The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-20
Very IInrd Cnsh.o

What an age OF shams we live i'm. Here
lies before us letter from President Grant
to Mfr. Bonner driver of Dexter and the New
York Ledger, asseyerating that the Cabinet
is not clique of gold swindlers, but imply
fng that the highest dgnitarics Of the gov
ernment are not only liable 10, but that they
have actually incurred, TINT suspicion. Great
honor to the Ledger@a trump card for Bon
ner!-but the cheek fushes ut the thought
thnt there could be call for such letter.
and q grant of such an advertisement in the
White House. AT charge of this sort how
Lady Washington would have snapped her
constant knitting-needles, and how fiercely
her lord would have shaken the powder from
his hair, like u dew-drop from the lions
enamel" But our present President replies
to the insulting suggestion with an tnSou-
Glance and certain scanty patois (intended
for English,) either of which is more wonder
ful than his greatest victory in the field.
The Presidential wrist must have been dis
located by the pen as it never was by tile
sword when it was lunged into such SEN
tence as this: (" If the spectators had been
| successful, you would never have heard of
amy one connected with the administra-
"tion rs being connected with the transac-
"tion;" or when, at the postscript, the pen
handle was broken mp to the hilt: "I have
written this in great haste and without ex-
ercising Judgment as to the propriety of
writing 1t, but submit 1t to your judg-
ment." What is this world coming to.
when diplomatic paper-and of such q
sort-is addressed by the President OF tho
United States to the editor OF q flash New
York weekly!
1t Is not unlikely that Secretary Boutwell,
gave the President his ugly task in compo-
stion, as he himself is accustomed to deal
with public nflairs in tho snme airy WOW.
Thus he threw himself into the Pennsylvania
| election, heart and soul-we do not add
land purse" for in this case the specula-
tors are1e successful, and therefore no ono
connected with the government could have
been (fnancinlly) connected with the trans-
action!-yet, in the exordium of his cam
paign speech, the Secretary had the "cheek"
to declare that he came without any parti-
san ends. And lie capped the climax of alb
surdity ms he demanded OF his hearers to al
low the government to pay its obligations in
coin, when there was not q man in the audi
ence who had not in his pocket some dingy
green promise-to-pay which Mr.. Secretary
Boutwell, would have refused to liquidate in
coin had it been presented to him the mo-
ment after his honest speech was ended
by coin-payment Mr. Boutwell, means coin
payment to certain creditors OF the govern
ment-not to the whole number -coin-pny-
ment OF bonds, but not OF bills-coin-pay
ment to the vault, but tnot to the purse-con-
payment to the capitalists, but bills for tho
people. When the great flnancier sunk back
exhausted upon the rostrum, why did not
somebody offer him agreenback
A similar legerlemain was practiccd, and
with like success, by Mr.. Sumner, In his fa.
nous speech before tho Worcester Convcn-
ton He sternly declared that '.to pay the
"debt In grcenbacks is repudiation OF the
interest and indefinite postponcment of the
principal Of the national debit Will the
chairman OF tho Committee on Foreign Az
fairs please tell us, then, what sort OF n
transaction" the government is IL connect
led WITH when It phys every other debt
(but that due to the bondholder) in green
backs only? II promise to pay, when
given to capitalist, amounts TO repudia!
ton, has it any higher value when offered as
q recompense for the arduous labors on d
mechanic In, government employ, or as IN
acknowledgment Of the tolls and perls OF, n
soldier or sailor enlisted in the service of
his, country3 Mr.. Sumner, seems to, think
that the freedmen OF the South could be as
easily cajolcd upon this subject rs the wor-
cester Convcntion-if indeed, my OF that
clique OF Capitalists were cajolcl. "Could
"my voice reach them," he exclaimed, d 1
"swould say, Freedman, stand by the credi-
tor; creditor, stand by tho freedmanp', ),
This is tho Same as to say: "Poor fellow /
"take the, greenbacks for your work, and lot
"your betters, who don't work, have the
"coin Toll for your greenbaeks and be
."taxed for them; while we are dividing the
"gold of>thc government and pay no taxes
at ALL" 20
"Along the cool seaIcstered vale OF life, 80.
Just Keep tile noiseless tenor OF yotir way.n
We think that when the freedmen como t0
understand this little game OF Messrs. Bout.
well, Sumner & Co., they may find that they
are paying somewhat dearly for the services
OF their noisy patrons. And some or them
may be shrewd enough to inquire whethe,
the sauce that will serve for, the goose may
not serve for the gander loo. -i,c, 5,..,, :,