Problems in the Grant administration
During the early 1870s, the Grant administration was full of scandals. Although President Grant was a respectable, honest man, he had no prior political experience allowing others to take advantage of him for their own personal political motives. These scandals also shifted the spotlight from the state of the South. For example, the New York Sun had revealed the Crédit Mobilier affair. The construction company had gained profits from a government railroad contract and it involved a handful of Republican leaders such as the vice president, Schuyler Colfax.
In 1872, a group of Republicans who were angered about the corruption in the government formed the Liberal Republican party. In the 1872 election, they chose Horace Greeley as their candidate. Greenley concurred with the radicals about the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, but thought former slaves should fend for themselves. Democrats were also eager to support Greenley because they thought it was the best way to oust Grant. Unfortunately, Greenly was easily beaten by Grant.
In 1872, a group of Republicans who were angered about the corruption in the government formed the Liberal Republican party. In the 1872 election, they chose Horace Greeley as their candidate. Greenley concurred with the radicals about the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, but thought former slaves should fend for themselves. Democrats were also eager to support Greenley because they thought it was the best way to oust Grant. Unfortunately, Greenly was easily beaten by Grant.
Another scandal was in 1875 when the Whiskey Ring was exposed. Internal-income agents and other officials accepted bribes from whiskey companies who wanted to escape paying taxes on their products. Two hundred and eight people were charged with this fraud scandal one of which was Orville E. Babcock, Grant’s private secretary. Grant helped Babcock avoid conviction because he could not accept that his close associate was guilty.
The last embarrassment of the Grant administration revolved around Secretary of War, William W. Belknap. He had taken bribes from people who wanted to keep their lucrative trading dealings in Indian territory. The House impeached Belknap, who quickly resigned. The public also learned that the secretary of the navy had accepted money from shipbuilders and secretary of of the interior had questionable dealings with land venturers. As events like these escalated, there was rising disgust for the obvious corruption in the Grant administration. In 1876, Grant did not attempt re-election.
The corruption in the Grant administration pulled Northerners’ attention away from reform conditions in the South even more. President Grant was a good person but not a good president. People took advantage of him and worsened the condition of the country.
The last embarrassment of the Grant administration revolved around Secretary of War, William W. Belknap. He had taken bribes from people who wanted to keep their lucrative trading dealings in Indian territory. The House impeached Belknap, who quickly resigned. The public also learned that the secretary of the navy had accepted money from shipbuilders and secretary of of the interior had questionable dealings with land venturers. As events like these escalated, there was rising disgust for the obvious corruption in the Grant administration. In 1876, Grant did not attempt re-election.
The corruption in the Grant administration pulled Northerners’ attention away from reform conditions in the South even more. President Grant was a good person but not a good president. People took advantage of him and worsened the condition of the country.