New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-15
WASHINGTON.

TIE PRESIDENT AND NlCE-PRESIDENI-ELECI
RECEIVE OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THEIR ELEC-
TION-PEONAGE AND INDIAN SLAVERY IN
NEw-MEXICO-THE SALES OF GOLD AND
sILvER-THE ROLL OF HoNoR-THE CASES
OF GEORGIA AND YIRGINIA--TEE INAUGU-
RATION CEREMONIES.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA, 1862
On Saturday morning at 1Ol o'clock. Senator Nor
ton and Representatives Pruyn ard Wilson OF Iowa.
made their appearance at tho headquarters OF inc
ARMY for the purpose of preventing to Gen. Grant
the certificate of his election as President o, ln0
United States The impression that the proceedings
would be altogether private together with the lac.
that the Committee arrived half hourln advance Vi
the hour at which it was understood the ceremony
would take place, Prevented the presence OF large
number of persons who would otherwise nave Deeh
attracted by the Interesting proceedings Gen. Grant
was his Office at the time of the arrival of the Com
mttee busily engaged in the performance Oh oriclal
duties. They were soon invited into his presence
aud with bu'. very little delay. Senator morton ao
dressed the President elect, announcing thaC tney
were the Committee appointed by Congress TO pre-
sent hin, with his commission as President OF the
United States for four years. commencing on the 4th
of March next, aud in few remarks assured the
General his election wass extremely graft
fyiDg to his couutrymen, and that the people
felt assured he would, in exercising the
duties of his distinguished Office apply the
same energy, integrity, and patriotism that had cha
aeterized him in former sphere OF usefulness; ana
in concluding his remarks, said that he would have
the support of the people of the natiOn-even lncud-
ing those who differed politically from HMM adj
ministering the affairs of the Government Gen.
Grant on receiving from Senator Morton the certh-
cate of bis election. in firm and audible voice made
the following response:
81 can promise the Committee that it will be my
fonfc cnphp mo-
only as l think will carry out the principles which
you have SAID the country desires to see successful
economy. retrenchment faithful collection of the
revenue and payment of the public debt. If should
fail in my first choice shall not at any time hest
tate TO make second OF even a third trial, with the
concurrence of the Senate, who have the confirming
power and should just soon remove one of my own
appontees as the appointee of my predecessor. 1t
would make no difference. There is one matter
that l might properly speak of here, and
that is the selection Of q Cabinet ! have
always felt that it would be rather in
delicate to announce or even to consult
with the gentlemen whom / thought of in
yiting to positions in my Cabinet before the official
declaration of the result of the election was made,
although presumed that there was no doubt about
what that declaration would be. But after consdera
ton have come to the conclusion that there is not
man in the country who could be invited to place
In the Cabinet without friends of other gentle
man making an effort to secure the position; not
that there would be any objection to the party
named but that there would be others whom they
had set their hearts upon having in the place. can
tell that from the great number of requests which
10 me- in writing and otherwise, for this partc-
uar person that one, from different sets and dele
cations If announced in advance efforts would be
made to change my determination, and, therefore,
have come TO the conclusion not to announce who
am qeirg to invite ~ ocs1S in the CaU1net until
send in their names to the Senate for confirmation
IL say anything to them about il, it will certainly
not be more than two three days previous to send
ing in their names. think it well to make public
declaration of this to the Committee so that my
tentions may be known"
Gen. Grant spoke without any reserve. and with
the greatest fankness and cOurtesy and his remarks
were received by ms distinguished visitors with
every mark of interest and appreciation. Afterward
Mr. PIuyn of the Committee, addressed the General
very briefly to the effect. that while the party with
which he identified differed politically from the
President elect. he desired to him that his adj
ninistTaon iii carrying out the principles which he
had mentioned would have their hearty support and
cooperation. The Committee then shook hands with
the General and retired.
The Committee, after leaving Gen. Grants Head
quarters, proceeded to the Capitol and waited upon
Speaker Colfax in his reception room. They pre-
scented him with certificate of bis election Vice
President signed by the President of the Senate, and
then severally congratulated him. to which friendly
expressions he responded as follows:
"GKNTLEMEN: Please convey to the two Houses of
Congress my acceptance of the Office to which have
been elected by the people of the United States and
them that shall endeayor to prove worthy of
this mark of confidence by fidelity to principle and
duty"
The speech Of Gen. Grant is the principal topic of
conversation with everybody here. The professional
politicians are in a state of decentralization. Numbers
of these men have been quietly gathering here for
the last fortnight, with the hope that Gen. Grant
would begin business in the Od-fashoned way. They
are disappointed, and are already beginning TO
whisper grave apprehensons of the future of the
party. States for appointments had been arranged,
and were ready for presentation, but the Generals
speech has inundated their constructors and made
them afraid to advance. Your correspondent has
eonversed freely with numerous prominent members
of the Democratic party in Congress- and finds them
somewhat elated at the prospect. Without excep-
fon they warmly indorse the course Gen. Grant is
pursuing. and express high hopes of the future.
Capt. Pratt. United States Marshal for New Mex
co is in the city. He states that great difficulty has
been found in breaking up the Mexican practice of
peOnage and Indian Slavery all owing to the pow
erty and ignorance of the Victims to the isolated
situation Of the villages and ranches of rich Next
cans where it mostly prevailed and to the fact that
the Second Controller has decided that 10 fees can
be paid civil officers for services under the act abol
iShing the system As the holding of United States
Commissioner Courts and the journeys of Marshals
and deputies involve considerable expense, and they
must be done if the system is to be destroyed at all
In every county or Territory il can be seen that such