The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-01
THE POLITICAL SITUATIoN.
Gra nt's Unfriendly Friends-Wash-
buxne's Slkilful MANIPULATION OF the
Presidential Man and His Master.

The Washington correspondent Of the New
York World writes:
It now appears that in the original plan OF
the Cabinet, Fessenden was to have been Sec
rerary OF State; but when that came to WASH
burne's ears, he dictated the substitution OF
himself Grant now asserts that the arrange
ment only covered uomluation to the Senate,
and that Washburne was never even to quallfy
for the Office. But once confirmed, WashDurne
demanded his commission, which tho abJect
President gave. Then, as premier, Washburne
began to parcel out the Offices. Appreciatlag
the pecuniary greed OF Grant, the Secretary or
State rapidly found eligible places for the Grants
and Dents, to the remotest generation, and
thus rarcotised his victim, while the chisf ap-
pontments OF home and abr )ad were distribute
ed about in the interest OF the WaShburne
family. Thus Gibbs, Sickles, Ford. and q bum
dred others, were made secure OF Grants pro-
mise.
at last public opinion began to force its way
through the Presidents cranium; he male an
effort to throw off the shackes, but Washburne
soon brought the former to reahzing serse OF
his dependence. At last. however, public
opinion began to tell upon Washburne himself.
He cav that the country was jeerng at HIM as
the head of the Department Of State-hlm an
isnoramus in international law, and incapable
to define the mere geography OF Europe. The
ieerfnp hastened his determination to leave the
depsl tment earlier than he had at first intend
ed. and set off ut once for Paris, provided he
could at first bully Grant into the n eded COM
initials for controlling the distribution OF
Offices.
The Stewart iasco, the message thereon that
was rejected by the Senate, tue contempt OF
his frieuds, aud the der1son or his enemies,
had brought President Grant to his marrow
bones. An arrogant, and some say lnsoleLt
recital by Washburne, Of the abOrs and trlals,.
'sindividually" Of him who h d INSPIRED and
upheld Grants career from the tannerv 20 the
White House. and by influence over the admin
istration of Lincoln had destroyed or caused
to be destroyed, one by one oil the command
ers of the army of the Potomac, and ny nur-
ryin on the reserves during the terrible anu
needless slaughter OF the Wilderness had
made possible for Grant what otherwise would
have been an impossibil,ty recital, sav,
had the effect OF loaded revolver at the head
Of an unarmed man.
Grant broke down. His answer was. "Any-
thing, anything you ask, Washbur ne, provided
you leave the country at once"
purpose, on Washburne's part, to make him.
seIf sort o. American vceserent in Europe,
and his friends supreme at home in the Treas-
ury Department. From this came Grants
backing away from A. T. Stewart.
The President now sees how Ike whipped
spaniel he has beh we'd, and seeks to lay down
the cross. but Washburnc is relentless. And
here comes in one explanation OF Grants play
ing fast and loose with the Tenure-ot-offlce
lays His real motive is to have an excuse for
nor sending lust now to the Scuate the ap-
pointmeuls promised to Washburnc. Ii some
Cab1 ct officer would stand between Grant anu
Washburne, it would be all serene, but no .one
volunteers.