The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81, 1871.

fH1S5iDENTiAlI LII I1S NAILED.
The New York Times of last Wednesday
takes up the charges brought against the
President by his would-be rivals and enc
mics, and pretty thoroughly disposes Of
them. It declares positively, what all
along believed to be the case, from the fact
that no definite report of the allegations
were made at the time they are said to
have occurred; that "not a dollars worth
of property has been given to Gen. Grant
since he became President ~ that he has
not knowingly appointed single relative
to office who was not already in office by
appointment of President johnson at the
time Gen. Grant became President. or who
was not already an army officer receiving
emoluments Of office to which he would
have been entitled under any other Presi-
dent, excepting only as follows, viz |:
Alex. Sharpe (Mrs. Grants brothe, IN
law, Marshall Of the District of Columbia.
"whose duties are of such character that
from time immemorial the place has been
filled. by q relative or near friend of the
PRESIDENT James +. Casey MRS. Grants
brother-in-law), Collector of New Orleans.
an excellent officer; Silas Hudson (Presi-
dents cousin, Minister to Gautamala. who
was strongly recommended by his friends
in Iowa, and with whom the President has
but slight acquaintance Orlando Ii. Ross
PRESIDENTS cousin, clerk in Third Audi
tors office, a gallant soldier, not appointed
by the President on his Recommendation.
or even to his knowledge, at the time it
was made; Peter Casey (Mrs. Grants
brother-in-law), o loyal Southerner, post
master at vicksburg, Miss, not appointed
as the Presidents choice. lfa
The charge that some one near to the
President was engaged in the Fisk K Gould
stock gambling operations is utterly refuted
by Jay Gould's own evidence, and was
never attempted to be minated bv any
other person than James Fisk, Jr., whom
evry one admits ought to be breaking stones
in Sing-Sing, instead Of revealing in stolen
wealth, whose future accumulations were
prevented by the Presidents own order to
sell gold at the time it was cornered.
The Times adds to its full and definite
refutation of all the charges against Pres
ident Grant: "a man of purer private life
than General Grant never occupied the
Presidential chair. We believe that a ma
jority of the people look upon these calum-
MES with Indignation. They admire pluck
and silence in public men, hate to see in
justice done, and despise the towards who
try to undermine public reputation by de-
flaming private character"
TELEGRAPH TRICKERY.
Senator Chandler in the Senate has lust
stricken some telling blows at telegraph
monopoly and its watered stocks. There
is no doubt that the telegraph rates ought
to be less than one half what they now are,
and they would still pay an enormous pro-
fit on the money sRtually invested, but the
STOCKHOLDERS step in with their watering
pots every two or three years, and the
country is compelled to pay heavy tax
annually as dividends on stock which rep
resents no real value in property, and
which didnot cost the holders an average
of five cents on the dollar. Some think
that Congress should pass law fixing
rates for dispatches, which would yield
fair profit on the money actually invested,
and prohibit the initiation of stocks hereaE-
ter. But it is extremely doubtful whether
the tricksters would not continue by some
continuance to fitch money rs well as brain
facilities from the masses, unless the gov
eminent takes the matter in its own hand,
and connects the telegraph with the postal
system, thus reducing the price Of tele-
graphing to its minimum.
The conveyance Of thought by lightning
is of such Importance in this country Of
universal intelligence, that stock manipula-
tors and monopolists should no longer be
allowed by their well known robbery of
the people to continue to put q prohibitory
tax on intellect and the speedy transmits
sion Of thought throughout country whose
successful government depends greatly
upon their propagation and growth.
r. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Jim Fisk, Jr., has at last consented to
compromise the Mansfield expose by pay
ing down to her 5000. 1t is still thought,
however, that the correspondence will get
into the papers in full, and, also, that Fisk
will find his way into Sing Slug in due time
along with the other robbers Of the people.
recently met here one of the counsel
of the great New York financier, Connolly,
who spoke of visiting his client at Ludlow
street Jail. lie also spoke of the fact that
Boss Tweed could not be found, he having
disappeared after his friend Judge Barnard
had allowed hinrto be freed upon bail.
In the reform State of Missouri, which
Carl Schurz represents, it has just trans
pired that ling has been formed, which
has succeeded in appropriating, under vari-
Gus DISCUSSES, the proceeds Of over mill
lion and halt acres of swamp land, do
mated for school purposes. Thus is New
York's example initiated.
) From the tone of the debate in the House
on MFR. Hoar's resolution, it is probable
that the bill to provide commission to ex-
anime the labor question will pass that
Il - .- u l.