New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-09
RETIREMENT OF. SECRETARY COX.

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Ex-Governor Cox has retired from the
cabinet of President Grant, and MIR.
Delano succeeds to the portfolio OF the
Interior Department. As usual, the pub
lie has been treated to all manner OF
reasons for the change, some of which are
imaginary, and some Of which are real.
The red-hot Democrats, as matter OF
course, declare that there is hidden
cause of quarrel behind this act, and that
when it is made known to the country,
the popular hair will stand on end. They
appeal to Mr. Cox to unbosom himself OF
the horrid secret which he holds against
the President, and their appeal is backed
by certain alluring promises of future
favor, which might move any Democrat
to rend his soul of all, and more than all,
of its grief, at the offending head Of the
government The "honest secretary" the
"immovable officer" the "unbought
statesman" are terms of endearment
which fall from the opposition press upon
Mr. Cox like snow flakes; and he is sug-
gested as the most suitable man for the
presidency in 1872, or for Governor of
Ohio in 1871, or road superintendent i'm
mediately, by his new and ardent admir-
ers. Notwithstanding that he has beaten
them at the polls, has denounced their
political heresies from the hastings, and
has cornered them in thousand ways, he
is the present sun toward which all DEM
ocratic sunhowers turn in praise and ex-
hortation. Mr.. Cox can have all that he
wants if he will only betray the President.
Just let him report some horrid scandal
from Washington against his former col
leagues, and the favor of the Democracy
shall be his. 1t is the old tale of a bar
gain for dishonesty. AS if Mr.. Cox, or
any other man of sense or honor, could
not see through all this deception and
sham, that it is base and cunning offer
made to induce him to say something on
which both his own enemies and those Of
his friends might fasten to defame the
Republican party with.
Secretary Cox and President Grant diff
fered about plain matter Of official duty.
The controversy which was the imme-
date cause Of the resignation, had
nothing to do with the assessment Of the
clerks in the Interior Department for po
litical purposes There was some con-
troversy on this subject. but it had been
amicably arranged so that the clerks were
left to their own option whether they
contributed to the expenses Of the CAM
paign or not Mr.. Cox had insisted. on
this arrangement, and in Difference to bis
opinions on the subject of civil reform,
the Republican Central Committee con-
scented to accept of his policy in the mat
ter of collecting contributions from the
employees of the various Departments.
And it is well, as we go along, to note
that this is the breaking up Of another
Democratic custom by the Republican
party Ever since the days of Andrew
jackson, or rather ever since the forma-
ton of the regular plundering Democratic
party, it has been a well settled rule that
the Office holders were subject to assess
ment for political purposes, and in de-
fault of payment the guillotine was the
next best remedy Under the regulation
adopted at Washington now, clerks are
to be voluntary contributors according to
their ability and disposition.
To return to the resignation of Secre-
tary Cox, however, that act originated
from difference of opinion about pri-
vate land claim held by one McGarrahan.
All of our readers are familiar with the
old Spanish land grant litigation in Texas
and California 1t appears that there are
certain quicksilver mines in California
worked by the New Idria Mining Com
pany. McGarrahan claims the land I'M
der an old Spanish grant, and the COM
pany claim it by virtue of presumption
titles. Patents have never been issued to
either of these claimants, because the
case has been before the courts. Nc
Garrahan's title was submitted to the
Land Commission in California and ap-
proved, but being appealed to the Su-
preme Court, was condemned as worthless
Thereupon, the New Idria Mining Com
pany appealed to the Land Office for a
patent, and deposited the necessary
amount of money to pay for the land
McGarrahan appealed Fess to per-
feet his title, and it 4 hnder con-
sideration. The judi Committee
directed the Secretary of the Interior not
to issue any patent while Congress was
investigating the matter. The Secretary
promised to respect the request Of the
Judiciary Committee, and General Grant
was party to this promise. He engaged
that the department should do nothing
while the case was before the national
investigation. Secretary Cox had taken a
| deep prejudice against the McGarrahan
claim, and after Congress adjourned he
was importuned to disregard his promise
to the Judiciary Committee by issuing
patent to the New Idria Mining Com
pany. He adopted this suggestion so far
as to give the necessary order to
Commissioner Wilson, but the President
being informed Of the design, promptly
requested the Secretary to desiSt ont of