Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-09
WASHING EON ana GRANT-CON-s
ERAsrs.

wAsHEENGEON AMI GRAN7-CON-,
TRAsTs.
Il HE faetthat someAof Grants eatl,usias.
nc but unthinking supporters viii occasion
any speak of bin as the i3Seccnd Washing
ton" is sure to provoke contrasts not at all
complimentary to Grant. Difidepce ever
accompanies capacity. Great abilities en-
able their possesserst TO seesthe weakness Of
human nature, and how liable the best en-
dowed are to err. Such perceptions do not
enter infeior minds. Thus, saystbe Pitts
bnrgh Post, the truly gIeat assume The dis,
charge of important public trusts with fear
and anxiety, whilst men of small capacity
undertake them with foolhardiness, not
conprehending the difficulties and respon-
sibillties attending their proper execution.
Washington said, when entering upon his
ttst term as President of the United States:
Il feel, in the execution of my arduous Of
ice, how much shall stand in need of the
countenance and aid of every friend to my
self, of every friend to the Revolution, and
Of every lover OF good governments
Granif said, on similar occasion: "The
responsibilities of the position l feel, but
accept them without fear"
Another. Washington said-"So far as
i knew my own mind, 1 would not be in
the remotest degree influenced in making
nominations by motive arising from the ties
of family or blood" How many relations
has Grant appointed to Office, merely be-
cause they were relations?
Still another. Washington would lot re-
ceive any pay for bis Revolutionary services
as commander Of our armies, nor would he
take presents. Here the contrast presented
by the conduct of Grant, is painfully broad
and conspicuous. The ignoble facts are
too numerous an3 too familiar 10 render ci-
tations needful. These contrasts come like
voices from the grave, to reproach the sad
degeneracy of the times, AID call, trumpet
tongued, for restoration of honesty, capa-
bilty and patriotism in the administration
of public affairs.
Another extract from Irving's Life of
Washington shows q most alarming degen-
eracy in morals, in patriotism, in social
purity, in political uprightness among our
high public functionaries, as compared with
the past. The author says-vol. ", chap.
IS: rF
Through bis EWashlngton'sl indefatiga-
bic eXertions two companies were formed
under the patronage of the governments of
these States, Virginia and Maryla1dl, for
opening the navigation of the Potomac and
james Rivers, and he was appointed Presi-
dent of both. By unanimous vote of the
Assembly of Virginia, fifty shares in the
Potomac, and one hundred in the James
River company, were appropriated for his
benefit; to the end that, while the great
works he had promoted would remain
monuments of his glory, they might also
be monuments Of the gratitude of his coun-
try. The aggregate amount of these shares
was about forty thousand dollars.
Washington was exceedingly embar-
raised by the appropriation. 10 decline so
noble and unequivoc2l 3 testimonial Of the
good opinion and coed will of bis country
men, might be construed into disrespect,
yet he wished to be perfectly free to exer-
else his judgment aud express his opinion
n the mater, without being liable to the
least suspicion of interested motives.
"While, however, he declined the prof
fered shares for his own benefit, he init
mated q disposition to receive them in
trust, to be applied to the use Of some OBJ
ject or Institution of public nature. His
wishes were complied with, and the shares
were ultimately appropriated by him to in
stitutions devoted to public education"
Compare this noble forbearance, adds
the Post, with the gift-taking greed of the
last successor of Washington. Official sur
rounGings also mark the same difference
and indicate an equal Generalization.
The example Of the head runs through al
the members Of the State, from the Presi-
dent down to the lowest menials in office.
Bribery and corruption stalk through the
land. Senators buy their seats. Legisla-
tors vote money into their own pockets
under the forms of unreasonably increased
salaries. Constitutions are ignored, and
pleasure excursions across the Atlantic are
paid for out of the public treasury. Mem
berg of Congress and other public func-
tionsries confederate in Credit Mobilier,
pl1nder the treasury Of some twenty-seven,
millions, and when suspected, pretend to
investigate and expose, only to cover up
and conceal;-a large sum is accidentally
traced into the hands of some Congressman
who is anoted engineer; he refuses 10 &C
count for it and is still retained at the
head Of one of the great subsidized works of
the country, uninjured by the exposure.
This case, as well as the Senators charged
with purchasing their seats and neverthe-
less unhurt by the corruption, are deplora-
bic proofs of the general Generalization of
the present day-that the great scramble of
life is for riches, and that their possession
sanctifes the means of acquiring them, and
places the possessor high on the scale Of re-
speciality in proportion to the amount he
has clutched.
&Irvings Life, vol. v, chap. l. Inaugural,
1863. tIrvings Life, vol. v, chap 4.
a