, 1874-12-26

letter in which reference was made to the in |
trigues to accomplish the retirement Of Sec |
retary Bn1s1ow mud Postmaster General |
JEWELL from the Cabinet. It is gratifying
to know that these villainous schemes have
all been abortivo, and nro likely to continue
to be so to the end. Tho President of tho
United States is always moro or less subject
to imposition. Nearly oil those who approach
him with ndvice are moro or less selfish, and
directly or indirectly have personal ends to
accomplish or personal griefs to avenge. The
fact that these persons aro high in official or
social station, and arc men Of influence in
politics and society, docs not change the fact
that they are subject to tic frailties and
weaknesses of humanity, and arc more or less
swayed in their judgment Of public matters
by their own personal ambition and interests.
: In the caso of Gen. Dn1srow, tho appoint
ment was entirely unsought for. Tho Treas
ury Department had been run at odds and
ends for several years, md, as was disclosed
by tho concurrent testimony Of Secretary
RICHARDSON and Assistant Secretary SAWYER,
was so loosely managed TINT the chiefs Ind
no knowledge Of what was going on under
their very noses, aud no subordinate was in
the least embarrassed by any sense Of official
responsibility. Both Of these officers dcolar-
ed TINT it WIS impossible for them to person.
ally supervise the business Of the Treasury.
It may bo we'll imagined whit the condition
of the Treasury business was when these
men left the Department. The President,
with excellent judgment, selected Gen. BR1s-
TOW for Secretary. That officer at onco nd
dressed himself to the reorganization of the
Office, to bringing order out Of Chaos, and es-
tablishing responsibility where there was
none. Ho soon demonstrated that it
was not impossible for the Secretary
Of tho Treasury to personally con-
troll aud direct the business. Instead
of blindly aflixing his signature to tho official
papers presented to him by the head of every
petty bureau, le made himself the intelligent
director aud executive officer, from whom all
orders proceeded after their object and pur-
pose had been considered and approved.
Tho result Of all this personal supervision has
been to create IN opposition to him on the
part Of the legion Of lobbyists, claim-agents,
do business under the old, loose, and irre~
sponsiblo system, These mon have found
out that it is not sufficient to do business
with tho subordinate and lave the Secretary
approve aa q matter Of courso. The subordi-
nato is low mere clerk, who does nothing
but what lo is ordered to do, aud whose
transactions arc not approved as a matter oi
course, but only after rs thorough an inves
tlgation as if it originated with the Secretary
himself. Consequently there is change do
manded, and appeals to the President upor
countless matters Of detail have been pre-
sented, and Ills interference demanded b.
those who presume upon their personal ol
political prominence that they have righ
to layo things done when and as' the,
pleased.
In precisely tho same manner there ha
grown up war upon Postnaster-Gen enera
JEWELL. This gentleman was recalled from
tho Mission to Russia to take charge Of th
grcnt Post Office Department. That Depart
nent had become TN expensive ono, md wa
annually falling further behind in tho relativ
proportion Of it's expenditures and receipts
It had failed to be anything lilso self.supporl
ing. Tic President, III selecting man t
take charge Of It under auo!, circumstances
selected one who WINS a thoroughly educate
business man,-one whose Life had beon d
voted to the management Of large busines
dependent for it's success upon its detail
Mr. JEWELL hnd successfully mastered h
pwn private business, mud rs an Executi'
oticer lad won great credit rs Governor
ponneohout. Ho was induced to accept Il
pf1ce, aud ut once, with the natural il
pulas Of practioal business ,nan, &
dressed himself to reduce tho large G
cesa Of expenditure over income witho
{mpairing tho efficiency of the public servlc
Naturally lo investigated details. aud who
ho found leak he stopped it, ind where I
useless expenditure he Topped It OF, a'
whero IN axtravagant ono lie reduced 1t,
applied to the public service tint sano prt
tical skill mud Judgment TINT no would In
employed In his own private business und
Ike cireumatances. OF course this was oil
gstlar dlsploaslng to those who look up
tAa pnl!ie sary,es ~ Iii ola'smoNy naa'y i,,sti'