Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-06-12

was on his deaih-bed. when he said II
know General Grrnt better than any 9th.
erperson in the country can know him.
1t was my duty to study him, and l did
50. night and day, when | saw him and
wben did not see him, and now 1 tell
you what | know. He cannot govern
this country" The intensity of his man-
ner aud the pOsitiveuess Of his judgment
surprised me, for, though l was aware
that the late Secretary Of War did not
place the President very high in general
capacity, was not prepared for a judg-
meut so strongly couched.
At last, after some delay occupied in
meditating on his remarkable statement
| observed, What you say is very broad,
at is as true as broad, he replied prompt
ly. | added, "You are tardy. Why
did you wait until this late hour 2 Why
did you not say it before his nomination
lie answered that he was not consulted
about the nomination, and had no oppor-
tunity of expressing his opinion upon it,
besides being much occupied at the time
with his duties as Secretary of War aud
his contest with the President. follow
ed by saying: But you took part in the
election. and made succession of speech
es in Ohio and Pennsylvania ?" 81
spoke, said he, ''but | never introduced
the name of General Grant. spoke for
the Republican party and the Republi-
can cause" This was the last time saw
Mr. Stanton. A few days later l follow
cd him to the grave where he now rests
AS the vagaries of the President became
more and more manifest, aud the Presi.
dental office perquisite, this dying
Judgment of the great citizen who knew
him so well haunted me night and day,
and | now communicate it to my country,
feeling that it is legacy l have no right
to withhold.
Mr.. Sumner continued by lengthy
arraignment of the President for nopotisn
and gift taking the former of which was
a ruling passion, maintained in utter un
consciousness of its offensive character
Some of his benefciarics have done little
but bring scandal upon the public service
at least one is tainted with fraud, and an
other entrusted with the commission OF
the public affairs abroad, has been guilty
of indiscretions inconsistent with bis trust
Appointed originally in open defiance Of
Republican principles, they have beer
retained in office after their unftness be
came painfully apparent. BY the testi
mony before the Congressional Commit
tees. one of these, Ia brother-in-law)
was implicated in bribery and corruption
1t is said that at last the President hal
consented to his removal
Here for the present | leave this enor
nous pretension of nepotlsm, swollen tt
an elephatnine size, which nobody can de
fend, and pass to gift-takiug which witt
our President, has assumed an uDprece
dented form. Notoriouslv he has takeI
gifts while in the public service--som'
at least after be had been elected to thu
Presidency. until the Galena tanner o.
a fewhundred dollars year Ito borrow
the words of my colleague, one of his sup
porters) is now rich in houses, lands anC
stock above his salary, heing probabl,
the richest President since George Wash
ington. He has appointed to his cabine
Greeks bearing gifts, without seeming tc
see the indecorum, If not the indecency o
the transaction. AT least two, if no
three, Of these Greeks having no knowr
! position in the Republican party or inau
ence in the country, have been selected
as counsellors in national affairs an(
heads of the great departments Of the
government. Nor does the case of the
first Secretary Of State, appointed as q
compliment, differ in character from the
other threee. Not only on cabinet but il
other Offices there is reason to believe
that the President has been under the in
fluence of patrons. Why was he so blind
to Thomas Murphy whose gifts have be-
come notorious, and when the demand fol
his removal was irresistible the Preslden,
accepted his resignation with an effusior
Of sentiment natural toward patron, but
without justification in the character oi
the retiring officer.
have now completed the survey 0
the two typical instances, nepotism and
gift-taking, officially com pensated, in
which we are compelled to see the Presi-
dent. In these things he shows himself.
Here is no portrait drawn by critic or en-
emy. 1t is the original who stands forth
saying; "Behold the generosity prac.
tice to my relations at the expense of the
public service In this open exhibition
We see how the Presidency, instead of a