Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-04-16
GENERAL GRANT.
HIS Principles aud Habit ,--Letfer From
Senator Wilson to James Redpnth.

Senhtor Whsoh 10 thhhes AAeuphtu.
Ay Dear Sir.-In communication to
the Anti-Slavery Standard you say that
"Senator Wilson works for Grant who is no
"radical, ,and objects to other candidates VINO
"are r.dicals, because they sometimes
"drink.' | am sure you do not intend to be
unjust, but you certainly have placed me in
IA false position. For thirty-seven years
have been pledged temperance man, and
have siriven to be faithful to Il cause my
heart loves and my judgment approves
While ] have ever regarded intemperance TO
be a terrible calamity to humanity and "a sin
against God, have always felt the deepest
pity and sympathy for all whose lives were
blighted by It, know of no radical whose
name has been mentioned for the presidency
who gets drunk, or to whose nomination |
have objected because he sometimes drinks.
l have seen General Grant in the camp, in
his office, at his own house, and at dinner
parties where liquors were freely used by
others, but l have never seen him drink
even glass of wine, nor have ever seen
him when had the slightest reason to think
he was in any degree under the influence OF
drink.
| You say further that | work for Grant
who Is not a radical ! have done little
work for General Grant, for il was not ne
cessary that any one should work for him.
| The republicans of nearly every State, with
great unanimity, have pronounced Tor him,
but this result was not achieved by work,
but by the needs of the country and the in
stincts of patriotic and liberty loving peo-
pie. | took occasion more than two years
ago to express on the floor of the Senate my
conviction that patriotic and liberty loving
people, betrayed by the President, would
iurn TO that great soldier and summon him
to marshall them to victory. Thiriy-two
years ago I fully committed myself to the
anti slavery cause, and have striyen with
| voice and vote to advance it to its final and
fcrowning triumph. 1t was because was
an anti-slavery man, Il radical republican,
because believed the cause of equal and
| impartial liberty to be above the ambitions
and interests of public men, and because
believed General Grant would carry that
cause to assured victory, that turned to
him as the presidential candidate OF the re-
publican party. / know him to lie an honest
just, and firm man, whose fidelity to ms
country and to the equal rights OF all ms
countrymen cannot be questioned.
Gladly would have welcomed the nom
ination of some one of the veteran anti
slavery men If such nomination could hav'
assured the success of our cause in the grea
struggle of this year. But the pioneer anti
slavery men have ever been forced by th
needs of their struggling cause to be self
sacrificing and selt-forgettul. That sell
sacrificing spirit and self-forgetfulncss hay
achieved glorious victories for humanity i
past, and trust will win in the future til
election of President under whose admin
istration the unity of the country will b
assured, and the equal rights and privilege
of all its citizens secured.
Yours truly, HENRY Wilson.
Jas. Rsdpath, Esq, Boston.