The Portland daily press., 1869-03-11
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, March 9Th, 1869.
To the Editor of the Press.

AGtetE from w 88mhnk u0Ws
WASHINGTON, March 9th, 1869.
To the Editor of the Press:
THE CABINET DISCUSSION.
We all confidently expected this time last
week to be sailing in smooth waters and to
our surprise we find them ruffled by minia-
ture storm. But after all it is tempest in
teapot" and the opposition will find the nomi-
natign of Mr.. Stewart is not going to disrupt
the Republican party, nor breed a quarrel
with Gen. Grant. The shrewdest men concede
that the nomination would probably not have
been made il anyone's opinion, competent to
advise, had been taken beforehand. Some are
glad that this has arisen at the outset, as it
may prove quiet reminder to General Grant
that he may not after all be altogether capable
of running the executive branch of great
government entirely unadvised. Perhaps the
President has no idea that he can accomplish
such wonderful task, but If he has it would
hardly be more than human, considering how
fulsomely press and politicians have assured
him that the people consider him the embodi-
ment of sagacity and have more confidence in
his Judgment than in that of all the rest of
our public men put together. For one, don't
UClCNo any SuCu wv d0oAC, 0uo 90 - JOuAhoAoe
have not yet lent myself to the unsafe task of
persuading any man that he can be safely
trusted alone and unassisted with the general
direction of the affairs of forty millions of free
people. No one has higher regard for the
Presidents honesty or respect for his ability,
but he can hear counsel, or ought to be able
to, as well as others who have preceded him.
With regard to the nomination of Mr. Stew
art, the President s ignorance of the law is not
SO inexcusable as that manifested by the SEN
ate. A majority of that body are lawyers, and
have been trained in school which renders
their ignorance still more astounding. There
are no less than five laws ON the statute book.
affirming and applying the principle Of the
law organising the Treasury Department to
all grades of officers employed in its service.
The longer the question is considered the more
unwilling Representatives, and Senators seem
| to be to modify the law so that Mr.. Stewart
can be qualified. Before this letter is publish
cd in all probability the question will be set
| tied. Mr.. Boutwells is now the chief name
mentioned, but / know through member Of
the Presidents suite that both gentlemen are
DESTROYS that the Massachusetts statesman re-
main in the House Of Representatives Then
Gov. Boutwell, himself, in common with the
| well pleased at Judge Hoar's nomination. He
has expressed an uhWillinsness to be the cause
of his withdrawal from the Cabinet. So
| though Gov. Boutwelps nomination for the
Treasury would be the most popular one that
could be made, it is not at all unlikely that at
last some New Yorker will be found for that
important service.
1t is a curious fact, that when the Confed-
eracy was organized. the United States stat
utes at large were adopted as its laws. Mr.
| Trenholm Of Charleston, s. G. was made Sec
rotary of the rebel treasury, and it was not for
several months after that it was discovered
that he was ineligible from the same cause as
Mr.. A. T. Stewart-being engaged in trade
| and commerce, and owner OF sea vessels. It ID
said he Withdrew from all business relations in
this country, but maintained his connection
with the Angln-rebel house of Frazier, Tren.
holm & Co. I have been informed by officers
Of the government who were engaged in such
investigations after the war closed, that this
famous firm divided assets to the amount Of
10000 600 among its various Misunderstanding
from five to seven millions for each member
of the firm, according to seniority.
The New York importing interest, which il
mastering here quite strongly, is delighted al
the turn events have taken with regard to
their great rivals nomination. He has moi
made himself very popular with his fellows
during his long career of prosperity. Nor is
he any more popular with those who have
been in his employ. The testimony is genera
on that head that he is cold, hard, and even
cruel, grinding the "facs of the poor" without
mercy to swell the already too plethoric purse
he is owner of. To some indispensable per-
sons connected with his vast business he pays
large-perhaps the largest salaries given, but
in all other cases he demands and secures the
largest amount of work for the very smallest
modieum of pay that he can possibly compel
their necessities to accept.
GRANTsAkD THE oFJIcE-szEKERs.
1t is quite evident the President does not in
tend to be bored by the crowds who have al
ready begun to throng the White House. His
secretaries are all members of his former staff,
and he has placed in the ante-room of the Eek
ecutive Office his brother-in-law, Gen. Dent, a
shrewd bat fussy gentleman, who will take
kindly to all this personal application business,
as it will incline persons to regard him as Of
considerable importance.
| 1t is gratifying to notice that the Presidents
own relations are not talked of as applicants
or recipients of public favors or appoint
| ments.
A story is circulating tonight that the Pres
idsnt replied toEa st. Louis delegation who
waited upon him, in regard to the nominations
in that city, that they were all made, and hav-
ing the names asked the delegation if they
are not good men? One of them, that for
| Postmaster, is Gen. A. j. Smith, the well
known commander Of the 18th Army Corps,
and now Colonel Of the 7th Cavalry. Unless
he has expressed desire for civil appoint
ment, Gen. Smith will hardly be likely to ex-
change his present position for tho one offered.
Another one of determinations is said to be
that of the solitary common councilman, who
cast his vote forsU. 8. Grant AZ City Engineer,
when some years ago that application was
made by him who is now chief engineer of a
great nation.
coNoREss, ms COMMITTEES, &c.
The new House has larger proportion Of
young men in it than common. One of the
new men, Cobb of N. c., is not more than rs,
Col. Roots of Arkansas, is %, Finkelnbure Of
st. Louis il 80. There are q number of others
who are abous or below the latter age There
is one member German born; two of English
and one of Irish birth, one at least, Burdett
Of Missoufi, was private soldier for consid-
cradle period during the recent war. Mr.. Col
fax, editor, is succeeded by Mr.. Blaine of the
same profession, In the speakers chair, and in
his seat as Representative by Col Packard,
also an editor. There are quite number OF
working editors in the House; including, Will
lard Of the Green Mountain Freeman, Burling-
ton, VT, believe; COL Asper of the Times
Chillicothe, Mo-, Switzler, Statesmen, Column
bia, Mo-, (Dem) Fitch of Nevada, Reeves,
Greenpoint R. L, lWatchnaan {Copperhead)
Lawrence QetE. Reading Pa. Dem.) Palmer,
Times, Dubuque, Ia, Halderman, Indiana
editor also, and several others. In toe Senate
the editorial tripod has three distinguished oc-
cupants; Anthony of Rhode Island; Carl
Schurz of Missouri, and Casserly of California.
Journalism is looking up and seems at last to
be asserting its due and honorable position.
SPECTATOR
Democratic papers object to the revocation
of pardons to thieves. Of course.
The New York World foolishly anticipates
that the following States win reject the con-
stitutional amendment: Indiana, Ohio, New