The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-01
Change of Policy in the Administration.
WASHINGTON, September 81.

WASHINGTON, DcpComDer Il.
The Postmaster General and Secretary Of
the Treasury, under whom the vast bulk of our
Federal offices in the Southern States are held,
have determined to dismiss any person hold
ing office against whom any charges of inca
pacity or doubtful official responsibility may
be made with sufficient substantiation in the
way of facts and competent authority. 1t is
admitted by both these officers that large
number of persons, entirely unfit by social
status or education, have worked their way into
these positions. 1t is now proposed to make so
much of concession to the respectable ele-
ment of Southern society as to weed these
miserable creatures out, as fast as they can be
reached. The late troubles in the South have
brought not few of these characters to the
surface, and it is not wondered that there was
so much dissatisfaction expressed. Without
rejecting upon the character of the former
Postmaster General and Secretary Of the Treas
ury, it is quite evident that they were grossly
deceived, and if a healthier state Of feeling is
to be encouraged in the South, it is admitted
that the Federal patronage must be in the
hands of only superior men. 1t is possible
that this sentiment will soon prevail in every
one Of the executive departments of the gov
ernment. This importation Of Federal office
holders from other States than those in which
they are appointed has long been looked upon
as a glaring mistake, and steps will be taken
to remedy the evil. Now that there are indi-
cations of a cessation of the hostile spirit re-
Gently exhibited in portions of the Southern
States, the causes of the troubles are beg inning
to be analyzed and commented upon. The
President, it appears, in the light of recent
events has not improved his opinions of the
political guerillas who infest the South and fill
the Southern Offices National and State.
Pending the uprising in New Ooreans he was
constantly beset by carpet-baggers, who poured
in here from the South and infested the Presi-
Dental Office with highly elaborate tales of
blood murder and unchecked devastation. 1t
is learned that the President remarked of these
worthless, speaking of Senators and Represen-
tatives, that, whenever there was a shot fired
or any sort of disturbance of the peace, these
people at once congregated at Washington,
instead of remaining among their constituents
and using their efforts to preserve order and
to bring the refractory element back to quiet
and peace This is a phrase of their official
functions which they do not appreciate, and,
prefering whole skin to the glory of heroic
martyrdom, their appearance at Washington is
generally the forerunner of another outburst
Of irrepressble popular Indignation. The sit
uation of affairs in the South is to-day COM
mented upon more favoraby. 1t is admitted
in high official quarters to be impossible to say
what moment may bring forth. at this time,
however, there is encouragement to hope for
healthier condition of things. 1t is admitted,
however, that nothing short of a radical change
of policy will bring enduring peace and pros
perity in the unfortunate States of the South.
Such change however, cannot be dictated in
any State.
PHILADELPHIA, September %.
The Pittsburg Evening Telegraph, an influ-
commenting upon the semi-otficial statement
teegraphed hence last night, that the Presi-
dent, Secretary Bristow and Postmaster Gen
eral Jewell propose to prune out of the South
ern Federal offices all officials charged with
incapacity, &C., says "This means a clearing
out of the carpet-baggers and scalawags, white
and black, who have brought discredit on the
Republican party, and been one of the most
active agencies at the South in fomenting
strife and keeping alive the embers of the
civil war. 1t will be such concession to the
respectable elements of Southern society, that,
unless human nature is different there from
what it is any place else, it should enlist a
strong influence against political corruption on
the one hand and mob law on the other We
think President Grant proposes to throw an
influence South in favor of good government
that will take away all excuse for mob violence,
and will rally to the side oflaw and order the
best class of the Southern people, a class that
will be abundantly able, when once resolved,
to repress secret or open demonstrations against
any body of people, no matter what may be
their race or political affiliations. If
thorough wedding out of Incompetence and
corruption from the Federal officers at the
South will promote this grand reform, will aid
in restoring peace and good fellowship, let us
have it at once, even if it does SEND focking
back to the North crowd of political buzzarda
who have dishonored every profession they
ever made"