The Placer herald., 1872-08-24
RICHMOND'S REPLY.
AUBURN. August 18th, 1872.


am we'll pleased with it; in fact, consider i
rather above the rehash with which the Admin
tration papers are generally filled; and have NJ
doubt but that if you are lucky enough to dis
| cover Dent in your hat between now and elec
| ton, you will receive the reward of the faithful
not that would insinuate but tnat think yoT
| deserve it.
In the first place you regret my Withdrawal
from party to whose principles my heart beats
responsively." realize no such withdrawal. y
The Republican party was organized as party
of principle and pIogress, and as such it has
repeatedly marched to victory To-day the So
called, Regular Republican party is bound hand
and foot to monopoly, in every shape and form.
What powerful corporation, during the last four
| years has knocked at the door of Congress and
been refused? do not charge this to the Presi-
| dent; on the other hand, am free to acknowl-
| edge that he has made many recommendations
| for reform that were commendable, but / do
charge that Congress, with its two-thirds Rcpub-
lican majority have persistently closed the door
| to every measure of reform in civil service, and
in other channels, one Of the chief OF which is
that gigantic nfamy; the 'franking privilege" "
| Thus, if the party has withdrawn itself from the
| path of progress and reforn, he cannos be ac-
cused of Withdrawal " who has remained true
to these great principles.
You say that the Republican party is the same
to-day that it was when you enrolled yourself to
fight upon the battlefield under its banner
beg your pardan friend Megare, l never en-
rolled myself to fight under the banner of the
Republican party; I enlisted to fight for my
country, I should blush for shame to have been
Identified with any party but that of my COM
mon country in her hour of peril; and l claim
the right of an old soldier to vote for whoever
please without regard to previous party aflilia-
tions.
| You say it is evident that am not led astray
| by the "vltuperations and falsehoods heaped up.
on Grant and the party no, sir, | am not led
astray by the ialsehoods, but by the legitimate
charges l give the proper weight First, The
charge of nepotism. Now do think that Presi-
dent would do less than his duty if he failed to
appoint his relatives to Office il the best interests
of the country demanded it; but placing this
charge of nepotism in its most charitable light, it
must be acknowledged that the people Of the
country have remained in blssful ignorance of
the great services of the Dent family that should
entitle them like them, like the Levies of old to
an unlimited harvest of the loaves and fishes, if
they are thus entitled, it certainly has not come
| to the surface until the accession OF u. s. Grant
to the Presidency.
| Now the charge of the use of the executive pat
ronage to secure another term of Office. Six
| ~ bnfora tha mnntiDp of tbo diff aren't
National conventions, there were arrayed against
the President, in the Republican party, the most
prominent papers of the country, rejecting
probably, the sentiments of half Of the party
and in point of intellect the very strongest minds
in the party, including its most prominent and
popular leaders. The Convention met at phila-
! d lphn and after session of only two days adj
journed, proclaimng to the world the unanimous
denomination of U. s. Grant by the Republican
party of the country in convention assembled,
and | ask in the name OF common sense from
whence camo this unanmity? Half of the party
the best of its sstatesmen-arrayod against him
aud yet he is the unanimous choice of the party
there is bat one conclusion II the one hunltei
thousand Office holders were not felt at that Con
vention, then there certainly some power
behind the throne" that fails to make itself ap-
plrent to the public eye.
One of the most prominent charges brought
against him is his want of judgment in making
appointments. Had the cases been but far and
isolated, this charge would have but little force
but no intelligent mind among his warnest
friends can deny that this class of appontm onts
has been almost without parallel in any previous
a lministration. This has not all been the di-
rect fault of the President, but often the fruit OF
misplaced confidence in his advisers.
His diplomacy. with the single exception OF
the Alabama claims, has mlde NJ yer strenuous
draught on his intellect, and Who can with pa
tence look upon the muddle with regard to
which if pressed would have cost no less than
war; (for no nation would deliberately assume
obligations that would lead her to bankruptcy, }
txen finally discovering the mistake, backing
ont through the little kno-hole of "merely
wanting the commission to pass upon the recep-
ton of such claims" was happy to see that
exen our Sacramento Union Grant paper as il
is) couldn't quite keep back its indignation, but
closed its review of the case by attempting tc
saddle it on that poor old mbecile. Secretary
Fish, who never was guilty of originating an
idea, and requesting him to resign. l have nj
ways thought he would do better fishing for
CLAIMS than for "claims.
Finally, do not believe Grant is a wilfuly
wrong man; he ha all the qualities for safe
and successful general; he has but few of thg
essential qualities of a statesman. The country
was grateful for his services os a soldier AMI he
has certainly been well paid; and for his own
credit it were better that he withdraw than that
the nation should submit to further modification
from his lack of judgment
OF the charges made against Greeley none o.
them stand the proof. l am surprised that
man of sense should repeat the old, fy-blowl
charges of the assumption OF the rebel debt, the
payment of rebel PENSIONS etc, etc. You ough
to know that this will scure no one whose vot,