Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-10-19
GEN. GRANT.

Hon. E. d. Washburne, an intimate ilien0
of Gen. Grant, recently addressed onion
Convention at Galena, Illinois, IN whioi no
took occasion to refer to the Generals views
on nolitical affairs. Coming from one VINO
ia exnectod to know now of Gen. Grants
convictions, by reason of his long continues
and intimate friendship, and being delivered
ot the Generals own home and addressed TO
his friends and acquaintance, 1t has pecu-
liar significance and may be accepted as the
true expressions of his views. We give it
entire
Many people had looked upon Gen. Grant,
as they would upon civilian and politi-
clan, and even candidate for civil office.
They would seem to demand that he should
make known his political views on the hust-
ings and through the newspapers with all
the arts of the common demagogue. The
public had no more right to expect Gen.
Grant to speak out than they had to expect
Lieut.. Gen. Sherman, Gen. Meade, General
Sheridan or Gen. Thomas to make public
their political views. The General was not
in the habit of procla!ming himself to the
world by words, but, like wise man, had
always made his record through his acts
Though not speaking for the public, no
| man was more frank in expressing his views
on all public matters. He was raised in the
whig school of politics. His venerable
father, so we'll known in Galena, was always
an active and influential member of the old
whig party, and, after it went out of exis-
tence, of the republican party. The General
was always a whig so far as he was politi-
clan at all, and never belonged to or had
any sympathy at all with the so called dem
ocratic party. He stated this as fact. Had
Gen. Grant been q member of the democrat
ic party he would have been in the same
position as he now is, and the same as all
the most loyal and patriotic men who were
in that party now occupy. Though not
voter in Illinois, in 1860, yet, after Mr.. Lin
coins administration commenced and after
the firing upon Sumpter there was no man
who gave more earnest support to that ad.
ministration. Gen. Grant was among the
first to comprehend the results that would
grow out of the rebellion, and the country
will not forget that as early as 1868, he
wrote letter saying that anxious rs he was
for peace, he did not wish to see it establish
ed until slavery was wiped out.
In 1864 he was profoundly anxious for
the re election of Mr.. Lincoln, and no man
more fully comprohended the great fact that
upon his reelection hinged the success Of
our cause and the suppression of the rebel
lion. lie so far departed from his usual
course in such matters as to write and per-
nit the publication of q letter in which he
briefly and cmphatically summed up the
whole question. The letter was published
by hundreds Of thousands by the republican
Congressional Committee, and eXerted great
! influence in the country. He was openly
, and strongly for both the constitutional
, amendments, and he hailed the reconstruc-
ton act of the Thirty ninth Congress as the
solution Of our difficulties, and he entered
upon the discharge of his duties under that
act with zeal, vigilance and fidelity. Sympa-
thizing with Congress in its action, and ap-
preciating the Importance of its being in
session, he urged and advised such action as
would secure an extra session, if necessary.
When that session came he expressed the
most serious fears of the effect Of q long ad.
journment, and with far-reaching sagacity
anticipating the precise state of things that
; has occurred, he used all his influence with
Senators to have them adopt the House
provision of the amended bill requiring the
!, assent of the Senate to the removal Of the
district commanders. Favoring the recon
struction acts, no effort of his has been
wanting to secure their enforcement in the
; letter and spirit, to the end that the Union
might be speedily and fully restored. He
believes there is no protection or safety tC
the colorcd people and the loyal white peo
pie in the rebel States except through i'm
partial suffrage. The reconstruction acts
= having recognized the entire equality of al
American citizens in the States lately il
rebellion, he believes that consistency, az
well as impartial justice, demands that there
should DC no discrimination against any class
of persons in any of the States. His sympa
thies, his convictions and his hopes are now
as they always have been, with the grea
patriotic and loyal people that carried the
country through the war. lie is in favor o
b. upholding the honor and credit of the ma
tional government, and holds that our oh
c legations must be discharged in conformit,
3 to the terms on which they were contracted
:, He thinks there should be eXecrised by Con
u gress, and by all departments of the govern
c ment, more rigid and searching cconom,
Z in the expenditures of the public money
IL and wherever he has had control he ha
= struck oil every useessexpcnse and reform
l. ed every abuse.
General Grant occupies at the present tim
&c the position of Secretary of War aA interu1
It in the cabinet of Mr.. Johnson His actio
,r in accepting that position had been the sui
d ject of great deal of comment, and excite
the fears of many good and loyal men.
S invoked the denunciation of enemies an
G brought forth the excuses OF friends. II
- accepted that position, not as has been a
w legged, in obedience to the command Of
- superior officer, but from the stern sense c
# duty to his country. The President ha
~ determined to remove the Secretary of Wa
o. at oil hazard, and without excuse or justif
N cation. The President thought to relicy
10 himself from the odium of Mr.. Stantons II
fv moval and draw attention from that actio
20 by offering the place to Gen. Grant Wha
10 was to be donel Should the General ste
~ into the shoes of Mr.. Stanton, and WELD
y. the Legitimate powers of the department i
y aid of reconstruction and in support OF I'll
- District Commanders ? In the managemel
= of the Indian war and the supervision
war contracts, should he be there to resi-
= the raid of the thieves and plunderers an
Oh war claim agents whom Stanton had hel
DC at bay, and who were waiting to thrust the
~ arms into the treasury to filch untold mi
ry lions of the public money! Or should
Us refuse, and permit that important positio
az to be filed by a copperhead and Johnso
at man who would hinder reconstruction, WI
u, would demoralize the army, who woul
ID sanction fraudulent and bogus claims
rebels and bring reproach generally upC
II. the public service9 General Grant did no
al therefore hesitate to accept the position an