Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-13
GRANTS WANT OF INDEPENDENCE.

0kAN1 - WANT OE IN DAA NAN
Mr.. Lincoln is reported to have
said, when President, that he chad
no influence at the War Depart
ment," and a few days before he
began his second term he expressed
the hope and belief that he "would
in a short time have more influence
with the administration" AS Grant
does nothing and says nothing, 1t
is difficult to decide whether it
would be well for the country for
his influence with the adminlstra-
ton to be increased. Mr.. Lincoln
would occasionally take the re-
sponsibility of doing what he
thought to be right, and snap his
fingers in the face of his cabinet
and of Congress. Grant is pup
pet in the hands of the Jacobins In
the cabinet, and is afraid to oppose
Congress. His inglOrious submls-
sion on the civil tenure act was
such an exhibition of pusillanims
ity as no President has before
given. His utter weakness and want
of independence has just received
another illustration. He has, es-
pecially since the election in Vir-
ginia has demonstrated the strength
of the Conservative element in the
South, sought to identify his ad-
ministration with what is known as
the Dent movement in Mississippi.
But he has at last been forced to
Weld to the Radical element in his
cabinet and place himself squarely
in opposition to the Conservative
Republicans and in favor OF the
Radicals. 1t is now said that it was
the intention of Secretary Boutwell,
to resign his seat in the cabinet If
the administration had refused to
support the ultra Radical ticket in
Mississippi, and also in Texas.
Grant is reported to have written a
letter to Judge Dent from Long
Branch, in which he says:
81 have said, and repeat it, that if the
Conservatives are to win l would prefer
your election to that of any other person
likely to be elected, but as the matter
now looks it seems to me that the weight
of nv influence should be given to the
other party. | earnestly hope, however,
that before the election concession VIII
be made on both sides, so as to unite all
friends of the reconstruction movement
Mr.. Tarbel, leading Radical OF
Mississippi, who had an interview
with the President few days ago
at the residence of Secretary Fish,
in regard to the interests Of the
party in Mississippi, declares that
the administration is in entire &C
cord with the ultra Radical party
in the South, and hostile to the
Dent movement in Mississippi.
Grants letter to Judge Dent is con-
frmatory of Tarbeps statement
Grant, however, denies that he con-
templates any suspensions or re-
movals from office in Mississippi on
account of sympathy on the part OF
the incumbent with the Conserva-
tive Republicans. This pledge will
likely amount to about as much as
tho assurances he has heretofore
given of sympathy with the Dent
movement in Mississippi. Boutwell,
and Creswell manipulate him just
as they please, and he dare not OPP
pose them, even to favor relative.
He permitted himself to be held up
as opposed to Senter and in favor
of Stokes in this State, and the re-
suit was the election of the former
by a larger majority than any can
didate ever received in Tennessee.
Iii gratifying to hear that a SINH
lar result will follow administration