The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-25
Grant,c Gnilt

SlSSiittou w
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Grants Guilt.
There seem to be but few OF the northern
Journals that have any correct idea as to the
cnormity Of the offence committed by Presi-
den. GRANT and his tool DAVENPORT. The
preyalen. notion in tn blessed and intelli-
gent region north OF the Potomac is that in
asmuch as those officials claim to have used
the money to prevent frauds at the elections,
the country need notinquire whether they
stole the money from the Government or
not. In this State, however, the press takes
a different view Of the question. For eX-
ample, the Norfolk Virginian, whose editor,
Captain j. s. TUCKER, is a lawyer, says:
sSow, admitting for the sake Of argu-
ment and Of truth, IL it be true, that these
frauds were committed by the" Democrats
on the registration lists, does that justify q
United States commissioner and q super
visor of elections in the exhibition OF vlo-
Ience and contempt for the rights OF citizens
who did not like General Grants admins.
tration? Did the purging OF the registry OF
many names which had no right on it justify
the nayment OF So, 900 in three months ont
OF the Treasury without authority OF law
Is striking names from registration llst
detecting and bringing to trial persons
entity Of crimes against the United States! :.
Was it ever intended that supervisor OF
election should be detective! Is ne Drst
to hunt mp, then to try, ana Inall! 10 syn
fence the accusedi Is he witness, !udge
and Jury, all in one!
..tnd is the President OF the United
lnI wi q that
he knowingly and Wiliully ordered the pay
ment OF large sums Of money for purposes
not only unauthorized by law, but contrary
alike TO honesty and dccency?"
These questions indicate the very right
OF the case. The Petersburg Appeal also
has n long article taking substantially the
same positions.
How different must have been the train
ing OF the northern and the southern Jour-
nalists who thus differ as widely as the poles
as to the nature Of an act performed by Gov
eminent official. The southerner knows the
difference between the Federal and the
State Governments, and knows also what
offences may be punished by the one and
what by the other. The northerner and the
southern negroes regard the United States
Government rs paternal and omnipotent in
its nature. They think that GRANT has
perfect right to expend the money OF the
Government in keeping the Democrats out
OF power. Even the most intelligent Of the
Republican journalists Of New Iork-nen
who write well on almost any subject that
comes I'D, and are conscientious enough to
approve the right when they see where it
is-fail utterly to perceive that there was
any harm in GRANTS using money appro-
priated to the secret service fund for the
laudable purpose of making his own re-
election sure. Did he not defeat GREELEY by
bis vigilance: Did he not prevent the Dem
ocrats from fraudulent counting? To
which the Democrats will reply, Perhaps
he did prevent false returns being made by
the Democrats, but did he not assist his own
side to make false ones Even, however,
admitting all that is claimed FOR GRANT by
his apologists, his crime is none the less.
PAUL CLIFFORD stole from the rich to give
to the poor. GRANT violates the law to
keep the law from being violated. But in
the name Of free government, what is to
become Of us il the immense revenues OF
the Federal Government may be employed
by the party in power to perpetu'
ate its own rule? Concede that GRANT
would not willingly ialsiiy the true story OF
the ballot-box; and what does that prove!
WILLIAMS, and AKERMAN, and BELKNAp
would use the money for the worst OF pur
poses. They would not he too good to pu,
some OF it into their own pockets; and they
certainly would not hesitate one moment tc
use it in any manner, however corrupt OF
corrupting, for the purpose Of keeping the
Democrats out of power. What turned the
scale against GREELEY in 1872? The result
in North Carolina in August. That State
went for the Republicans; and the Democrat:
OF the whole country virtually gave up the
contest. How was that State carried for thu
Republicans? We understand now. GRAM
and his Acknowledgement used the none!
collected as taxes in Virginia and Nortl
Carolina to secure that reSult-in effect, tt
secure his own reelection. But all this wa
right! He beat the Democrats ! "The enc
iustifes the 1neans'! The Federal Admin
istration is the Federal Government, and thu
Federal Government can do no wrong. i
put down the rebellion, and thereby earned
. the right to do whatsoever it may choose t.
do. The Administration may mlawfulll
take money from the treasury, corrupt tn,
people OF every large city, carry ever!
State having in it such city, and thereb.
continue itself in power, yet the northern
people can sec nothing'to censure in such
violation OF law and such misappropria
tion Of the Government money.
-------------------
The Philadelphia Times has long articl
on GRANTS completely with DAVENPORT
crime, commencing as follows: