Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-10
A zEArrER OF cHEsPENING AND

HAGGLING.
The revelations which Col. Forney re-
Gently made as to the manner in which
Gen. Grant was brought forward as the
Radical candidate for President, are of
character to convince impartial men of the
utter corruption which. characterised the
leaders of the party that elected him, and
the degradation down to which they have
dragged the Presidential office. 1t was
clear case of bargain aud sale. These lead
ers felt that they had no man among them
who could be elected. Grant was then in
the hightide of bis popularity, and an Office
with salary OF nearly $4,000 year and
life tenure, was created especially for him.
His political record, so far as he had one,
was that Of a pro-slavery Democrat, but
like Benedict Arnold, he had his price,
and Col. Forney shows how be was bought.
The crime with which Henry Clay was
charged, of bargain, intrigue and corrup-
ton" which defeated him for President,
was not more reprehensible, more fragrant
than the conduct of which Grant has been
guilty according to Col. Fsrney. The New
York Tribune certainly regards the matter
in this light, for it says In its isue Of
March 3:
"When a diamond lacks the pure white
light which renders it so precious, and is
touched with any stain or discoloration, it
is said TO be off color Its value is thus
greatly reduced. The fault is incurable,
being in the substance of the gem. No
polishing or cutting win mend it. The
lapidary loses his labor at such work.
ave Go not think that Mr.. Forney can
polish the stain out Of the negotiations
which he represents as leading to the nom
nation and election of Gen. Grant. He
published the story of these pouTpaTlerswith
seeming unconse iousnesst that there was any
possible objection to that way Of treating
public matters. He had the satisfaction Of
hearing, day or two afterward, uniyer-
sal response Of something very like disgust
at the utter lack Of dignity and morality
which be had ascribed to the President and
his nearest friends. He has probably not
vet recovered from his surprise at this I'M
expected response. 1t behooves him TO eX-
ercise all his well-knOWn ingenuity and
skill in the commentary which we hope he
is still to make upon this extraordinary dis
closure. As the case stands, no enemy of
Gen. Grant, however INSCRIPTIONS or ma
lignant, has ever succeeded in striking him
so fatal a blow as this from the hand of-apro-
fessed and conspicuous friend.
We present once more the salient
points of Col. Forney's story. He had
written an editorial for his Washington
paper proposing Gen. Grant for the Presi-
dency. He sent it by Gen. Rawlins to the
General of the Army. This faithful and
confidential friend came back with the
article and made a speech which we venture
to say is unparalleled in the annals Of our
politics. s'He said, Gen. Grant does not
want to be President But, the swift
messenger adds, "He thinks the Republican
party may need him, and he believes, as
their candidate, he can be elected and re-
elected; but what is to become of him
after his second Presidential term" If the
General had been selling a hOrse, how
could be more skillfully have set forth his
merits and value, and prepared the mind Of
the buyer for the high price he intended to
ask? He takes it for granted that he is to
be elected and re elected, and then asks
how much he is 10 be paid for accepting.
The highest moral position to which any
human being can aspire, is treated like
clerkship in a green-gTocer's shop, matter
Of cheapening and haggling. His agent
even footS up the pecuniary loss which
would result from the candidacy. "Twenty
thousand dollars year for lfe;'' this must
be made up some how. 1t must be
done promptly also, for the sagacious
Mercury suggests, that elf Grant takes any
thing from the rich whose vast fortunes lie
b IS saved, after he is President" it will Gre
ate remark. 1t was with these prelimina-
ries and in this spirit, through details about
which even so frank historian as Col. For
new is silent, that the nomination of Gen.
Grant was arranged and submitted to the
public, who were kept in the dark as 10
these extraordinary negotiations.
"There are two points in this story which
it is unpleasant TO believe. First, that Gen.
Grant accepted the nomination with the Sc
cret understanding between himself and bis
prominent supporters that he was TO be re-
elected, and that in spite of this fact the
Washington Chronicle, edited by Col. For
ney, who was aware of Gen. Grants lnten-
tinns, represented him as in favor OF the
One Term principle, and pretended 10 de-
msnd the incorporation Of this principle m
the Constitution. But the second and
,r0rSe point is the hOpleSSly lolu tone Of the
1yH0le transaction. The Presidency seems
10 be regarded by the candidate and has
S1itors as a matter of convenience and pro-
tit. Of that solemn and earnest spirit in
which even ordinary men would naturally
approach a position Of such responsibility
and power, there is not the slightest trace.
The parties do not exhibit even that decent
hypocrisy with which kings and princes add
a semblance Of dignity to their assumption
of crowns. The ore side simply says, 'We
want you, and the other answers, 'Doyou
think you can afford it p"