Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-05

been guilty Of indiscrctions inconsistent with
his trust. Appointed originally ID open de-
dance Of Republican principles they have
been retained in office after their unfitness be-
came painfully apparent. BY the testimony
before the Congressional Committees, one OF
these Ia brother.in.law), was implicated in
bribery and corruption. 1t is said that at
last the President has consented to his re.
moval.
Here leave for the present this enormous
pretension Of nepotism, swollen to elephantiue
size, which nobody can defend, aud pass to
gift-taking which, with our President, has as
sumed an unprecedented form. VIGOROUSLY
he has taken gifts while in the public service
some at least after he had been elected
President, until the Galena tanner Of few
hundred dollars year TO borrow the words
of my colleague, one Of his supporters) is
now rich in houses, lands and stock above his
salary, being probably the richest President
since George Washington. He has appoint
ed to his cabinet Greeks bearing gifts, with
out seeming to see the indecorum, if not the
lndeoency, of the transaction. AT least two,
if not three, of these Greeks having no known
position in the Republican party or influence
Ia the country, have been selected as counsel
lors 10 national affairs and heads Of the great
departments Of the government. Nor does
the case Of the first Secretary Of State, ap.
pointed Us compliment, differ IN character
from the other three Not only in cabinet
but in other offices there is reason TO believe
that the President has been under the iDhu-
ence Of patrons. Why was he so blind to
Thomas Murphy whose gifts have become no.
torous, aud when the demand for his removal
was Irresistible the President accepted his
resignation with an effusion Of sentiment nat
ural toward patron, but without jus,ifca-
ton in the character Of the retiring officer
have now completed the survey of the
two typical instances, nepotsm and gift tax.
ing, officially compensated in which we are
compelled to see the President. In these
things he shows himself Here is no por.
trait drawn by critic or enemy. 1t is the
original who stands forth saying " Behold
the generosity | practice to my relations at
the expense Of the public service" 10 this
open exhibition we see how the Presidency,
instead of a trust, has become perquisite
Mr.. Sumner continued at great length in
the citation Of instances to show the presi-
Dental will in constant operation, with little
regard to precedent or reason. Other Presi-
dents have entered upon Office with a certain
modesty aud dstrust. He had none. The
just expectations Of the party which elected
MIN were set at naught in the selection Of
his Cabinet This personal government flow.
cred in the Navy Department where gift
hearing Greek was suddenly changed to a
Secretary.
Mr.. Sumner condemned the Presidents ap-
pointment of military dependent to the
New York general order business the nomi-
nation in disregard of law, Of A. T. Stewart
as Secretary OF the Treasury the establish
ment Of a military headquarters at the Ex-
ecutiye mansion the taking away from their
proper duties Of officers of army to make
them Presidential Secretaries, 10 defiance Of
law, the subordination Of the War Depart
ment to the General-in.Chief the attempt to
devolye the duties of the Navy Department
upon a deputy, so that orders were to be
signed &" A. Il. Borie, Secretary of the Navy,
per d. d. Porter, Admiral !" the efforts to
absorb the Indian Bureau into the War De-
partment; military interference at elections
the efforts to secure the repeal Of the tenure
of office act, which limited the Presidents
power Of appointment, and the Presidential
interference with political questions and party
movements in distan. States, from Louisiana
to New York
Mr.. Sumner also again referred at length
to the San Domingo question in terms Of
condemnation.
With sorrow unspeakable have | made this
exposure of pretensions, which, for the sake
republican institutions, every good citizen
should wish expunged from history. But |
had no alternative The President himself
insists upon putting them in issue. He will
not allow them to be forgotten. As candi.
date for reelection he invites judgment, while
partzans acting in his behalf make it abso.
lutely necessary by the brutality Of their as
sault on faithful Republicans unwilling to see
their party like the Presidential office per.
sonal perquisiie.
If his partisans are exacting, vindictive
and unjust they act only in harmony with his
own nature, too truly represented in them
There is not a ring whether military or sena-
,oria, that does not derive distinctive charac-
ter from himself Therefore what they do
and what they say must be considered as done
and said by the chieitain they serve.
After charaeterzing Grant as great Presi-
Dental quarreler, Mr.. Sumner said the ques-
tiou Of duty is now presented to the Republi.
can party. Can we take the fearful RESPONSE
bility of the prolonged empire of our ambi-
tious Caesar? With the adoption of these
Presidential pretensions, the party loses its
distinctive character and drops from its sphere
Its creed ceases to be Republicanism aud be-
comes partisan. Its members cease to he Re-
publicans and become Grant men. 1t is no
logger a political party, but personal party
For myself, say openly am no mans man.
nor do belong to any personal party.
Mr.. Sumner also made argument in favor
of the one.term principle, and concluded as
follows | wait the determination Of the Ma
tional Convention, where are delegates from
my own much-hoDored commonwealth, with
whom | rejoice to act. Not without anxiety
do | wait, but with the earnest hope that the
Convention will bring the Republican party
into its ancient harmony, saving it especially
from the suicidal folly of an issue on the per-
sonal pretensions OF one man.