The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-03-13
The New Lesson Learned by the New
President.


From Don PidI'S Letter in yesterdays Ct"ctn-
|, g., matt Commercial.
The hitch in the cabinet business has
been OF excellent effect. The new freSl-
dent awakened to the fact that 70 N
close the entire Government OF the
United States within one DralnI and
button it up under one coat, ID SIMPLY
an impossibility. General Grant would
consult no one about the formation of
his Cabinet. Consultation was regarded
as favor to the friends consulted, and
not an advantage to the President elect.
His military training and past expert
ence in the war taught him the absurdi-
ty OF councils of war, and the necessity
OF taking upon himself the entire re-
sponslbility. 1t was in the last degree
undignitied, not to say debaslng, to
consult any one, and SO the Cabinet
was sent in without even serving no.
tice on the gentlemen selected.
So far as the mere selection OF the
Cabinet went this was probably well
enough. But it was only a symptom
of q disease. 1t indicated determine
ton to carry on the Government with
out consultation with the friends OF the
Government, and If he confines himself
to the constitutional advisers, he is
shut out from the advantages enjoyed
by his predecessors.
The gentlemen nominated and con-
6rmed, last Friday, are OF two sorts:
experienced politicians without marked
ability, and able men without political
experience. And the first move was
blunder that endorsed the President.
When the law was discovered that
rendered a. T. Stewart ineligible, there
was but one way open, and that was to
withdraw the Secretary. Had the
President consulted any ofice-seekers
on the avenue he might happen to meet,
they would have informed him that,
- h IF nd Son.
ate, such as it is, any attempt to pro-
cure repeal of law, for his personal
convenience, would be met with humil-
iation. ~
The President did nothing of the
sort. After handsome declaration in
his inaugural, that the best disposition
of an obnoxious law was TO enforce 1t,
he sent in message asking that law
might be repealed. And the more one
considered the proposition, the more OBJ
jectionable 1t grew. Here was gen.
tleman in the midst of an immense bu-
siness of Importation, and one whose
success, in great measure, came of his
great monopoly. His fortune was
made up of the broken fortunes of
thousands. He remorselessly crushed
out his rivals; and, I will venture to
say, that not man can be found W1th-
in the limits OF the United States, VINO
has had dealings with A. L. Stewart,
but hates him. Under these circum-
stances he might be as pure as an an
gel, and active and able as Stanton,
yet he would be rendered powerless for
good by the unhealthy opposition.
Letters have poured in on Senators
and Representatives, by thousands,
almost from every part OF the country,
demonstrating against the repeal of the
Hamilton act. These letters are from
men generally engaged in the same
business as A. r. Stewart, and they
call attention to the infamous injustice
of making their inscriptions rival
| their master.
The walls of the White House have
been built designedly thick and solid,
and they shut out not only the winds OF
winter, bu the whispers of discomfort.
| The President, who has confidential adj
visers among the politicians, has some
opportunity 10 hear the truth,-greaty
softened and made agreeable, it is true.
but still the truth. But the man who
folds himself in huge cloak of digni-
ty and silence, and is heard only
through orders. will awaken some day
to find himself deserted and powerless.
wOuld like TO tell his Excellency-
and, as l ask no favors, directly or in
directly, 1 could do so without suspi-
cion-that the men the people delight to
honor and have confidence in, time and
again,-the men who stood firm in the
hour of danger and by their wisdom
and energy not only saved the republic,
but made Grant himself famous, now
openly smile at his pretensions and
laugh at his discontinue.