The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-10-10
A Conversation with Hon. f.
II. Washburn.

0s w dSAOuEns
81 -r,
Mr.. Washbdrn, as is generally
veil known, has lately been 10
Washington, and Of course vontiDr
ued his intimate associations with
Gen. Grant, whose abilities, it is
understood by the country, he was
the first to- discern, while he was
foremost and earliest in securing
tor him q proper position in the
natioud army, and since the war
has been his nearest friend" if
that term may be allowed in con-
nectioDiwitli so self-reliaDt per-
sonage as the General. We violate
no confidence, we think, in men.
.tioning Mr.. Washburn's estimate
of his protege at The present time.
Mr.. Washburn,fregards General
Grant Us wholly in sympathy with
Congress and its plan Of recon
struction. To the particular inqu-
ry Of one of eur Senators, Mr..
Washburn replied that he consid.
cred him not only in favor of re =.
'construction, as the advanced men
understand it, but in favor of stand.
ing by the blacks in all the civil,
social and political rights, as con.
ferred by the reconstruction acts.
He was in constant consultation
with Secretary Stanton, Mr., Wash
burn afirms, in regard TO the late.
ly impending change IN the Cabi.
net, receiving notice from Stanton
just before he went out that hit
dismissal would soon take place,
and was urged by him to accept
the place. Not only was this the
case" said Mr.. Washburn, "but l
know that tho letters from Grant
both to the President and Sedrcta.
ry, were written by Grant hi mselt
upon consultation with and in full
knowledge Of Secretary Stanton "
Mr.. w. further remarked that he
should have deemed it a criminal
negligence in General Grant not to
have accepted the place under the
circumstances ; and that it is now
his duty to remain until the meet
ing of Congress, even though the
President may want to got rid Of
him. ;.
Gen. Grant, Mr.. Washburn fur,
ther represented, was filled with
as great apprehension for the safe,
ty of the country as any man could
be. lie had remarked that when
in war, he was perfectly easy about
the result; he knew what was to
be the end, and made his prepare,
tions accordingly. But now he
was filled with alarm; he could not
foretcll what would transpire from
day to day, and such anxiety he
had never had. So urgent had he
been that Congress should do its
full duty at its late session, that he
personally entreated Senator's to
retain their. power 10 dismiss the
District Commanders which the
House had granted, fearing what
had since transpircd. (This state
mcnt in regard to Grant was cor.
roboratcd by both our Senators,
Mr.. Washburn adding that Trum,
bull and Sherman alike were deaf
to the appeals Of the Generally
Gen, Grant. further remarked
Mr.. Washburn, was not an indiff.
erent or careless observer of pass.
ing events. flo was an intelligent,
reading man. He consulted the
leading journals. and noted care
fully the criticisms upon his move.
mcnts. When his letters see the
ight--as they will surely when
Congress meets, il not before-they
would be found as loyal, as true to
the demands of the times as any
could ask. He did not know that
Grant would be retained in the
Cabinet ton days longer, but wheth-
er or not, the country could rest
assured he was with it, and that it
would sooner or later, recognize in
him u fast and valued friend.
AS a final remark Of this conver-
sation, Mr.. Washburn said the con
fidence reposed in General Grant
was not misplaced and that all
loyal men could stand up for him
without hesitancy or the shadow OF
q doubt. fa
The great interest felt at the
present time in the present politi,
cal situation at Washington rem
ders these views of Mr.. Wash burn,
the confidential friend of General
Grant, of the highest value, and as
such, we unrcservedly print them.
- Boston Commonwealth. l
l.