Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-08
RADICAL DEMAND FOR THE RE
SIGNATT0N OF MR. BORIE.


RADICAL DEMAMD FOR TIE RE-
sIGNATIeN OF ME. BORIE.
The New York Sun (RadicaD is
not pleased with Mr.. Adolph E.
Borie, Grants Secretary of the
Navy, and demands that he shall
resign, declaring that his longer
continuance in Office is positively
scandalous." The San describes
Mr.. Borie as ''about sixty five years
old, immensely rich, long retired
ftem all active business, a charming
companion, giving the finest din
ners in the world, and generous,
patriotic man" and declares that
''but for all that, he is disqualified
for the Office of which he is the tit
ular incumbent and out Of regard
to Gen. Grant, to the interest of the
country, and in hiss good char
acter, heshould resign it instantly"
The San gives some very plain
reasons why Mr.. Borie should
quit the Navy Department as fol-
lows
" He is unable to discharge the duties
Of the Office. The condition Of his health
is such that be cannot read, or think
eonsecutiVely, or attend to any serious
business for an hour at a time without
experiencing great pain and suffering.
This is the permanent, chronic state Of
his nervous system. There is no hope
Of his recovery from it. If he were, BY
a great effort, earnestly to devote him.
self for single day to the hard work Of
learning how to administer the Navy
Department, he would probably not re.
cover from the eXertion for month. He
is not, therefore, and cannot be, in any
fair sense Of the words, the Secretary Of
the Navy.
The Sun insists that although
Borte has the title and draws the
salary, Admiral Porter, who pos
sess the power, furnishes the ideas,
and does the work, is the real Sec
rotary of the Navy, and it thinks
this sham ought not to be tolerated
But it finds another objection to
Borie's remaining in the cabinet, a
consideration which it declares
"should have forbidden Mr.. Borie
and forbidden him as sternly and
unalterably as the voice of con-
science herself-from seeking OF
accepting either place in the cabi.
net or any other Office of power OF
emolument under Gen. Grants ad-
ministration," and that is, he is q
pecuniary benefactor of Gen. Grant
He has given the General money
He was very large contributor to-
ward the purchase Of house in
Philadelphia, worth some fifty
thousand dollars, which was pre-.
scented to the General. The Sun
says:
The present gave proof of Mr.. Borie' 6
| good feeling, and that of his associates
in the benefaction. We cannot say that
it was wrong for the General to receive il
at that time, though other prominent CT
ticers of the war have refused such
| gratuities. But one effect of these do.
nations is now too evident to be q SUBJ
| ject Of serious dispute. Every man who
has bestowed such gifts on Gen. Grant is
thereby disqualified from holding any
Office of power or trust by Gen. Grant s
appointment We don't mean that he is
legally disqualified There is no statute
bearing on the subject, because none has
ever been thought necessary. But dis
qualified by the law of personal delicacY,
public policy, and decent respect for
the worlds opinion. Cannot Mr.. Borie
understand that people will say that he
has bought this great Office, that he has
obtained it by gifts of money and OF
other things?'
The Sun puts it strongly, but
only in the light in which the
country has viewed these transact
tions. 1t portends no good that
the great Offices in the gift of the
President are besto we'd upon those
who have contributed to swell his
pecuniary fortune. Grant has the
credit of being the only President
who has set this demoralising ex.
ample.