Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-10-11

ats E0sitloR--Hc IS az sympathy lctth
Congress.
The Hon. +. B. Washburne, in his
speech at Galena, Illinois, on Saturday,
thus defined Grants political opinions, and
from his intimacy with the General, it is
probable he spoke by authority. lie said
General Grant was among the first to com
prehend the results that would grow out OF
the rebellion, and the country viii not forget
that as early as 1863 he wrote letter saying
that anxious as he was for peace he did not
wish to see it established until slavery 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 re election hinged
the success of our cause and the suppression
of the rebellion. He so far departed from
his usual course in such matters as to write
and permit the publication Of letter in
which he briefly and emphatically 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. lie
was openly and strong for both the constltu-
tional amendments, and be hailed the Re
construction act Of the Thirty ninth Con-
EIESh Us LllE EDtuliUlA VI Jul QllAbhtbAtAi edh
he entered upon the discharge of his duties
under that act with zeal vigilance, and
fidelity. Sympathizing with Congress in its
action, and approaching 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 long adjournment, and with a far reach
ing sagacity anticipating the precise state OF
things that has occurred, he used all his IN
huenee with Senators to have them adopt
the House provision Of the amended bill re-
quiring the assent Of the Senate to the re-
moval of the district commanders. Favor
ing the Reconstruction acts, noetforts of his
has been wanting to secure their enforce
ment in the letter and spirit, to the end that
the Union might be speedily and fully re-
stored He believed there is no protection
OF safety to the colored people and the loyal
white people in the rebel States except
through impartial suffrage. The Recon-
struction acts having recognized the entire
equality of all American citizens in the
States lately in rebellion, he believes that
consistency, as well as impartial justice, de-
mands that there should be no discrimina-
ton against any class Of persons in any Of
the States His sympathies, his convictions
and his hopes are now, as they always have
been, with the great patriotic and loyal peo-
pie that carried the country through the
war. He is ia favor of upholding the honor
and credit of the national government, and
holds that all our obligations must be dis
charged in conformity TO the terms on which
they were contracted. He thinks that there
should be exercised by Congress and by de-
partments Of the government a more rigid
and searching economy in the expenditures
of the public money, and wherever he has
had control he has struck of. every useless
expense and reformed every abuse. Gener-
al Grant occupies at the present time the
position of Secretary Of War ad interim IN
the Cabinet of Mr. johnson. HIS action IN
accepting that position had been the subject
Of great deal Of comment, and excited the
fears of many good and loyal men. 1t in
voked the denunciation of enemies and
brought forth the excuses Of friends. lie
accepted that position, not, as has been al
legged in obedience to the commands Of a
superior officer, but from the stern sense of
duty to his country.
Should he refuse, and permit that most
important position to be filed by Copper
head and a johnson man, who would hinder
reconstruction, who would demora6ze the
army, VINO Wpulu SduNAlp4 LAetIANAuNA1-AN 49,
bogus claims of rebels, and bring reproach
generally upon the public service? ten.
Grant did not, therefore, hesitate to accept
the position and pu ifs responsibilities, and
his action had the concurrence Of 0lr. Stan
ton. Indeed no steps were taken in that
whole business except upon fulconsultstion
and understanding between those two dlstln-
guished men under such circumstances.
The loyal men Of the country would have
cause to censure Gen Grant lad he refused
the position. The very men who had cen
sured him most for taking it, would now
have been censuring for not taking it They
would have said that, protesting to be in
sympathy with loyal men and in favor of re-
construction, he shrank from the response
bility of a place offered to him in which he
could have been of inestable service to the
country, and by such refusal the War De
partment went into the hands Of an enemy
But the General wants no other vindicatiOn
for his action than viii be furnished by his
record when il shall see the light, and by
his official acts. He can offord to wait In
conclusion Mr. Washburne said he was not
speaking Of Gen. Grant as candidate for
the Presidency, for he had no right to speak
for him in that regard. He had spoken as
he had because so many OF his fellow citi.
zeus had asked him in relation TO the posi-
tion the General occupied on questions of
the most overwhelming public importance,
and what were his views, sentiments, and
convictions touching. matters in which all