The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-06-03
President Grant and the Third
Term.

President Grant and the Third
Term.
ElitOn IntClIIgruoer.
President Grants recent declarations
in his letter to Gen. Harry White, Presi-
dent OF the Pennsylvania Republican
Convention, are such Us they should Dc,
and contain such Us he should have pro-
mulgated months ago. He Couldnot but see
that the Republican party was suffering
on account Of the opinion that prevailed
among the people, to large extent, that
he desired third election, and he should
have disabused the public mind long ago,
not withholding an expression upon
mere punctiliO. :.
As President Grant indicates in his
letter TO General White there is nothing
in the Constitution to prevent Fresl'
dents being elected for a third term, but
President Grant, or any other man with
an ounce of perception, could not have
failed to see months ago that the senti.
ment Of the Republican party wassh0cked
at the idea, and instead OF maintaining u
silence on The subject he should long ago
have corrected an opinion that he could
net have failed to see had obtained large
ly among the people.
In this communication. il may not BIO
amiss to say something in relation to
President Grants administration. As to
the general policy of this administration
there is not a great deal with which to
find fault. Taken altogether 1t has prob.
ably been ~ good ~ we had any right TO
expect or even rs it was possible for it
to be under the circumstances. He came
into office at time when there was much
to do. The country had passed through
four years OF civil war, to which was
added four years Of Andrew JOhnson's
"p0licy," and Grant grapplCl with the
difficulties which he found with much en-
ergy, and has to great extent brought
order out Of chaos. His general policy
has been good, but still he could have
done better. His summer lOungings at
Long Branch could have been fOregOne.
lie could have refrained from putting on
snobbish airs and from fast horses. lie
would have done more credit to himself
had he exhibited LinColn'S plain common
sense without assuming an exClusiveness
that partakes more OF the European au.
tocrat than OF the plainness Of the
great public servant Of tho democratic
people Of the United States. President
Grant had it in his power to choke cut
the back pay iniquity Of the Forty.second
Congress, but no approved 1t, thereby
doubling his salary, and eyincing self.
ishncss, not to say avariCiOusness, wholly
inexCusablc. The salary Of the Presi-
dent should be such as would enable him
to maintain the dignity Of his office; this
he could do with the former salary and
the contingent appropriations which Con.
grcss was never niggardly In making.
So far as the West Nirginians are con-
Cerned, President Grant has done but lit
tic to win their regard. The Republic
cans Of our State have been his staunchest
advocates. They have twice given him
the vote Of the State. They have sup.
ported his administration from the bC.
ginning. While murmurings Of discon.
tent both loud and deep have been heard
from the Republicans Of other States,
those of our State have generally quietly
acQucsCcd in his acts. No thrGatenings
or mutterings Of condemnation have been
heard from our people. But how
has the President rcquited them?
Have the men who boldly espOused
the cause Of tho Union at the
commencement OF the rebellion been
recognized BY him? Have the soldiers Of
our State, who probably were rs meri-
tOrious rs President Grant, II their career
was not as brilliant, received recognition
at his hands? In answer to these inter.
rOgatories, It may be said, that In II few
instances they have, Gen. Harris is PEN
sion Agent, Gen. Duval, Collector Of In
tcrnal Revenue, these are but lOcal offices.
40 West Virginian is At the head
Of any Of the Bureaus in Washing.
ton. no West Virginian represents
the Government abroad. Not West
Virginia Union man has received
an appointment except 10 some local
office since the commencement OF Grants
term. Mr.. TOmpkins, a rebel, and Mr..
Patton, another rebel, recently received
appointments. Mr.. Patton married n
cousin Of the President, and Of course
he had to receive something in order that
Ills hxCellcncy might maintain his char
aCter for nepOtisnI. The truth of the
matter il, the President, since his second
inauguration, has permitted n West Vir.
} ginia rebel to influence the few appoint
ments he has made from this State. OF
course this line Of conduct does not en-.
dear him very much TO men who were
loyal in the late "unplcasantness." The
policy Of mercy towards rebels Is COM
mendable one. The Government should
extend its protecting wing over its crring
children, but it should not give them the
best places and turn the obcdient ones
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