The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-11-26
Gk fauunntr,
sweetwator, Thursday, Nov. as, 1868.
Grants Policy.


have had q great deal to say about the
probable character of General Grants ad-
ministration. Everything possible for
him, in the way of governmental policy,
has been predicted. But these foretell-
ings have, as rule, no more substantial
ground than the hopes or fears of their
authors.
We do not believe any one knows what
the new Presidents plans or intentions
are. He is evidently man of his own
head, and will most probably, as he has
intimated, be governed by circumstances,
reserving to himself the right of judging
what those circumstances require.
The people do not know that he is in
favor Of or opposed to the reconstruction
laws; that he is for or against negro suf-
rage: Or how far, if at all, his conscience
will allow him to 60 "Outside of the Con-
stitution" after he Las taken the oath of
Office.
They do know thsr he is man of in
domitablc will that his personal courage
is beyond controversy; that he is possessed
Of good administrative talent; and, unless
his civil differs widely from his military
record, that whatever his purpose is will
be accomplished. And there is nothing
in his conduct, particularly since the cleo
ton, to justify the opinion that he is a
man of bad purposes.
We rejoice that General Grant was
elected by decisive majority, for as has
been we'll said, no position can be worse
than an equivocal one. Much as we de-
sired the election of Mr.. Seymour, we
consider his defeat by an overwhelming
vote as preferable to his success by a
small majority. This is no time for I'M
certain decisions, and as the choice has
been made it is we'll that it was definite
one.
No matter what General Grants course
as President may be, no one can claim his
election as an endorsation by the people
of the radical policy. 1t is more than
probable he would have been elected with
as much ease on the Democratic ticket
and it is by no means certain that he would
have refused the Democratic nomination
If the other party had failed to select him
as their candidate. 1t is a well-known
fact that thousands of Northern Demo-
Gratis, or at least of men strongly opposed
to the leading measures of radicalsm, vo-
ted for General Grant. They did not
vote for him as the representative of a
party. They had been led to believe, and
perhaps with good reason, that the cleo
ton of man untrammeled by party Pied
ges and Of tried devotion to the cause
of the Union, would of itself be guaran-
tee of returning peace and good govern
ment. Let us of the South not only hope
that their anticipations may be realized,
but do all in our power to render the re-
suit more easily attainable.
The Courier de Etats Unis, about
the most able and influential French paper
published in this country, has some re-
marks on this subject which at least may
be called very sensible guessing. That
paper, in a late issue, says: "We don't
believe the Radical party will find in
General Grant the docile tool to execute
their revolutionary schemes. And we
think the Democrats fatter themselves
with vain hope, if they expect him to
cooperate in a reaction to undo all that
has been done. We do not believe the
reconstruction acts will be annulIed, but
will be modified so as to be made accepta.
BILE to those not yet subjected to them
and endurable to them on whom the yoke
is already imposed. We do not think the
President and Congress will ever withdraw
franchise from the negroes, absurd as il
is; but all test oaths and restrictions on
the whites will be abolished. The fact i:
Grant will do exactly what Seymour
would have done, and Seymour would
have done exactly what Grant will do
Circumstances are stronger than individu,
als, and man entrusted with the govern.
ment of country must consult the best
interests of the people. His admini8tra.
ton, if wise, will give satisfaction to the
ultras of neither party, but will gain the
sympathies of an immense majority of the
population, and constitute the real Nation
al Party"
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T1,o y, q VIII g., Hs,o 49,