Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-02-26

hare in these columns. VIC Dene'e thle
naper was the first to denounce the ISSUING
of the bonds of the State to the chatham
Railroad, and we rejoice that our efforts
have been seconded by this decision OF the
highest tribunal in the State, and the peo'
pIe thus relieved of an immense debt and
heavy annual taxation.
We may have more to say III regard to
this matter hereafter.
General Grants Letter OF Acceptance.
The general and prevailing opinion OF all
newspaper men, reasonably deduced from
his recent speech, which we published yes
terday, that General GRANT means to be
guided by his Impressions OF the genera
welfare, independent of all party views and
dictation, has suddenly and singularly
been thrown to the ground by no less a
parsonage than General GRANT himself. -
Though many might have been opposed
in politics, yet none could fail to admire
the bold and determined policy foreshad-
owed in that speech. 1t truly must have
created in Washington, as the New York
Times said, ga feeling akin to consterna-
ton among certain classes of Washington
politicians" and we agree that it was well
calculated to do So" and that it really
seemed the speech of man who did not
intend "to be governed in his administra-
ton by the interest of political parties or
the wishes of party leaders, but by his own
ideas of what the public welfare requires. !"
And it was easy for US to believe the truth
of the statement contained in a Washing
ton letter, that "Senators who pretty well
represent the general average of the Sen
ate declared on Saturday that the speech
acas the most direct snab upon 0Hthe leaders Of
Gae Republican pdrty."
But, alas for human resolution-its very
strength seems but the embodiment Of
weakness. General GRANT, SO to speak,
could not &c stand the pressure and has
"caved." The evaporation of Republi-
can Congressman and their muttered
threats of opposition have told upon him.
We find him no longer the bold advocate
of determined policy for the public good !;
the obstinate officer who defied the oppo-
sition of friends and foes but the weak,
vacillating party slave who bends the knee
10 power and courts the batteries and sup
port of the oppressors of right and up
holders of wrong. He conveys to them
his assurance that he is with them by
adopting the very unusual, and so far as
we are aware, uneXampled course of
sending to Congress letter of acceptance.
The shock of party at his first resistance
has met and endorsed him he is borne
down beneath its vile assault and, full in
the sight of the eminence to which we
thought he had attained, he seeks to concil-
late them by assurances that they will
have no cause to regret that they
have elected him. Weak, pitiable
sight poor, valiant hero; hail him no more
as the advocate of right, but the vanquish-
ed opposer of sporty Supremacy and "pa'ty
erpediency!'
General GRANT was not elected by Con-
gress, but by a body of Electors from
whom all members of Congress are exclud-
ed by the Constitution. The Electoral
College had discharged their duty of
voting, made out and transmitted certif-
Gates of their votes and Immediately dis
solved and had no longer any existence
Surely, as there is no organized body from
whom the President received his election,
there is none to whom lie could with any
possible propriety address letter of &C
ceptanee All formal acceptance by new
President was at very early period
dispensed with by law of Congress, by
providing that nothing short of IL written
instrument deposited with the Secretary of
State should be considered as REFUSAL
Yet General GRANT sends his letter of &C
ceptance to Congress, assuring them and
the Republican party, to avoid a more
destructive clash Of the political hubub,
that he docs not mean to cut loose from
them as he at first intimated. His letter
is short and in the following words:
GENTLEMEN Please notify the two Houses of
Congress of my acceptance of the important trust
which you have just notified me of, my election
President of the United States. and sag to
them that At tCN be my endeauor that they and
those auho elected them shat hare no cause to re-
gTet their action.
To avoid the appearance of singularity,
Mr.. COLLAR has also written letter, but
having no distrust or dissatisfaction to re-
move, his letter is utterly insignificant
and there is no promise to meet the ex-
pectations of the Republican party. The
strength of the Radical party will assert
itself wherever it can find tools to yield a
ready obedience to its commands; and
this almost obtrusive complaisance of
General GRANTS plainly announces his re-
nunciation of the bold position of indie
pendence he so recently assumed by as
surfing Congress and the Republican party
thok no 10 ,,nnsk hmm h1u cnlnra.riox,k Il. 4hn;r