The Portland daily press., 1874-03-10

ed Buffers purpose to have the impression get
abroad, that he stands very high in executive
favor But it is not so. Gen. Grant IS aito-
gether too manly and magnanlmous to permit
his personal likes or dislkes TO influence his Oh
fetal action; on the contrary think he would
take some pains to show that he was not affect
ed by such considerations; but he is no admirer
of Buffers, and would be very glad If some
better man would undertake the task of regu-
latpg the political affairs of the Bay State
OF course having once nominated Collector,
he could not with any propriety inflict upon him
the ind igpity of withdrawing his name, when
no charge had been made impugning his char
acter or capacity. The case was for the Senate
to deal with. That they dealt with it injudi-
ciously is their fault not his But think, with
all Difference to the majority of this body, that
they did very Quixotic and very indiscree'
thing when they volunteered to take off OF Gen
Buffers hands a quarrel between him and at
least half the people of Massachusetts, when it
would so much better have comported with
sense of delcacy, and the canons of propriety
to let them settle it among themselves. A Col
lectur of the Port may be colossal power in
politics, when he can carry the people with
so these gentlemen will find thatIthe confirma-
ton of Simmons in defiance of the expressed
will of majority of the people of his State
was political bunder, as well as breach of
Senatorial etiquette.
To listen to the representations of the news
papers, one would infer that the Revenue laws,
about the operation of which there is so much
discussion, were of quite recent origin. They
are as old as the government itself. Under all
adm Illustrations the mciety system has prevail
ed and large sums have annually been distrib-
uted to customs officers, the proceeds of seizures
and forfetures for violation of those statutes.
The emoluments of those officials under Lin
coin and johnson, were greater, with the sin
gle exception of Hiram Barney, than they are
now. Barney received per annum $20,0C0
Draper $56,OOO, Preston King $50, 900, Smythe
$4,000, Grlnnell $4,000, Murphy $41 900 and
Arthur $2S,OOO
During Grants term tie Treasury Depart
ment has been urgent and outspoken in oppose
tiou to perpetuation of the moiety system.
Mr.. Boutwell, is on record against it at frequent
intervals during his whole term of Office. Mr..
Richardson has always maintained the same
views. Gen. Grant entertains similar opinions.
| Congress alone is responsible for any defect in
the revenue laws, and if any oppression or
hardships have been practised the proper source
of redress for them is through the representa-
tves who serve the people on the floor OF the
| House.
Undoubtedly good results will ensne from the
inquiry now pending before the Committee of
Ways and Means in Washington. Mr. Dodge's
statement produced a profound impression,
both GU account of the ability with which it
was made and because of the sympathy felt for
the venerable narrator. The case of his firm
! has been an incomprehensible mystery to the
| community ever since the initial proceedings
| were commenced. Why under the sun, he
should go to Washington, and importune Sec
! Rotary Boutwell, to let his firm pay into the
treasury $271,000, the Secretary all the while
urging him not to pay cent, promising to re-
NIT every penalty he might have unwittingly
incurred, is one Of the strangest things in life.
He now confesses he was fool for doing it,
but throws in by way of excuse the fact that
Mr.. Boutwell, was at that time meditating
change from the Cabinet to the Senate and
might not be in office when the matter came
up. But Mr.. Boutwell, really provided for this
contingency at the time for all practicable pur.
poses, by promising that in case he did go out
of Office, he wonld charge upon his successor
the treating of that condition as contract to
be kept.
The accounts of the terrorism established by
Jayne amuse those people here who know the
man. 70 appreciate the picture of him which
has got into print, it is necessary to bear in
mind that he is cripple-that he hobbies about
on crutches-that his countenance is cadaver-
ous-his body shadowy, and he looks for all the
world as it he would fall to pieces if he were
out in sharp breeze. The idea of such fell
low summoning to his lair the rich merchants
of New York and frightening them into COM
promise whereby they consent to pay enormous
sums to the government although they don't
owe it dollar in equity, is trife stagger-
ing. Nevertheless he was an informer,
and an informer ranks next to the COM
mon hangman in popular odium. Worse
than that, he had for legal adviser
Gen. B. f. Butler M. G. of Mass. That was
weight enough to pull him down. When gov
eminent official retains Congressional repre-
sentative as counsel in cases which not i'm
probably may form the subject of legislative
action and when the member consents to be so
the moral mechanism of counsel and client
The whole thing is an otfense to taste as well as
conscience. The law of gravitation would
probably have carried Jayne under in this
melee, had he stood alone, but weighted with
Butler he sank without a struggle.
We may as well look the matter straight in the
face first as last Buffers friendship is more dam
gerous than his enmity. The Republican party
has suffered greater odium on his account than
from all other causes put together. The back
pay folly, was his progeny. The Sanborn con-
tract, and the Jayne inquisitions are of the same
paternity. Even the President himself, than
whom purer man never held public trust, is
subject to reproach On the mere suspcion-un-
founded at that-that he looks forbearingly on
this machiavellian politician.
In changing his politics Butler did not
change his policy. He incarnates the ancient
creed of the defunct democracy. He is fair
type of the class of public men who bore sway
before 1860 and whom restoration of the
Bourbons would invest with power.
The Republicans must make haste to lepu-
date his fatal leadership While Massachusetts
sees fit to send him to Congress- she alone is re-
sponsble for him. He has won victory over
his colleagues by the help of Republican
senators but it will prove barren one to him
and hurtful to the party. The temper of the
people is getting reused and it will not do to
trife with it. The Republican party has strong
hold upon the sympathies the affections, the
patriotic memories of loyal men all over the
union. 1t has instituted great reforms, admin
istered the government with firmness and wis
dom and its unity can only be impaired by the
declension of its leaders from the high standard
of rectitude, which has hitherto characterized
it. The executive department of the govern
ment is being conducted with integrity and eff
cheney. To the national legislature watchful
and jealous public is looking with straining eye
and eager expectation, for the re-establishmentof
the finances upon stable foundation, careful
revision of all laws which are oppressive or
inequitable, and strict adherence to the policy
which will promote justice, insure tran
guilty and advance the prosperity of the great
Republic YARMouTH
Gen. Hersey,
| 10 the Editor of the Press: