Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-08-02
N. abuse or Oalctag I'o,cer.


Major Amos 4, Alderman, formerly
of the staff of Major.General Robert
Toombs, G. s. A., but at present
Grants Attorney. General, 10 stumping
North Carolina in tho interest OF his
patron. In carrying ont the bchests
of his Presidential master Akorman is
sinking the high Office which he holds
TO depth II has never before fallen to-,
The public have long had correct
appreciation of Major Akerman's fit
ness for the Office Of Attorney. General.
1t needed not the representations made
to the President last winter, by the
Justices of the Supreme Court, of his
inoapacity and habitual neglect of duty
to add confirmation to belief His
opinions, when he succeeds in forming
any, on legal questions of grave i'm
port are laughed at by members of
tho bar, and passed over with quiet
contempt by the judges to whom they
arc submitted
These, however, may DO faults Of q
negative character and are Of the
head rather than tho heart. But
Major Akerman's course as q stump
orator in North Carolina is disgrace
full, and is well calculated TO bring the
General Government into contempt.
An exciting contest is going on in that
State oyer the question of remodeling
the Constitution. The present instru-
mcnt is the result Of carpet. bag rule,
and it very naturally fails to meet the
requirements of the people under the
new regime. They have therefore re.
solved to change it, and with that
view they demand that convention
be called and the question submitted
TO the people, n
President Grant, with ain eye TO the
possible effect such change may have
upon his coveted denomination, says
that no doesn't want the Constitution
of North Carolina amended in any
way, and he has sent the plant Aker.
man into that State to mount the
stump and so inform the people
The latter made speech in Whining.
ton the other day in which he plainly
intimatcd what would be tho result
of neglect to respect Grants wishes
in the matter. He said in substance
that if there be convention and q
new Constitution, and the parlsans
of the old one, though faction and
in the minority, choose still TO main
tain its existence, it will be for the
President TO recognize whichever he
pleases, and If necessary to uphold his
choice by force of arms.
Passing over the fragrant usurpa
tion Of authority that would beinvolv
ed in such a course, let us see in what
position the uttcrance Of such senti
ment places Akcrman. The question
as it would tc presented in the cas-,
supposed, is purely one of law, and as
such would necessarily be referred to
the Attorney. General. Therefore We
have the spectacle Of Akcrman on The
stump, plainly announcing beforehand
what shall be the decision of Akermar
the Attorney General. Could parti
sanship 90 any further than that' A
Judge-fcr in such matter the At
torney. General acts as Judge, anC
his decision is just as fnal-openly
avowing his judgment in advance
If President Grant has not deccncy
enough to remove this unworthy scrv
ant from office, he should at least recall
him from bis present sphere and make
him attend to his duties. He has M
more right to interfere with tho ques
ton of rcmodeling the Constitution
of North Carolina than he has to die
tate who shall be Premier of England
If the people of North Carolina wan
to change the organic law of thcii
State, IL is none OF his business. Fol
him to send an imbecile partisan o
the Administration into North Caro-
lima to mako threats in his name, Il
but another disgraccful act added tt
the many disgraceful acts Of his mos
dis racciul administration. -New Yorj
Sun,