm
could, therefore, arise to the Government from
compliance with the residents request tnat
"Mr. Stewart may be exempted by joint resolu-
ton from the operation OF the law" This form
| oteXemption seems decidedly preferable to that
proposed by Senator Patterson of New Hamp-
| shire, which asks the repeal OF the law Toe
law in itself is a good one and there is no good
reason why 1t should not keep its place on the
statute book. All that is wanted is that MIR.
Stewart be exempted from its operation; and
that can be done IN the way proposed by Gene
| raj Grant better than in any other.
| We trust that Congress will lose no time In
passing such joint resolution, and in thus
| enabling General Grant TO enter actively upon
| his administration in the form and manner
| which he deems essential to its success.
The Acts Bearing ON the Subject.
! The Times Washington special also says:--
There are several acts bearing on the subject.
The ORIGINAL Treasury act OF 1888, from which
Hamilton, and had special reference to his wn
| occupancy of the position, and the force of the
| restriction is universally conceded. The act of
| 1871 extended the restriction to clerks and the
| act of 1895 partially removed the prohibition
| from clerks and other officers but the act
of March 2. 1893, extended the prohi eition
| to all officers of the Treasury, go as to in-
| clude customhouse officers, inspectors, etc.
The act OF Feb 26, 1858, provided an additional
| guard on this subject by prohibiting any officer
| Of the Treasury or other Executive Department
| from actingas agent or attorney, or prosecuting
| as principal any claim upon the Government.
So little was known of the act in question by
that eminent legal body, the Senate, that no
| allusion whatever was made to it when his
name was sent in, and no one even limited that
against him there was the slightest taint OF
ineligibility.
The question as to what will be done with
| the request of the President has been almost
the sole topic OF discussion in all circles to day.
| There ls no reason to change the opinion ex-
pressed IN these dispatches last night. 1t does
| not seem possible that any modification of the
discussion, involving the whole question of
| Stewards fitness and business. The senti-
ment OF Republican members of the House
| seems to be decidedly against any change in the
act Mr.. Stewards Stdt1lS in this matter is inst
| this:--If the modihcat of the act cannot be
| made without a contest gracefully, aud with a
| degree OF unanimity, he will himself quickly
| relieve the whole subject of all embarrassment
| by declining the position. 1t Is reported tonight
| that delegation Of importers and merchants
| from New York will be here in the morning to
use their Influence against Mr. stewart.
George HI stuart.
The New York Herald of yesterday says:-