The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-08
f4enera, Grant and the Radicals.

General Grant ana the fSdulCdiS.
The extreme Radicals do not place i'm
plicit reliance in General GRANT. The two
projects Intended to restrain him end pat a
check on the military power show this very
clearly. One Of them is what the New
York Times calls q concentrated opposi-
ton to the repeal Of the tenure,of-ofhce
"act," and the other Is Senator EDMUNDs's
bill to keep army and navy officers out OF
the Cabinet and other positions Of civil
trust. A portion Of the warm friends Of
the tenurs-of.ofice law have rendered 9
compromises giving the President control
over the Cabinet officers, but keeping him
under restriction with reference to appoint
rents and removals generally.
While we have no idea that the party
entertaining this distrust Of General GRANT
and desiring to keep him under sub1ectiop
to Congress, and furthermore to exclude the
military from civil position, is strong enough
to carry their point, the mere feet that they
have the boldness to Introduce measures 70
carry out their object shows that they are
not contemplate in numbers. The new
York Times, the most consistent and faith
ful Of the GRANT organs Of that city, thinks
them strong enough to call for elaborate
essays upon the injustice and folly Of their
propositions. a
The continuation of the tenure-of-othce
actin any form will he a vote Of want OF
confidence in the President elect, the force
Of which will be fully felt and appreciated
by him. If he submits, it will be o won
der.
The move adverse TO the military and
naval men is kindred with that upon the
tenure.of-office bill. Both show distrust-
both show fears that the politicians are in
danger Of being struck down by the iron
hand Of the military. The fear is reason
able. Upon philosophic view Of the con-
dition of the country it may be inferred
without extravaganza that arbitrary power
is demanded to protect the country from the
frauds and corruptions which have grown
ND in the Government. The country is 20
vast, it's revenues so immense, and their
disbursement has opened 30 many channels
to population and fraudulent schemes, that
the arm that controls public affairs must
he strong to save the Government from
financial ruin and hopeless depravity. The
ordinary civil authority, with it's legal pro-
cesses, may be unable to drag the leecbes
from the treasury. It may be that only
military promptness, through orders that
the military always obey, can protect the
Government from the swarms and hordes
which infest all public places, plundering
the Government and wasting the resources
which should be employed in paying the
public debt. General GRANT has had the
sagacity to see this possible exigency, hav-
ing declared that he would break up the
rings that were robbing the Government, II
he had to Heuery office 1oith a military man.
Which was very good and greatly appre-
ciated by the politicians
The New York Times Indignantly de-
nounces the idea that General GRANT shall
be inhibited from appointing military or
naval man whose experience and skill
might admirabl fit him for some civil ad-
ministration. 4dany Offices, though nomi-
nally civil, are essentially military, and
they should be filled with military men.
But from the very life of the man Of war
he acquires thorough knowledge of men
and habit of administering affairs
with efficiency and dispatch. Nothing
would be better suited to the wants
of the Government at this time
than such vigorous, searching, and
prompt administration Of its affairs. Ma
ture generally preserves the suitableness OF
things. Great necessities must be supplied
great diseases must find their cures. Sooner
or later the energy and influence of the
Federal administration, in its Executive
branch, will be equal to the necessities o.
the Government. The politicians may
tremble, but it has to come. Their eviden
jealousy of the military power shows thai
they snuff its approach in the breeze
They cannot stay it; and when it comes
they will be found fleeing for life like the
herds Of Texas before the terrific "north
ers.n
CyrRA Ia heo;nninr IN attract more atfen