The Placer herald., 1872-01-27
"SCARCELY " CONSISTENT"

tempt of the Sacramento Unlon to excuse
President Grant for gross and corrupt s"lho-
linz on the grounds of ignorance and credu-
ity. The Stars and Stripes, which has
been as iiercely loyal to Grant and his Aa-
ministration as mortal could be loyal to NOR
tai comes to our side and does credit to Itself
in mild but pointed rebuke of the On'o"
and Grant. We grant that Grant Is weak,
ignorant. but not crcdulous. The proofs are
overwhelming that he is not only the most
british, selfish, craven, but the most cor
rupt man that ever filled the Presidential
chair. But let our neshbor, who aided TO
elect Grant. and is leader in the Repubi-
can party, speak. Here is his "leader. III
Thursday's Stripes. We commend it to all
our readers, and especially Republicans:
"The leading editorials in tAe Sacramento
Union are IN almost invarable rule, ably con
ceivod and forcby expressed 1t is seldom that
we hni anything tame, or incoherent or whose
parts are inconsistent the one with the other in
above respects, we seem to see an exception IN
the Union leader Of the 22d inst, entitled
Custom House Frauds-Fair Play, which was
ostensby published as a defense OF President
Grant as to responsibility for or complelty ID
the enormous frauds in the New York Custom
House that are in course Of startling revelation.
The Union, in defending the President God
~ u. H - tltotf
has been the chief offender; that Leet was destl-
tute Of previous notoriety OF clam to patronage
except because he had been "a member OF Grant
staff and near to the President and to those who
were members Of the President political family.
1t Is also admitted that Leet went, stranger,
to New York, with pre-announcenent that he
was TO receive an appointment; that he did re-
ceiye one; that it was fat one; that the testi-
mony OF many prominent merchants of New
York is TO the point that they suffered losses by
stean.s and exactions such they never knew
before that Grinnel and Murphy, the Presi-
dents arpointeos to the Coiioctorship, were ap-
pealed to in vain that the merchants, including
A. r. Stewart, as vainly appealed directly to the
President; that Stewart-who is pointedy re-
farred to as Grants intimate friend, and as the
person who had been persistently urged by him
for the Secretaryship of the Treasury-had twice
made personal presentations and appeals to the
President; AM that no reform had been attempt
ed until resort hal been had to ~ Congress
sional Committee, to get out the facts and
force it, And how does the Union proceed to
extenuate the offcnses Of commission or omis-
sion thus openly or tactly confessed? Chiefly
10y assuming that the President shares i'll the
popular belief that the New York merchants, in
Gliding his intimate friend Stewart, whom he
hod persistently urged in spite Of many obstacles
for Secretary of the Treasury have been hay
ing their own way in passing goods through the
Custom house, dad hare s,cindei the GorerHmGd
h9oy in H.e payment IF dues.' This Isl strange
defense, and one that might well prompt the
Presid Mt to e1caim, save me from Iny friends
And then, in conclusion, on the strength of let
ters from Horace Porter, the Presidents Private
Secretary there is a pretenso Of assuming that
the President was ignorant or unsuspicous of
the fact that Loot was appointed and retained as
u supposed personal favor to Grant. This is
poor compliment to the President. 1t imputes
to him an obtusity that would disgrace half
vitted sehooI-boy. Coupled with the insinaation
that be could not take S.ewart's word, and that
he doubted his honesty, although he had urged
him for Secretary of the Treasury, this so-called
appeal for fir play is the soycrest assault upon
the Prosid Mt that has come under our notice
Later dispatches announce That Leet has sub
mitted letter which shows that he was appoint
ed at the special request of the President.
Whoreupon the Union continues its labored de-
fence, ana houndered into an assumption that he
Was honest whom recommended, that the Presi-
dent committed no error, etc, etc. This course
will do no good, if such is the intention 1t
We're better that the friends of the President ad-
init that he sadly erred in recommending Leot,
more sadly IN turning deaf ear to the charges
preferred against him, and that these ana similar
errors are traceable to his confidence in a corrupt
mercenary, unscrupulous clique by which he is
surrounded, and that he must repudiate every
member Of this clique, cut loose from them, dis
card them, il he wants wel-wishers OF the coun-
try to favor h S denomination and reelection" >"
FELL AMONG THlEyFs Oficial Investigation