The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-12-21
Psnsioning Grant.

NJ tsTt4rr1ox. Dec 14.-Seuat0r Logan
Grant bill revives the old discussion. Inc
vote in the military committee % reporting
i Ii fayarabIy was party one-Ssnators Lo-
/ gan. Cameron. Harrison, Sewell and HaW-
/ lev in the alternative; Coekrell, Maxey. ana
] Grover in the negative, and hampton
absent. Senator Maxey was asked why ne
j opposed it. ssOn general principles" said
be. 1.-THE bill will never become law.
/ Why should it? General Grant is not poor,
nor is he disabled in any way; but he Is
strong. healthy and very rich. Has he not
been fully reunnnerated9 The people made
/ him President for two terms and IN every
other way that was proper rewarded MIN
for all he has ever done. No, sir: the bill
should never become law"
We have seen no ground for changing
our first opinion of the bill. It is in
violation of the Constitution. An IN
novation upon the usage of the country.
There is no public emergency calling
for it. Grants course as political
intriguant and sectional agitator after
he left the Presidency, voided his claim
if he ever had it, to distinction, that
was not bestowed upon any of his pre-
decessors, from Washington down. Both
sections oppose it. The South is adverse
to it and the North hasn't asked IT..
Here are some public expressions:
Washington Post, (Democratic.)]
The proposition to take General Grant
from private life and distinguish him from
all other men who fought to preserve the
Union, by retiring him as General of the
Army, with pay accordingly, ought to be
acceptable to nobody He has been, sin
recognition of his eminent services" as the
bill has it, most amply rewarded. Posses
sing no especial qualifications for the office,
he was twice elected President of the United
States, the same honor conferred upon
George Washington, whose exertions CON
tributed so much to place US in a position
where the services of General Grant, or any
other citizen, could have accomplished any
thing. Since his retirement from the White
House he has, by voluntary contributions
and in other ways, become rich man, and
on account thereof, and of the social posi-
ton derived from his occupancy of the
Presidential Office one of the first citizens
of the country.
Philadelphia Times, Independently
General Grant was not content to com :
mand the homage of the whole people by
a1orning private citizenship. He plunged
into partisan strife; sought Presidential
nomination in the face of the earnest pro-
tests of a large majority of his party !;
suffered a humiliating defeat, and then
offended both friend and foe by the most
uudignifed and reckessly partisan speeches
delivered in the contest He deliberately
chose to appeal to conclave of faction
rather than to the country, and his disap-
pointments were tempered by generous gifts,
making him pecuniarily independent for all
time to come. His ungentlemanIy and
unsoldierly defamation of General Hancock
placed him beyond the pale of respect in
the army aud beyond the pale of respect in
the intelligent circles of all parties. The
truth demands the statement that the
passage of Senator Logan's bill restoring
General Grant nominally to the army to be
pensiqned fer life, would find few approving
voices among the people, He has volunta-
rily descended from the high portal of fame
the country gratefully gave him, and made
himself low partisan and political
specuIator, and he has thus absoIved the
nation from the duty of lavishing unap-
preciated honors upon him, until he is
richer in fortune than were Washington,
Jackson and Lincoln combined at their
death.