The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-02-05
General Grant, the Republican Party alu
the Presidential Succession.


October and November, there has been a
marked decline in the relations of unity, con-
idence and harmonious cooperation which
previously existed between the administration
and the ruling chiefs of the Republican party.
The general results of those elections disclosed
such unexpected reductions in the republican
vote, from the outlet of the Hudson to the
head springs of the Mississippi, such prevail
ing spirit of apathy or discord or mutiny in
the republican camp, such startling indications
of great impending political reaction as to be
noted among the remarkable events of the dy-
ing year inethe late annual Message of .ne
President to Congress. His ailusion to the
subject is very brief, being only the. passing
remark that political partiSanship has almost
ceased to exist, especially in the agricultural
regions;'' but time, place and circumstances
considered, this is very significant hint from
a republican President to republican Con-
gres. 1t has something of the ring of declara-
tion of independence from General Grant, or
of warning that he must no longer be ex-
pected blindy to conduct his administration
in the interests of the republican party, when
political partsanshp" has almost ceased to
exist among the people,
This warning Of the Message has been fol-
lowed by General Grant with the absolute
abandonment of the radical policy of mill
tary regulation of the local affairs of the recon-
structed Southern States. According to the
example of military Intervention in support of
kellogg in louisiana Davis of Texas with a
convenient decision from tho Supreme Court
of his State in his favor as Governor, had
reason to believe that his application to the
President for a detachment of the United
States army to maintain him in his Office would
be answered with the advance of squadron of
cavalry, reg iment of infantry, and a battery
of artillery upon the headquarters Of the pre-
suming posse of democratic State officers elect
assembled at Austin. But to the consterna-
ton of Davis, General Grant advises him to
submit to the will of the people; and, in
answer toa second appeal for martial law in
his behalf, the unfortunate Davis is fatty told
that he has no case, and that his request can
not be granted This is equivalent to proc
lamation from the President that he will ,pur.
sue no further the pro6tless and disastrous
radical, policy of armed Intervention in the
settlement of The contested elections of the
Southern States Having thus crossed the
Rubicon, General Grant has no further inter-
est in the maintenance Of the Kellogg usurpa-
ton in Louisiana Mr.. Morton has dropped
the prinaa jacie case of Pinchback as claim
ant for & seat in the Senate, and if Governor
Kellogg is not to be tried by new State cleo
ton he must, at least, hereafter, take care of
himself These Louisiana usurpers are among
the monstrosities and. dead weights of the
republican party, of which, in the opinion of
General Grant the party cannot be too soon
relieved. He has had enough of them, and
will no more be troubled by them, be The con.
sequences what they may to The carpet bag
gers" or to the republican party in the South
ern States.
In this important matter General Grant, in
his quiet way, has assumed the responsibility
of acting upon his own judgment, as in bis
several nominations for a Chief Justice His
less rs much surprise to the republican mag
mates Of the Senate as was his nomination of
Cushing for "the highest judicial office in the
government" sitter the confirmation as Minister
to Spain. He does not seek a conflict with the
Senate in its official capacity, but he will not
recognize the Senate as party machine. He
lost nothing of the popular confidence from the
Senatorial bolt against him of 1872, and he,
perhaps, fears nothing from any combination
that may be organized against him for 1876.
| Whether lie contemplates third term or the
| naming of his successor. or retirement from
the field and the position of neutral in refer
ence to the republican nominating convention
of 1876, we do not know 1t is apparent, how
ever, that since the State elections of. last au-
tumn the opinion has been gaining strength,
that General Grant will not be the republican
candidate for the Presidential succession; that
the republican managers are casting about tor
new man; that numerous aspirants for the
prize in both houses of Congress have already
been discovered that the President compre-
engagements with his party, and that, as the
| ;tco1 ,c nf Inf ho ic
free to pursue his own course henceforward,
and viii, so pursue it, regardless of party, in
structions~ and solely in view of a good record
for his administration in the judgment of an
intelligent people. q u
The spirit of JackSonian independence man
ifested by General Grant in the recent acts to
which we have adverted may be readily eX-
planned upon this theory but it may otherwise
be accounted for. Whether it is his purpose
to enter the canvass as. a candidate for a third
Presidential term, or to withdraw in 1876, and,
in retiring, to name his successor, after the
manner of Jackson, or whether he has deter
mined upon an absolute retirement from the
strife of party politics, leaving the succession
to take care of itself, after the example OF
Monroe, it may still be the purpose of General
Grant to establish the'rghts of the Executive
against the dictaton of party cabal in the
Senate. Or he may still desire that the general
policy of his administration may be adopted
and pursued by his successor in office, and in
this view he may be preparing the way for the
probable contingency of a new balance of pow
er, fresh from, the people, in the next Congress.
In any event, in his abandonment of the radi-
cal policy of the bayonet in the regulation of
the local elections of the Southern States, Cen
eral Grant has done much to regain that pub
tic confidence which he lost through his armed
intervention in the local affairs of Louisiana.
If we have in this change of base only the
soldiers retreat from an untenable position it
is, like his retreat from the St. Domingo scheme
Of annexation, an encouraging example from or
truth of his first inaugural declaration, that he
has "no policy to enforce in opposition to the
will of his people,"