New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-28
THURSDAY, DECEMBER %, 1871.
Too Much Zeal.

oficious friends IN the Senate, when opposing
investigation into civil service abuses Indeed,
in all the time of General GRANTS administra-
tion no overt or covert act of his enemies could
possibly have injured him 80 grievously, threat
sued to be productive of such pernicious conse-
uuences as the tactless vehemence displayed
by his supporters, when attempting to smother
an investigation which they rather ought to
have invited. How strange, that they should
have failed to see that their opposition would
necessarily be interpreted as an admission that
there are things that cannot bear the light I.
To be sure, no one in his right mind, not even
sensible Democrat, will for moment believe
in good earnest that the President is guilty of
any unconstitutional dishonorabie act, or be
scared by the ridiculous bugbear, invented for
the sake of frightening Ignorant, recently natu-
rllized foreigners, that he is meditating usurpa-
ton of power and establishing dictatorship,
but why not have him fully indicated by the
testimony Of his accusers, instead OF furnishing
them with material for political capitals Only
the Presidents own wise course, his eminently
timely message the moral rebuke administered
to his over jealous supporters, has averted the
injury they came so near inhisting on him.
One cause of regret however, is left in the seec-
ton Of the men, appointed to the Investigating
committee; not for any doubt that they will
faithfully discharge their duty but because no
matter how scrupuioos and strictly impartial
they may prove, the disagreesble fact will al
ways be urged against them, that contrary to
parliamentary usage, all of them, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. BAYARD are chosen from the
ranks of the men who opposed the measure,
We should have liked to see Mr.. TRUMBULL,
Mr.. SEIZURE, and for amusement's sake, even
Mr.. BLAIR appointed; nobody would think of
charging them with partiality in favor of the
President, and the more complete his vindica
ton would be. No doubt, considerable abuses,
old, time honored nuisances will come to light,
but what of it? 1t is not claimed that cur civil
service system is model of perfection, and the
President is the last man to be held responsible
FOR its deficiencies. 1t will be discovered that
he has made some injudicious appointments,
has trusted men who have misused their power
for political intrigues, but it will be found just
as well that their number is comparatively
small to that of the honest, able, and honorable
men, whom he has placed in Office, and that he
has adhered as unfateringly and faithfully to
the fundamental principles of the party that
elected him, as ever a President before him has
done,
After the drama comes the farce. If some
friends Of the President have damaged good
cause by. their i'll timed zeal. to Democrat.
Mr.. GARRKT DAVIS, thanks are due for valuable
service rendered. The resolution which be
offered is so refreshing and unique in its impu.
dence aud absurdity, that - cannot deny
ourselves the pleasure of copying it. lie wants
the Committee on investigation and sAetrencEs
msnt TO ascertain and report on the following
subjects: =
Whether the President has, or has hereto
fore had, any interest, direct or contingent, ID
any contracts TO do work for the United States,
or TO furnish material for any public building,
and if he has or had any such interest whether
it came to him by purchase or gift; Also
whether any persons have made donations to
him, and whether he has bestowed upon the
donors or their relatives Offices or places Of
public trust, and if so, the names of such per-
sons and Offices, designating these belonging
10 each State separately; also, whether he has
bestowed Offices or places OF public trust upon
persons related TO himself, or 10 members of
his family, and if so. the names of such per
sons, their relationship to the President, and
the Offices or places bestowed upon them
also, whether there has been any contract,
arrangement, or understanding, by which any
officers or persons IN the military or naval ser |
vice of the United States were to have any part |
or interest in any bonds, money, lands, other |
property, TO be paid on the ratification of a
treaty with the Republic of Santo Domingo |
and the United States, and If SO, the names OF
all such persons and their connection with the |
matter /; ALSO whether the ships or marine |
forces OF the United States have taken any |
part in the conflict between Baey and Cabra |
and if so what part, with what object and by |
what authority; also, whether, the President |
or the heads of Departments have absented |
themselves from Washington and their duties |
there to make eicctioneerng speeches through |
the country. and 10 spend their time at places |
Of pleasure and dissipation, with the frequency |
and length of such absence also, that the |
committee investigating these subjects have |
power to send for persons and papers.
This resolution, if carried, would virtually |
convert our Conscript Fathers" into smell |
ing committee :" ard if Mr. DAVIS were not |
known as an utterly Incorporating, incor |
ruptible old Bourbon, one nigh, suspect that |
he had been prompted by some humorous Ad |
ministration Senator, who wanted 60 run the |
whole investigating business In the ground by |
caricaturiHg it. II would have been difficult |
TO invent better parody, and one is strongly |
reminded of the prosecutor pictured by DIcKEss,
who, after having demonstrated TO the jury
how il was their sacred duty 70 find the &C.
cused guilty Of high treason, and imagined to
have made point by telling them that, unless
they brought in a verdict 70 that efsct, they |
would not be able to ley their heads quietly on
their pillows tonight, went on, saying that
their wives would not be able to- lay their
heads on their pillows, their children would
not be able to lay their heads on their pillows,
nor would their childrens children be able to
lay their heads on their pillows in their days.
BY all means let us have Mr.. DAVIS resolution
carried, In order to make the search more
thorough, We should even like to have it
amended by directing the committee to ascer-
tain and report. Whether the President de-
frauds the people by smoking struggled cigars
whether his horses are fed at the expense of
the public with oats from some store belonging
TO the United States also, whether he is
silent partner in some unlicensed distillery
also, whether be is prompt in paying grocers,
butchers, and tailors' bills also, whether he