Year: 1869

i
We are accustomed to the injured innocence
ofthe Senate. 1t is so common for the ''most
remarkable men of the age"-the illustrious OF
the land and the dominant intellects of the
earth-to rise in their places in the Senate
Chamber and, with one hand on the Senatorial
heart and the other hand in the Senatorial
breeches pocket to hurl anathemas at news
paper report, that we heed but little all that
comes as privilege" and ''personal explana-
ton" Generally such an explanation is an
expression of the CONSERVATION and disgust of
some Senator on the first occasion when he
comes under the viewof an Independent press.
He is startled that newspaper should asso-
ciate his name with any words but those of
fulsome laudation; for to that style he has kept
all the small bugles and the clarionets of his
neighborhood, whose editors he has made
postmasters. Ordinarily, therefore, such things
may be pardoned to the vanity of small ego
lists; but Mr.. Ross demonstration in the Sem
ate on Tuesday is quite out of the common
line. 1t is distinguished for it's shameless i'm
pudence. This man arose in his place to cor
rect our report. He charged as false our
statement that he had used certain words, and
then adopted and justified these words, by
using them again. He then showed that we
were only his pretext, and, using us as his
stalking-horse, foisted into the proceedings of
the Senate disgraceful onslaught on the ad-
ministratiOn


The charge is that our report of Mr.. Ross
ipfo kho sJoc L.,
correct and slanderous." Here is the report


81 come, Mr. President, to talk with you about the
appointments for my State. having heard that you
intend to make certain nominations that may not
narmonize harm with my desires II yol deem 1t worth


10 which Grant laGonically and interrogativey re-


This Presidential response was not IN the true
manner to be reished BY the Kansas Senator. cam
l to understand that l am rightly informed as to
your stated Intentions to disregard my preferences
In the matter Of appointments Mr. Presidentsr in
quired the Senator.


aThat is 3 question hardly susceptible Of an an,
swer, sir. To what appointments do you allude
Inform me and then can reply,'' rejoined Grant.


Senator Ross liked the second answer as little as
determined not to go away IN fog, The Senator,
therefore with suppressed rage, explained the ap-
p0intments to which he had reference.


"FrankIy, SIR" said Grant, 81 intend not to make
those appOlntments.n


leasIP" exclaimed Ross, boiling over with rage.


'Sir, l believe l have given you my answer,n
firmly but sternly replied Grant.


This Is not treating me fairly, Mr.. President,
as one gentleman should another" uttered Senator
Ross.


a have no intention to be dictated to, SIR" said


"Nor have to be insuted, even by you, sir were
you twenty times the President" exclaimed Ross,
with his ire stirred up to white heat


~ must decline to be ANNOYED any further on the
subject " muttered Grant between his teeth, ''and
desire the interview should terminate.n


'You and your desires may go to hell ~ r0ared out
Ross.





force you out p' thundered Grant,


Now we believe there is no question of the
fact that Mr.. Ross had an interview with the
President in regard to the appointments to
Office in his State. He has stated, even, that
this interview was not altogether pleasant
one. The only point open, therefore, is
whether the report above correctly recites
what was said, and whether its tone does any
injustice to the Senator's temper. We main
tain that it is correct report in all respects,
and that the Senator has given the best evil
dence of this. Nay, his speech In the Senate
merely dilates and dilutes this conversation.
His denunciation of the President has o fiercer
tone in his Senatorial harangue than in our
report Of his words to the President-has
more of the spirit of vindictive and bitter dis
appointments but it starts from the same point
and makes the same charges. Indeed, though
in our reading Of speeches we are accustomed
to see mon Of few and small ideas constantly
repeating themselves, we have seldom seen
case where the second utterance so justified
the reporter of the first. Here Is what Mr..
Ross said In the Senate -


sought that interview for the purpose OF pro.
being made in the orlcials Of my state WHEREBY
men who were among the best republicans and the
for no assignable cause, and an entirely difierent
class OF men installed In their places. During that
ih TIVE NV Mas ana 70 near from
man had held 6fice during the past year and half
1t was presumptive evidence that he was Johnson
man. repeat, that was astonished and panied.


In astonishment and pain we come upon bad
temper and extravagant speech:-


Scarcely man has been appointed to those posi-
who largely represent the manhood of that State
and who went out with their lives in their hands 10
we might sit here the representatives OF the coun-
try saved. But IN their stead we have appointed
over US sSSkers In time Of danger and men notorI
stance a gallant soldier, eminently qualified for
the position he held and who VIII go a
who not only enjoyed the Security Of his fire. s.
side during the war, but Is known to have been
pro-slavery sympathizer during the border ruflian
disturbances or the Territory. In another a soldier
Is displaced by mere camp follower who made It
his occupation during the war to plumber the govern
ment at every turn and I'LL his own purse with the
nl-gotten gains OF stolen beef In still another
brave and gallant soldier as ever drew blade, who
entered the army private and won his epaulettes
with his sword, Is displaced by man whose only
recommendation, In the eyes OF those to whom he
owes his appointment, is his personal hostility to and
defamation Of myself. This consideration, in fact,
viii apply to nearly every appointment that has yet
been made In my State.


Worked to fury by his own recital we hear
what he will do:-


The faithful intelligent and influential radical re.
publican, be he soldier or civilian, may go back to
his law his farm or his shop. This administration
publican President ostraclzes them from personal
pque or to gratiy the animoslty of Others he does