Ellsworth American., 1872-01-11
Letter from Washington.
wAsHrxGrox. u. e.. Jan. s,h. /

THE SENATE AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
We wonder. sometimes. at political
events. We are dazed at the audaciiy Of
some men, and surprised al the mendaciiy
of others. and like the old Roman senator.
ApPius-Claudius. might regret that We
were not deaf a, well a, blind For then, 90
said he. Il should not have heard of ,our
shameful counsels 50 serious TO the glory
OF Rome. |; j. true We should b. sur
pri,ed AT nothing in these dAy- OF abject
recklessness. when a handful of men AFRO
gate 10 themselves the high functions OF
cen,ors and take upon themselves the
responsibility of making and uumaAlug
Presidents. regardless of the expressed
wishes OF the people. Il is. however. but
a yeriiicaiion Of the fact
That fools rush in where Angels fear
TO tread" and II sometimes happen, that
In their ardor to stab Cesar ihey unwit-
tinglv catch Tartar.
The most OF the time OF Congress thus
far. has been occupied in appointing in
yeStigating committees and discussing
measures of reform. And what seems
strange. all parties are In favor II reform
=
affair Of the Government The sore
headed Republicans. led on by Schurz and
Trunbull. thinking 10 make capital for the
Democracy. and 10 create A feeling OF
suspicion against the Administration. with
a yirtuous flourish of trumpet. demand
that committees should be created and
iuyestig cations made. aud even the private
affairs of the President be laid open to the
public. Much 10 the disappointment of
these vi1uou, reiormers. the friends OF
the administration not only voted for the
measure. but strongly urged that these
committees should be raised. and that =
most thorough and critical examination
should be had into all the different depart
ments of the Government, thus placing
President Grants Administration strictly
upon its merits, and on them let II stand or
fall The position assumed by the friends
OF the administration in this matter was
entirely unexpected by the enemies Of the
President, aud falls like a wet blanket up-
on their pet scheme.
During the debate in the senate upon
this subject, the statement was made by
Mr.. SchurZ. and reiterated by Messrs
Trunbul. Casserly, and Others, that the
| Government was reeking with corruption" 3"
| Now these gentlemen are all members of
| that honorable and responsible body. and
| il Is fair TO suppose they know whereof
| they affirm. and the investigating com
mittee has been appointed We suggest that
| it summon these honorable Senators as
| witnesses-let them be put upon the staud
| and under solemn oath let them make such
disclosures Of corruption IS have come
under their personal observation. Let
them tell all they know OF Jobs and
4 plunderins schemes" of which they have
| publicly charged and cessantly talked
| Let them enumerate the nature and value
| OF the numerous gifts illegally received by
the President Of which they are personally
cognizant. Give them \ chance to make
good the charges they have so boldly made
against the President, aud if they fail TO DO
so. let them be censured by the body of
which they are members common
slanderers and defamcrs. By all means
give these gentlemen a chance TO testify.
The seeming opposition to Mr.. Trum-
| bulls resolution to ''investiga'e" by Ger
tain Senators-friends 10 President Grant
has been heralded by the Democratic press
as All attempt TO shield the administration
and defeat the investigation. This is an
error. The friends of the President hav.
only attempted to confine the investigation
TO Us legitimate work. Have demanded
that In the investigation Of the coordinate
branches of the Government outside o.
Washington. that the President should no
be mixed in as party - frauds which he
himself, has endeayored 10 prevent. Will,
Senators Schurz and Trumbull do not ex
pect 10 be able TO identify the administers
ton with even questionable completely
with these operations. they had hoped e
manipulate report that would be dsmag
ing to the prospects of President Grant
denomination. The ferocity with which
these men have pursued the President il
/ l. 81. Sell. a
failure of their purpose. Opposed. as they
are TO his denomination, every effort. re
gardless of prOpriety and decency, ha,
been made to briSz reproach upon hi:
administration and ob!oquy upon his per
sonal reputation. The friends of Presidsn
| Grant both in and out of the Senate do no
shrink from . thorough aud searchin,
investigation OF all the official acts of tbs
President, but they are not willing that hi
political enemies-even though they pro
fess TO be Republicans-shall drag him be
fore the country in a false light. They arr
determined that his administration shal
stand upon its merits. and on its meriti
alone be Judged By the people IL by
fair showing. the President j. found TO b.
implicated in speculations and scheme
derogatory TO the dignity of this position
and the interests Of the Government. th,
Republican masses throughout the country
who are now looking to his denomination
would bend their whole efforts to effect hi
defeat aud displacement. But this attemp
to implicste him would fail as all other'
have. and while the op poFt1nity presents
itself we trust the friends Of the Presiden
in the Senate will place these men uroI
the witness stand and give them chance
to verify theiy charges, Or convict then
sout of their own mouths" Of vile calnmi
nations.
That these men who were sent to tht
United States Senate as Republicans have
a right to oppose the denomination o.
President Grant, We do not feel disposed
to question. but we do question the pro-