Year: 1869

tions Of politicians, capitalists and adventurers
Of every stripe. In the faithful collection Of
the revenue he viii have to grapple with whis-
key rings, tobacco rings, Custom House rings,
Indian land stealers and railway bond and
land jobbers-in short, all the rings of Trea-
sury thieves, whose aggregate spolations
have doubtless exceeded two hundred mill
lions year under Johnsons tied-up adj
ministration. But if Grant can put stop to
these spoliations the payment of the public
debt win be simple and easy matter, even
with the removal of half the burden Of our
present taxations.


How does he propose to accomplish these
reforms? He says that his first endeavor win
be to secure faithful and competent assistants,
and that ''if shall fail in my first choice, /
or even a third trial, with the concurrence of
the Senate, who have the confirming power,
and I should just as soon rene owe one Of my
own appointees as the appointee Of my prede-
cessor." In other words, saddled with the
responsibilities, he win, like Jackson, be the
master of his Cabinet and his policy. His
ministers will not be, as were those of General
Taylor, his equals in Cabinet council, but his
staff officers or subordinate generals. He will
not be, as the amiable Lincoln was continually
harassed by the clashing intrigues Of his Cabi-
net; nor win he be Q mere follower of his
Secretary Estate or Secretary Of the Treasury,
after the fashion of Johnson.


He expects in his removals and appoint
ments the concurrence Of the Senate. At all
events, as occasion in his judgment may de-
mand, he will not hesitate to try them, Tenure
OF Office law or no Tenure of Office law. He
will give his reasons under the law, and If in
any important removal the Senate shall refuse
to concur he may make case of it for the
Supreme Court, in order to have an authori-
tative judgment upon the constitutionality Of
this law. Johnson, It was said, at the time of
Stanton's peremptory removal, was aiming
at case for the Court, but he went
the wrong way about it and was
caught in the impeachment trap set
to catch him. Grant has no such trap to fear
for the present House is with him, and the
new House, on the 4th Of March, will be with
him, and, best of all, justice and the people
are with him. As a mere creature of the re-
publican party, Johnson, accidentally advanced
to the White House, in assuming to have q
policy of his own was regarded by Congress
as an upstart and false pretender. He had
no right, they said, to be anything but SER
xon ,f md hsyo
this issue and mastered him. Grant, on the
other hand, was taken up at Chicago as
necessity, and his name saved the republican
party in November last from crushing de-
feat He is rightfully, therefore, master Of
the situation and properly indicates his pur-
pose to be so.


In order to be perfectly free in his seiec-
tions he notifies the Congressional committee
that he has come to the conclusion mot to
announce who am going to invite to seats in
Senate for confirmation" or if he says any
thing about it it will only be two or three days
before sending in their names. Why so? Be-
cause he has discovered that in proolaiming in
advance any seven men ous of say five
hundred expectants there will be
clamor raised against the mea chosen by
all the friends of the four hundred and
ninety three LETT out, and he wants
to shave peace" at least till he is harnessed
for battle. This reminds US Of an incident in
the beginning of General Jackson's Presiden-
tial policy. 1t was before his first inaugura-
tion. number of his party leaders called
upon him to offer him their assistance In. Cabi-
net-making. 81 thank you, gentlemen" re-
piled Old Hickory, but though cannot say
anything about It just yet, my Cabinet is
already appointed" 50, we guess, is that Of
General Grant.


But in this significant speech OF Saturday
last General Grant says nothing Of reconstruc-
tion. This is remarkable omission, espe-
cially when Senator Morton, the mouthpiece of
the official committee, expressed to the Gene
raj the highest hopes that ''during your ad-
ministration the work Of reconstruction will be
completed and the wounds Of civil war
healed Perhaps the General thought recon-
s,ruction sufficiently complete to say nothing
about it. 1t Is enough, however, that his mind
was preoccupied with Economy, retrench-
ment, faithful collection OF the revenue and
payment OF the public debt" 1t Is enough thar
he regards these as the paramount objects Of
his administration, and that in carrying them
forward he has chosen his line Of operations
upon which to fight it out, as in the campaign
of ''the Wilderness" We conclude, then, that
we are to have another Jackson, and not
another Johnson, in General Grant