Another Chapter Of Grantism

Nayy Department.) Washington, May 23, 1871. j My Dear Clews : - I have your letter of the 13th instant in regard to the appointment of a fiscal agent of the goversment abroad. I am sorry I was absent when you were here, for I could have explained personally much more fully and satisfactorily the situation of this matter. The truth is that the navy department really has no fiscal agent abroad, but bas hitherto kept its account with Baring Brothers & Co., of JUondon. This account I transferred about the first of the present month to Jay Cooke's house abroad. This I did for the broadest political as well as financia! reasons, looking to the good of the service abroad, as well as tothe strengthening of the party and the administration at home. The house of Jay Cooke & Co. has, as you know, large and extended interests and influence throughout the country. Their connections and influence with the national backs ; with the Peunsylvania railroad, which controls the state of Pennsylvania, and which, absorbing the Camden and Amboy rnilroad, now controls New Jersey, and stretches from its western terminus across many of the western states toward the Paciüc ; their interests in the Northern Pacific, and their general interest in the country make them very powerful friends where actively interested in the success of the administration, and dangerous enemies in vital loealities when indifferent or unfriendly. Theso were some of the considerations which influenced me, and which would have still influenced me had I known of your application, which I did not, at the time whon I acted. In aldition to this they are entirely an American house, without any connection with any foreign person or interests, and having boen largely eoonected with the financial operations of the govei-nment during the war, and contributing largely to its success in connection with local men like yourself , it seemed to be proper under the circustances that this account should be given to them. There is a considerable natural feeling of repugnance on the part of tlie President to the idea of doing anything for a firm with which the name of McCulloch is connected. This is a natural feeling, as I have said, against one of the meanest of his mean enemies, and it required gome roagnanimity to overeóme it. But the president is a magnanimous man, and not likely to sacrifice public to personal interests, nor to do positivo in jury to real friends on account of feeling againit tnose who have personally in. jured him; and I feel confident that he will do notbing for personal reasons interfering with the regular action of the department for public purposes, or humiliating to those who have acted, or are acting, wholly in his interests, which are identical with the interests of the oountry. I have written thiis freely to you, and explained all the ciroumstances of the case because I rely upon you, not only as one of my friends, but as a gentleman who will understand, and who is willing tó sacrittce something of personal feeling in the interests of the administration and of the country. Very trnly your friend, Gbo M. Kobeson.