New-York tribune., 1869-02-26
WASHINGTON.

FURTHER CABINET sPECULATIoN-THE PREsI-
pENT-ELBCT BEsIEGED BY THE POLITICIANS
THE LOOMING MANI FROM PENNSYLVANIA
NOT YET KNOwN-GEN. GRANT ON THE
NEw-YORK oM-HOUsE-PAsSAGEo OF THE
SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT IN THE HoUsE-rHE
CASE OF GEoRGIA-HER REPRESENTATIVES,
TO BE DECLARED INELIGIBLE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNRl
WARRINGTON Thursday, Feb. rs, 1852
The near approach of the day of inauguration
and the success of the Pennsylvanians with Gen.
Grant the other day. have deeply agitated political
.rces here and from the hordes Of arrivals by every
train it is evident that the politicians in all sections
sf the country are in similar condition. To-day,
between the hours of 10 a. and 10 M, unusual
number of politicians called on the General at his
headquarters, among whom were Vice-President
elect Colfax the Hon. B. F. Wade, Senators
Wilson. Sawyer, Drake, Senator elect Fen
ton. of New-York, Judge Spaulding of Ohio.
Gen. Pile, the Hon. Oakes Ames, Col A. X.
Mcclure j. c. Hamilton, esq, son of Alexander Ham
Iton; Gen. Schenck; Representatives Robertson,
Ketchum; Gen. John A. Logan, and Henry c. Bowen
of The Netc- York Independent. Most of these men
called as evident, merely to pay their respects,
but there were few exceptions. Among the latter
was Col. Alex. Mcclure of Philadelphia. He went
on business-important business, which he and the
General disposed of in very brief time 1t appears
that a very strong movement has been organizing
among portion of the Republican politicians in
Pennsylvania to have ex-Gov Curtin put in Grants
Cabinet. These Imen, headed by Mcclure, Forney.
and others of like reputation had secured the three
Republicans of the Supreme Bench in Pennsyl-
vania namely, Messrs. Reed, Agnew, and Williams
and the Governor of the State, Gen. Geary, to sign
paper asking of Gen. Grant the appointment of Mr.
Curtin to q position in his Cabinet This recon-
mendation was considered an exceedingly strong
one as Gen. Geary is to be the candidate of the Re-
publican party in Pennsylvania next Fall for re-
election to the GubernatOral chair and Mr. Williams
the candidate for reelection to the Supreme Court.
When the fact of Gen. Grants having determined to
select Pennsylvania for place in, his Cabinet
was made public Col. Mcclure was chosen special
envoy to sec Gen. Grant, lay before him the
recommendations above alluded to, and urge
the claims of Mr.. Curtin. Mr.. Mcclure
arrived here last night and Immediately put himself
In communication with FOmey and the Pennsylva-
ma Congress delegation. Before be retired he be-
came pretty well satisfied that Curtin was not the
coming man from Pennsylvania, and his mission
would be failure. However, this morning he called
Mt Headquarters and was given audience with the
General. He began business without ceremony, by
handing to Grant the letter of the Supreme Court
Judges and Gov. Geary, recommending Curtin for
Cabinet portfolio. He made brief speech eulogistic
~ o,1f fo fha mind Of
Gen. Grant the Importance of the nomination, in
view of rsecuring the success of the Repub
hcan party in the next campaign in Penn
sylvania. When Mcclure had finished,
Grant quietly replied, saying, he certainly
would be glad to see the Administration candidates
successful in Pennsylvania but he did not see that
the Republican party of Pennsylvania should appoint
Cabinet for him, and he concluded by avery decided
intimation to Mcclure that Curtin would not be ap
pointed. Mcclure said: Now that Curtin is not to
go into the Cabinet and tho preference Of the party
in Pennsylvania cannot be further urged, / can be
free from all imputatons of personal interest in
urging policy upon your administration. appeal
TO you to select from Pennsylvania any man person
ally acceptable to yourself, who is q repre-
sentative Republican politician, without which
You cannot have statesman. and / must
earnestly appeal to you not to select man from
Pennsylvania, who is q stranger TO our political
struggles who is a stranger to the people, and has
knowledge Of the political necessities of our State
With such man, however worthy personally, fear
the Republican party viii be paralyzed and defeat
inevitable. The names of Geo. II. Stuart, Borie,
Smith, and others have been spoken of, and must
say that not one Of them would satisfy the Repub-
hcan party of Pennsylvania" Gen. Grant answered:
81 cannot understand why any loyal man should OBJ
iect to the appointment of Mr. Stuart, who has
rendered such conspicuous service TO the loyal cause
bnt do not say that he is the man." He did not
refer 10 any of the other names. Mcclure
Eaid that he had been active in all the
contests of Pennsylvania, both in city and county,
for 10 years, and he had never met Mr. Stuart and
hoped the President would introduce him to Mr..
Stuart after he was installed in the Cabinet Mr.
Mcclure then renewed his appeal in favor of any
fair representative Republican who would be COM
petent to direct the force Of the Administration and
to vtaze and cooperate with the party in its future
conflicts in Pennsylvania and said that the prefer
ment of men sank into insignifcance before the I'M
portance OF judeious positive political policy Cen
Grant said in reply, Il am not the representative
OF political party, although partyvoted for me-
Mcclure said, then in my conversations ON the sub
ject of your administration, have spoken from n
mistaken standpoint and they have been illogica,
20 you. have nothing more to say on the subiectn
The conversation was cordial and frank, but unusu
ally earnest on both sides and has certainly settled
that Curtin win not go into the Cabinet and seems
to point with great drectness to Mr. George H. Stuart
rs the Pennsylvania Cabinet Officer. Col Mcclure
says he is convinced that it Grants purpose to or
ganSe his administration without the aid of
politicians. McClure's interview with Grant
soon became known around the Capital, and it
commanded Ia anfi N,,r-