The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-15
Stanton and Grant.

In the Cincinnati Commercial (Greeley
organ) of June 10th we find the following
communication:
To the Editor Of The Commercial The ac-
cusat;ons which Sumner brings against Gen
eral Grant relate chiefly to matters of deco
rum. Yet in his speech he commits one of
the most startling acts of indecorum that has
at any time appeared in public life. Words
are wasted upon the man who does not feel,
upon Summers recital of the private CONVEX
sations he had with Stanton, that Sumner
has, in making it, struck deadly blow at the
sacred confidence which belongs to private
conversation, without which, indeed, it would
lose its freedom and pleasure.
The same remark is made applicable to
Horace Whites revelations.
But these gentlemen having made these
publications, it now becomes duty for those
who have heard Stanton speak favorably of
Grant to make this known. For if Stanton's
opinion is of any value let us have all of it.
Besides, what one says in private conversa-
tion complimentary of another may be given
without Ofense; its repetition sweetens the
current of private intercourse; it is the rep
ititiOn of what one says disparagng to an
other that poisons and breeds strife
happened in the war Office at Washing
ton soon after the Sherman-Joe johnson
treaty had been made. 1t became the theme
of our conversation.
Mr.. Stanton said: General Sherman made
the treaty on his own responsibility, without
communication with the Government: not
only did he do this, but he had the treaty
printed Ly the army press and distributed to
the soldiers, and one of these slips had been
sent to the New York Herdid-all before the
Government had been advised of what had
been done. As soon as we were advised,
Cabinet meeting was called and the opinion
was unanimous that the treaty should be set
aside.
''The President directed me to so instruct
General Sherman. On the way to my office
it occurred to me that it would be proper to
publish the reasons for our action. drew up
the statement which has been published. 1t
occurred to me also that Grant had better go
to General Sherman. Immediately saw him
and requested him to go at once. He asked
when conld have a boat ready. / replied at
II o'clock-then near at hand. He said he
would be ready, and was, and went. l knew
he had other engagements at the time, and
this request would be serious d.sappoint-
ment to him. But thus always had it been
with him-when we asked him to do thing,
he did not stop to complain, or to make coun-
ter suggestions, or to interpose obstacles-be
did it."
The quality here commended may not fit
one to govern a country" yet one of the
first lessons we are taught is, that we must
learn obedience ii we would learn to COM
mand. Besides, Sumner tells us that re-
public is government of laws, and not of
persons. Then we do not want man to
govern us, only some one who will obey and
execute the laws. This is what President
Grant has done, and it is for this that the
sober thought of the country support him.
1t may regret the appointment OF relatives
to office, but it considers these secondary mat
tiers.
| 1t treats General Grant in these respects
| precisely as did President Lincoln. He also
| appointed brothers-in-law and cousins to Of
| flee, transferred his chum Lamon from Il-
| nois to the Marshaship at Washington, and
| his other friend, David Davis, from au OBJ
scure County Judgeship to a seat on the Su-
preme bench of the United States. He also
| appointed to office because of political con-
siderations. The appointment of Caleb
I Smith was the result OF a political bargain.
High above the sound of Sumter's cannon
was heard the sibilant voice of Schurz, hiss
ing into Mr.. Lincoln's ear its demand for Of
flee as the price of the German vote; and it
| got it. Not because of these things but de-
spite of them did the country support Mr..
Lincoln. Nor have these great men sinned
alone i'll these respects. Do not the relatives
| and favorites of Senators and Representatives
| fill all the offices of the land? So always has
| it been.
History does not record how many of their
relatives the Virginia Presidents appointed
to Office. But these Presidents belonged to
the first families, who are all related to one
another. Now it is an historical fact that
members of these families filled half the
offices at Washington in 1860.
| This system is all wrong; but Grant is the
first President and the Republican party the
first party that has ever made an effort to
| break il m w Mn