American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-10-23
GENERAL GRANT.

friend Of Gen. Grant, recently addressed
Union Convention at Galena, Illinois,
in which he took occasion to refer to the
Generals views on political affairs. Com
ing from one who is expected to know OF
Gen. Grants convictions, by reason of his
long continued and intimate friendship,
and being delivered at the Generals own
home and addressed to his friends and ac,
quaintances, it has peculiar significance
and may be accepted as the true express
sions of his views. We give in entire.
-ED.
aMany people had looked upon Gen.
Grant, as they would upon civilian and
a politician, and even candidate for
civil Office. They would seem to demand
that he should make known his political
views on the hustings and through the
newspapers with all the arts of the COM
mon demagogue. The public had no
more right to expect Gen. Grant to speak
out than they had TO expect Lieut.. Gen
Sherman, Gen. Meade, Gen. Sheridan or
Gen. Thomas to make public their politi-
cal views. The General was not in the
habit of proclaiming himself to the world
by words, but, like wise map, had al,
ways 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 Gale
ma, was always an active and influential
member of the old whig party, and, after
1t vent cut of existence, of the republi-
can party. The General was always
whig, so far as no was q politician at all,
and never belonged to or had any sympa,
thy at all with the solcalled democratic
party He stated this as fact. Had
Gen. Grant been member of the demo-
cratic 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.. Lincoln's administration commenced
and after the firing upon Sumpter there
was no man who gave more earnest sup
port to that administration Gen. Grant
was among the first to comprehend the
results that would grow out Of the rebel,
lion, and the country will not forget that
as early as 1868, he wrote letter saying
that anxious as he was for peace, he did
not wish to see it established until sla.,
very was wiped out.
In 1864 he was profoundly anxious for
the reelection Of Mr.. Lincoln, and no
man more fully comprehended the great
fact that upon his reelection hinged the
success Of our cause ani the suppression
of the rebellion. He so far departed
from his usual course in such matters as
to write and permit the publication of a
letter in which he briefly and emphatic>
ally summed up the whole question. Jbs
letter was published By hundreds of tbou.
sands by the republican Con gressional
Committee, and exefted great influence
in the country. He was openly and
strongly for both the constitutional amend.
ments and he hailed the reconstruction
act Of the Thirty.ninth Congress as the
solution of our difficulties, and he enter,
ed upon the discharge of his duties un,
der that act with zeal, vigilance and fdel-
ity. Sympathizing with Congress in its
action, and appreciating the importance
of its being in session, be urged and adj
vised such ection as would secure an ex.
trasession, if necessary When that
ession came he expressed the most Sc.
rious fears Of the effect of a long adjourn.
ment, aud with a far-reching sagacity
anticipating the precise state of things
that has occurred, he used all his infla>
ence 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 reconstruction acts, no eff,
fort 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 belieys
there is nc protection or safety to the col.
ored and the loyal white people in the
rebel States except through impartial
suffrage. The reconstruction acts hay.
ing recognized the entire equality of all
American citizeps in the States lately in
IeDellOn, nc peieifS tual C0n6lStency.
:as we'll as impartial justice, demands that
there should he no discrimination against
any clss of persons in any of these Safes.
His sympathy, his conviction and his
hopes are now, as they always have been
with the great patriotic and loyal people
q that carried the country through the
war He is in favor of upholding the
honor and credit of the national govern
ment, and holds that all our obligations
must be discharged in conformity to the
J terms on which they were Contracted
He thinks there should be exercised by
Congress and by all departments of the
government more rigid and searching
economy in the expenditure of the pub.
lie money, and wherever he has had
control he has struck off every useless
cxpence and reformed every abuse.
General Grant occupies at the present
+, time the position Of Secretary of War
add interuns in the Cabinet of Mr.. John-
son. His action in accepting that posi-
tion has been the subject Of a great deal
Of colnmant, and exited the fears of many
a Il Al