American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-08-21
Letter from Washington.


Special Correspondence of tho Picayunc
WASHINGTON, Aug. II, 1869.
" He plunged, crossed, and Rome
was free no more"
This was said of Caesar. 1t can be
said of Grant that he has plunged.
His crossing is doubtful. The Presi-
dent has thrown himself into the
turbld stream of extreme RadicaliSm
The conversation authorized by the
President to be published contains
no patriotic sentiment, no expression
which win to him the affection of the
people; no thought that burns, or
word that breathcS; no niger. no
white man, no country, no policy.
only me. Dangers and difficulties
are looming up, but the Administra-
ton only selzes the throat of Major
Wott0rd, the Postmaster of C0rinth.
that of the unfortunate Turner, Post
master of Macon, Georgia, that of
Gen. Gordon Adam, Attorney Gen
eral Of Mississippi. The huger mon
STEERS Of revenue abuses which drive
honest men from business breathe
freely. The feeble pressue which
chokes Wotford and Adam and
Turner only tickles to laughter
the huge monsters of corruption.
and is but the finger of baby upon
the throat of the godlike giant of
Conservatism which is striding over
the land.
Feeble, very feeble, pitiiully feeble
is the concentration of power at the
National Government. This feeble
buggaboo has lost its terrors. 1t
spoke to Tennessee: Tennessee boot
ed back at it; the boot swelled by
one hundred and thirty thousand
Threats. Itspoketo Virginia: Virginia
boots back and dares the concentrate
ed power of the Government to raise
a finger when she marches up to the
capital to demand her share in the
control of the Government. 1t is
played out. In fact, estate Rights"
is dominant, and this fact is acknowl-
edged by the Administration when
it throws the States of Mississippi
and Texas to the wind, in hopes,
thereby, Of saving the larger States
of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
But it is not sure that the Presi-
dent will stick. He is one of two
things--forgetful or untruthful :;
probably both. He authorizes the
publication of a conversation to-day
questioning the yeracity of the recent
statement made by Col. Norman, of
Mississippi. In this respect it may
be mentioned that the veracity of
Col. Norman has never been i'm
peached. That of the President has.
His forgetfulness, while deplored, is
admitted by his very few friends.
There has been a person here, for
some months, who halls from Missis-
sippi, and whose name is Jonas. He
has been very active in running Col.
Willis, formerly Collector of the
Third Mississippi Revenue District.
Pending this plan to ruin an excel
lent man and good, liberal citizen,
Jonas, who deserved to succeed him,
seI,rcd recommendations for the
place from Ill the thieves of Missis-
sippi, two Supreme Judges, four
Senators, some sixteen members of
Congress. He failed to secure the
place. 1t TRANSFERRED that the Presi-
dent gave the place to Mrs. Gen.
Sherman. The outraged Jonas with
drew his papers from DelanO, and
took them to Gen. Sherman, who en-
dorsed upon tty-leaf a note to DR..
Hicks. present incumbent of the
place, to the effect that Mrs. Sher-
man had secured him the place. She
had known him at Big Black. The
note also stated that Jonas was after
the place and that, under the circum-
stances, Jonas should have the best
deputyship in his gift.
Grant has plunged; the ladies will
stop him before he reaches the hither
shore.
1t may be said here that this
plunge of the President has been
force work. He was compelled to
do something or disrupt the Cabinet.
Boutwell, had the sulks and absented
himself from yesterdays session,
threatening never to return unless
the patronage of the Government in
Mississippi and Texas was used for
the benefit of the extreme Radicals.
A present rupture, it was argued,
would be fatal to the prospects OF
the party in Pennsylvania and Ohio
The President, unsupported by the
ladies, who are at the springs, yield
ed, and off went half a dozen Con
sentative Republican heads.
1t will not last. If it does, it will
not matter. The great States OF
Mississippi and Texas will act thei1
pleasure. Dent will run for Govern
or of Mississippi, if nominated. Nc
doubt of it whatever. DR.. Boulds
Baker, candidate for Lieutenant Gov
! ernor of Texas, on the Hamilton
ticket, instead of being dismayed
hasteDs home to throw himself into
the contest for Texas and the people
thereof, against all corners, including
Grant, Boutwell, and all the rest.
| HERERT