The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-06-20


ty was unbalanced by Presidential
notorious. And when the demand
for his removal was irresistible, the
President accepted his resignation
with an effnsion of sentiment natHra
toward a patron, but without justifi'
cation in the character of d retiring
officer. a.ssi .ra i... f.t,ites.f
81 Il have now completed the survey
oftwo typical instances of nepotism
and gift-taking officially compensated
in which we are compelled to see the
President. In these things he shows
himself. This is no portrait drawn
by critic or enemy. 1t is the original
who stands forth, SAYING "Behold
the generosity Ipractice to my rela-
tions at the expense of the public SER
vice! Also, the gifts take, and then
my way of rewardine lpatrons-al-
ways at the expense of the public SER
vice." In this open exhibition we
see how the Presidency, instead of a
trust, has become a perquisite., A
President that can, do such things and
and not recognize at once the error he
has committed. shows that superem-
inence of egotism under which the
Constitution, International law and
municipal law, to say nothing of Re
publican government in its primary
principles, are all subordinated to the
Presidential will. And this is person
al governmentl Add an insensibility
to the honest convictions of others,
and you have characteristic incident
of this pretension. Lawyers cite
what are call leading cases. A few
of these show the Presidential will
in constant operation, with little re-
gard to precedent or reason, SO as to
be caprice If. not pretension.
Other Presidents have entered up
ON Office with certain mode;ty and
distrust, but our soldier, absolutely
untried in civil life, entirely new
man, entering upon the sublimest du-
ties, before which Washington and
Jefferson had shrunk, said in his in
augural "The responsibilities of the
position feel, but accept them with
out fear" The next step after his in
augural address was the selection of
Cabinet; and, in his selection, the
general disappointment was only
by the general wonder. All
tradition, usage and propriety were
The just expectations of
the party that had elected him were
set at naught, and the safeguards of
constitutional government were SUBJ
ordinated to the personal pretensions
of one man. Marked among the spec
tacles which followed, and kindred in
character with the appropriation of
his Cabinet as individual property,
was the appropriation of the offices of
the country. h <ta ea4 9iaa
Mr., Summer here repeated the char
ges of nepotism, appointing relatives
to office, etc., and criticised in severe
terms the conduct of the President in
sending message to Congress, March
5, 1869, asking them to set aside fun
damental law in order that Stewart
might enter upon the duties of Secre-
tary of the Treasury; he (SteWart)
being one of those from whom the
President had received gifts. WeT
p MILITARY RING. 9gaA
He next spoke of the military ring
1t the White House, and said the Ex-
ecutive Mansion had assused the
character of a military headquarters.
To the dIshonor of the civil service,
md in total disregard Of precedent,
he President had surrounded himself
with officers of the army and substi-
uted military forms for those Of civ
l life. detailing for this service men,
1ers OF his late staff, although Con-
,ress has shown a purpose to limit
he employment of military officers in
;ivil service by three different stat
ties. lsslsasi-3 -fs,h 9so 4&a
Mr.. Summer condemned the Presi-
lent for the taking away from their
proper duties of officers of the army |
o make them Presidential Seer etaries |
n defiance of law the subordination
# the War Department to the Gener-
l-in-Chief; the attempt to devolve
he duties of the Navy Department |
lpon deputy, so that orders were to |
'e signed, ga. E. Borie, Secretary of
he Navy, per d. d. Porter, Admiral ),
he effort to absorb the Indian Bureau
nto the War Department military |
at elections; the efforts |
o secure the repeal of the Tenure-of- |
Office Act, which limited the Presi- !
lent's power of appointment; and I
Presidential interference with politi- /
al questions aud party movements
Il distant States, from Louisiana to
lew York. Mr.. Sumner also again
eferred at length to the San Domin-
o question, in terms of condemna-
ion, and said the whole contrivance,
esides being wrong to the black re-
ublic, Hayti, was an insult to the COL
red race. not only abroad, but here
home. How a Chief Magistrate,
nth four millions of colored fellow
itizes, could have done this thing,
asses comprehension.
The colored orator, Frederick Doug.
Iss, was selected by the President as
ne of the Commissioners to- visit San
domingo, and yet on his return, and
lmost within sight of the Executive
he was repelled from the
ommon table of mail steamer on
ne Potomac, when the other Commits
oners were already seated; and
lroEgh him was the African race in
llted and their equal rights denied.
'ut the President, whose commission
e had borne, neither did nor said
nything to right this wrong; and a
Nv days later, when entertaining the
Commissioners at the Executive Man.
on, actually forgot the colored orr
tor whose services he had sought.
'0e tdto @ah&ShAty - ~ uhAsOh WIN
"a rest. After insulting the Black
'epublic, it is easy to see how natural
was to treat with insensihility
of the African race.
[ere, 1 say, thia painful presentiment
ndeg Its various heads, beginning
18th nepotism, aud gift-taking, OFF,
ally compensated, and ending in the
1ntrivanoe against San Domingo,
18th an indignity to the African race.
lot because it is complete, but be-
luse it is enough, with sorrow un-
,eakable have made this exposure
+ pretensions, which for tho sake OF
publican, institutions every good
tixea should wish expunged from
istory, But / had no alternative.
he President himself insists in put
ng them in issue: he will not allow
lem to be forgotten, AS candi-
ate for reelection he invites judg-
lent, and now the question of duty is
resented to the Republican party. l
ke that word, 1t Is at the mandate
= Inkxy that xya v,nt1sf oat nn Ppasf-