The sun., 1872-08-07
An Important Change to bc Made.

MallN llluONatlt rs moro tH lr~S grave III
character have crcpt into The practice of
the Government during the last twenty
years, and notably during the war for the
Union. The necessities of the country
were so great in that supreme eNigcncy
that departures from the mnxims and
theory of the Constitution which would
have startled the nation in n time OF peace
and tranquility were regarded with pas
rive indifference by the people. Every
thing had to yield to the war, and when
Congress whose vote was indispcn-
sable to the Administration insisted upon
the appointment of Il partisan to Office or
the removal Of Contumacious politician,
the President was constrained t. surrender
his legitimate authority and abdicGtc his
power rather than alicnatc support which
was necessary to secure important lcgisla-
ton. The transfer 10y the Executive
10 his supporters in Congress of the
powers and duties conferred upon him
hy the organic law, which was originally
ncquicsccd in from the necessity OF thc,a>c
In a great national emergency has grown
into a uniform practice which Threatens 10
become permanent thus changing our sys-
TEN of government and foisting upon the
people. not the men of their choice, nor
those best fitted for executive officers, but
the most efficient and uuscrupulouS cl,c-
tioncerers and wirc-rullcrs. II hedemaudS
Of members are not complied with-that
i> il the President hcsitatcs about appoint
ing the candidate pressed upon him by the
representatives, resort i, had to the wet
pons of menace and assault until lac suy-
renders. Take Il conspicuous case 10y way
Of illustration.
Mr. DAWES, who represents the pttsicld.
Massachusetts,, district in the House OF Re
presentativos, is II prominent member, Of
considerable ability and good reputation.
He holds the important position of Chair
man of the Committee ON Appro-
priations, whore he can exercise
greater influence in enforcing economy
and frugalIty on the part Of the
Administration than any other mem
her of Congress. At an early stage OF the
present Administration MIR. DAWES at
tackled the Government with great vigor
on the score of extravaganza alleging that
II exceeded in prohigitc expenditure the
Administration of JOHNSON. Through his
organs, IN Congress and odt, GRANT denied
this charge and abused DAWES; and GRANr
himself denounced DAWES as a traitor To
the party. and nveI'red that his statements
were false from beginning 10 end. Here
was pretty quarrel as il stood and the
RcfoImers in Congress made sure that they
had recruited "A valuable Coadjutor in the
contumacious DAWES. But mark the So
qucl. DAWES became a warm supporter
Of the Adm ui>tutcn, and before the end
of the last Congress reported a lill grant
ing the largest appropriations ever made.
without explanation or apology other than
that they were asked FOR by the secretary
Of the Treasury And now Mr DAWES /,
travelling about the country defending
GRANT from the attacks of his eu, mics and
endcavoring 10 show that the AdmuistIn-
ton. which he formerly denounced ~ the
most cNtravagant that the country had
ever seen, is in fact the most economical
and best that ever was known. This may he
III consistent and proper, but it certainly
looks queer. However, We simply state
facts, without impUtng unworthy mo-
tivcs.
The largest town IN DAwEs's Congre,-
sional district Is We,tteld, pleasant viii
lagc on the Albany and Boston railroad.
about ten miles from Springfield. II IL
the most populous place west of Spring
field, and the pot Office j. the best pHyiug
concern in the state west Of the Connecti-
cut river. When DAVE made his on
slau-ht upon tho Administration, the post
master was Il gallant soldier who had been
crippled in the war, and under JOHNSON r
administration had been given the Office in
consideration of his services, good charac-
ter, and unqucstioucd fitness for the place.
He was Jealous Republican, man gen
orally esteemed and beloved, and one of
tn" most conspicuous citizens of the town
He gave universal satisfaction IN his Office.
being regarded rs the b,,t po-tma. ten
they had ever had. But this manned
soldier, who had been left for dead on tho
battle field, and who was every way
worthy of his ofiicc, meritorious man IN
all respects, and whose official services were
20 acceptable 20 the Government, had been
10 unfortunate as to incur the dislike of
Congressman DAWES. The citizens Of Wet
field sent II petition 10 the President asking
that this manned Old soldier be retained IN
Office. But unhappily, Gen. GRANT was
poweIleSs in the prculi. IS, aud DAWES, who
had been invested with the authority of
the Executive insisted upon the removal
of the Republican soldier, and he wa, SUI
perseded by "A political intIigurr, a tool Of
DAWES who now holds the Office. Here
are the facts. Readers will draw thch
own conclusions. We are unable to dis
tinguish cause from effect Whether the
President surrendered his prcrogatiye on
the promise of DAWES TO eat his own
words and support the Administration, on
whether GRANT permitted DAWES to cx-
crcisc the authority conferred upon III,
President by the Constitution in the hope
of winning his gratitude, Is matter Of
question But the fact remains that tho
theory md intent of the organic law are
disr, glrdcd and violated 10y the constant
practice of the Executive, tli, being On,
Of scores Of similar transactions
Here j, 10 come IN one Of the many rc.
forms which the people will demand of
President GREELEY, ana whichheis pledged
10 execute with nacTity. He VIII rc,um,
the powers ana dignity OF the eNecut,v,