The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-12-30
BristoW's Bluudec

that so far as Mr.. lIenderson's denunciation O
him was concerned he did not care to say any
thing, and wished to leave the cabinet mem
bers unnfluenced by his opinions or prejudices
decided that Henderson must be discharged
MI BrlStoW arose and said that he was op
posed to the dismissal of such a valuable coun
seor,
Grant quickly arose from his seat and abrupt
ly demanded: "Sir. do YOU sanction the infa
NOUS attack which Mr.. Henderson made OF
me-" Grants imperious manner seemed t.
ovcrawe Mr.. BristoW. and he replied that h,
did not approve the speech, and straightwa,
voted for dismissal.
Senator Morton says if Brstow had not thu
vindicated the President from the asperson
cast on him his continuance in the cabinet woulC
have been impossible.
Such is the narrative of that cabine
meeting, rs told by Senator Morton, say.
the Lancaster Intelligencer, and, if true
it illustrates in q torcibe manner the i'm
peri0usncss with which Grant bends hi
council to his purposes 1t is not singular
that most of those who compose it are
| plant tools in his hands, but better thing
We're expected Of Jewell and Bristow
particularly the latter, and, upon the new
OF llendersOn's summary removal, it wa.
matter OF general surprise that BristoW
should have submitted thereto as tamel1
as ne was represented to have done. From
the above account, accredited to a mem
Der OF Grants kitchen cabinet, it seems
that the secretary of the treasury reall,
did object to Hendersons removal, bu
succumbed to the ''mperous manner
OF his chief, and was overawed by thu
| lmpossbility of his continuance in the
cabinet If he did not vindicate Grant from
1.-The aspersions cast upon him" There
| by Mr.. BrlstoW showed himself to be ;
man of much less grit than he has hereto
tore been supposed to possess, and we
would rather believe that his original lud
ment regarding Henderson's otfense was
mistaken than credit the statement tina
after having assumed position he allow
Ell Grant to bully him from it. Such
coWardice is not becoming the men O
that tarfamed "blue grass region" whence
| bllStOW comes.
But ii he really did take to the water
as is reported, and thinks he thereby vim.
Dictated Grant from the aspersions cast up
on him-not by lIenderson's speech, bu
| by the sworn testimony of the case-thcr
he has been blind as Il mole to the DRIFT
OF these Whiskey ring cases. The asper
slons cast upon Grant have been by testi
mony which as yet stands unimpeachec
and unexplained. His close intimacy with
and freely expressed confidence in the
convicted and indicted members Of the
Whlskey ring, and his unfaltering dispo
sition to confer executive favor upon pub
lie thieves, are what has cast aspersion;
upon his public and private character
aud his quick removal of the counsel who
IN the line of his strict duty, mildly reflect
ed the testimony Of the case, only proves
that Grant WINGED because his withers
were not altogether unwrung.
| Had Bristow been the man whom q
large portion of the people took him tc
be, he would have opposed Henderson's
removal, in the cabinet and out of it. He
would have left the entire responsibility
Of that blunder with Grant, and he would
have greatly strengthened his hands by
washing them clean of all participation in
it. Had he risen superior to the Pres
ldent's "lmperlousness" and brushed aside
all considerations of continuance in place
he would have been one of the men of the
| hour. As the case stands it makes little
difference whether he was foolish enough
to agree with Grants view OF Henderson's
offense, OF was weak enough to be bullled
into it. In either event his failure to take
the tide at its flood has dwarfed him from
formidable candidate for a Presidential
| nomination to the position of a retainer
| III his chiefs ranks. He is mere tail to
the third term kite which Grant is flying
When he allowed himself to be over.
awed in that cabinet meeting he commit
ted what, III its effect upon his own pros
poets, was 4 blunder, and what to his par.
ty so beggared Of available candidates,
was almost a crime.
A second edition of the pamphlet pub
| lished a year OF two ago, entitled "Gen
Sullivan not Pensioner of Luzerne," has
just been issued. 1t contains the report
Of the Historical Society of New Hamp-
shire which fully sustains the position
taken by the descendants of the Sullivans,
that the General was not, while represent
ing New Hampshire in the Continental
Congress, receiving pay from the French
minister. Sullivan's necessities were great
at the time, from health and fortune i'm
paired in the war, and he was relieved by
personal loan from the minister. The
whole country at that time might be class
ed as pensioners as much as he, for the
French were giving money, troops and
ships to the government and individuals,
to aid in accomplishing the independence
of the United States and the humiliation
Of England. The pamphlet is published
by A. Williams & Co., Boston.
In the Opinion libel case, the respond
ents moved for demurrer with leave to
plead over. which Judge Appleton over
ruled. TO this ruling objection was made
and the case goes to the law court-so
that it will be a long time before the cases
are tried, if they ever are.
Congress is taking holiday, and no
business is done this week