Year: 1869

xns CspAnct War-Congrcns and the fresA-
dent.


The news from Washington is that Mr..
Stewart has yielded to the pressure brought
upon him and resigned the position to which
the Senate had already confirmed him. The
fight should have been continued, and the
battle in favor Of the administration would
have been won. II is evident that the Presi-
dent has accepted this resignation rather than
commence his administration by breaking a
law of the country, however obsolete it may
be and however unsuited to the institutions OF
the United States. The withdrawal of the
request made by Grant to the Senate with
reference to the law Of 1889 was after long
consultation with legal advisers, who appear
not to have fully agreed as to the necessity Of
the resignation Of Mr.. Stewart.


But there is another marked feature in the
whole affair. and that is the Tenure Of Office
bill. This is brought in at this very moment,
and its repeal by an overwhelming majority in
the House Of Representatives is an Indication
that the resignation of Mr.. Stewart is accom-
panied by q compromise between Congress
and the administration on the vexed tenure of
Office question. This action on the part of the
House win to-day be followed, doubtless, by
similar action on the part of the Senate, and
we shall have the Executive power once more
clothed with It's full authority.


There is now, in consequence of the Cabinet
vacancy, an assault upon the President by the
political rings, which desire to force into Office
some one who will represent their falling for
tunes and sustain them until they can retire
before the storm of retrenchment which Is
threatened. There is yet q chance for the
administration to become master Of the posi-
ton and drive to the wall the Treasury faction
and the political extremists. If these fancy for
. moment that they have, In sheltsring them
selves behind the feudal law of 1889,
the power to force some political
tool into the Treasury Department, they very
much mistake the calibre OF the man they are
dealing with. We have no doubt their politi-
cal states will be as sadly brushed when a new
man is named as they were when the naming
of Mr.. Stewart interfered with their cherished
ideas of forming new rings under the shadow
Of old ones for another four years plundering
of the public wealth.


There is a domineering element still left in
Congress, which is slow to yield its dictatorial
power. 1t has so long handled the helm that
it firmly believes that there is no other hand
which can be trusted. The people, however,
have decreed otherwise, and, having what we
call an organized government, are not dis
posed to surrender to faction the control of
the ship of state. General Grant must and
will be sustained by the people in
his selection of the proper men to
aid him in the great work OF political, flnan-
cial and moral reform so badly needed to
restore our country to its glory and prosperity
The inaugural of the President showed him
fully in accord with the party which elected
him in all the great principles which are pro-
fessed by the republicans. These principles
the Executive is determined to administer in
his own executive right, and will not be inter-
fered with by Congress. Not meddling with
any other department of the government, and
being responsible for his own, he is deter
mined to administer it to his own satisfaction
and to that of the people vino elected him and
hold him accountable for the management
and execution Of existing laws. In the
modelling Of the Cabinet there should be the
same characteristic regard for solid talent and
business capacity which characterized the one
just broken up by the resignation ofMr. Stewart.
Politicians are generally unfit for Cabine. ap-
pointments. In the Treasury Department at
least We require man who has no political
affiliations, who is not indebted to certain po-
litical, financial, whiskey, Treasury, railroad
and other rings for his position. Such a
man will save us hundreds of millions of
dollars every year. Give us some practical
inancier OF known firmness and integrity who
will deal strict justice throughout every de-
partment under his orders. Only through such
men can we hope to prosper, and only by the
selection Of such men will General Grant give
satisfaction to the country and be supported
by the people.