Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-17

there had been a great deal of talk at
Washington about the publication of
Federal offices at the South, but that
the authorities were very slow In be-
ginning the desirable work. More than
a month ago Grant was reported to
have said that he would remove every
corrupt and incompetent official in the
South, and if he could not find honest
and capable men in either party to I'LL
their places, he would import such men.
The South has already had a surfeit of
carpet-baggers, and if Grant wants
honest and capable men to discharge
the duties of Federal Offices in the
South, he. has but to draw upon the
Democratic party and he will get them.
But he is not so much concerned as to
the high standing and incorruptability
Of the men woo fill the offices, as he.is
TO have men who are ready and willing
to do the dirty work of his administra-
ton. The result of Investigations in
Texas were made public ten days or
two weeks ago, and they dis
close deplorable amount OF official
corruption, and Notwithstanding it
was promised by both Secretary Bris-
tow and Postmaster General Jewell
that the work in Texas should be
prompt and thorough, not a single
ofice-holder in that State has been re-
moved. There is reason to suspect
that this promised publication of Fed
eral Offices at the South is amply a
campaign dodge, and that we shall hear
little or nothing of it after the cleo
tions of next month. We advanced
this idea several days ago, and we find
our position sustained by the Washing
ton correspondent of the Ne1C York
World, who writes under date of the
18th inst. as follows:
The reports from this city that Sec
rotary Bristow and the Postmaster
General have begun work of reform
which is to be followed up by a general
removal of all inefficient and corrupt
officials of the Government throughout
the South will be found after the fall cleo
tons to have very little foundation. 1t
is thought by many that if Secretary
Bristow had the power of the President
he would make an earnest effort to
improve the character of the public
service, but neither he nor Postmaster
General Jewell is likely to have his own
way if he starts out on such a career.
1t is believed, if the President had ever
been ready for such a reform, that it
would hive been undertaken during
the last session of Congress, when he
was understood TO be expecting the
support of Southern Conservatives
and eY-military leaders for a third
term, and that, having failed In
this expectation of help from them, and
having completely surrendered himself
to the vindictive policy of Patterson,
Spencer, Kellogg and Williams, he is
| not likely to remove the persons ap-
pointed 70 Office by their influence.
1t is observed that Texas, where it is
said these changes will be begun. is a
State where the taxpayers, having the
Government in their own hands, the re-
moval of these Federal officials is of far
less consequence than in those unfor-
tunate States where they operate the full
machinery of plumber. both State and
Federal There is nobody here that
believes for moment that this reform
policy is to be applied to Louisiana, and
removals made of Casey, Herwig,
Packard, Beckwith, and the other
| Federal officials who have been the
| foremost In promoting the Kellogg
regime of thieves, nor is it believed that
he would wi lingly see Judge Durell
impeached.
In Alabama, where such persons as
Spencer and Hays have dictated the
Government appointments, there Is no
talk of change.
The South Carolina Office holders are
one and ali supporting the election of
Chamberlain, the ring candidate for
Governor; and the Reform Republican
candidate, Judge Green, has to fight not
only their influence with the negroes,
but the well known Eympathies of the
President himself for the robb6r candi-
date. 1t is understood here that, so
far as South Carolina matters are in
volved. Senator Patterson has the
Presidents ear completely, and the
Office holders there are acting as both
would desire.
In Virginia, Federal marshal, fol-
lowing the usual custom in Federal
courts South, has just packed, with
Radical partisans, a jury having before
them the caseof the Petersburg judges
of election, who, if convicted by such
instrumentahties, will be sent to the
Albany penitentiary. Another Gov
eminent appointee, in Virginia, who is
Collector of Internal Revenue, and per-
jured himself to obtain Office, is the
Administration candidatefOr Congress,
and strongly backed by its patronage.
The Postmaster General makes his
first important appointment, that of
mail agent at large, worthless negro,
in order to conciliate Fred Douglass
organ, the National NelV Era.
The appointees under the Depart
ment of Justice are the most notorious
and shameless partisans of the whole
class, and instead of removing any of
them, Mr.. Williams has Just conferred
on his marshals the power of appoint
ing the lowest partisans all over the
counties of the South, and given these
subordinates the use of Federal troops
to work out schemes of private malice
and black mail without restraint.
1t is a notorious fact that all the
leading officials ofthe South, and many
of those at the North, do not even pre-
tend to look personally after the regu-
lar duties of their Offices, but keep
some deputy, paid at Government ex-
pense, to attend to the Government
business, while they manipulate poll
tics, nominations, and jobs before Con-
gress and the State Legislatures. At
ter holding on to this system for five or
six years, it is absurd now to suppose
that the President will change it at an
hour when he is relying on the carpet
baggers and their friends for help In
his personal aspirations. 1t is well
known, also, thai the President dislikes
excessively having his time taken up
by hearing the competing claims Of