The Shasta courier., 1868-12-19
A Southern View of Grant.

1t doesn't matter whether the unanimous
vote of all the States is cast for Grant or not.
Certain politicians more noted for aptness in
expedfents than adherence to principle, have
proposed to make the vote unanimous. Bot
this is a transparent expedient which, we take
it., will hardly tickle the tenderest nerve OF
Grants vanity. For the Democratic Electors
to vote for him will no more make him n
Conservative" President than will the sun
port of Wendell Phillips transmogrify him
into STOOL" 1t is all idle and absurd.
Grants name has been the tower of STRENGTH
to the Rradical party, for bis military achieve
ments have given him a firm and abiding
bold upon the confidence of the Yankees
irrespective of parties or principles. lie was
elected because he was the conqueror of Lee.
and not because he was nominated at Chicago.
The principle" settled by his election was
the same rs was determined by the war, and
amounts to nothing else than test of numer-
ical superiority between the sections. The
North is stronger than the South, and Grants
election has but re-afirmed the census re.
turns.
For this conqueror of Lee we have no word
of abuse. His fame cannot be tarnished,
without rejecting upon the character of those
whom be overpowered His triumph in war
was grand beyond any recorded in history,
and we have never sought to belittle it, The
honors which his section-the coDquering
section-have conferred upon him. have been
well deserved by him, if we limit our view
to the sectional aspect of the subject, and it
isvery far from the disposition of the con-
quered section to make those honors mean by
attributing them to the popularity of Radical
ism rather than that of Grants great name.
The result has been absolutely aud essentially
a great triumph.
But General Grant is not politician. We
hope he will prove to be patriot. His dis
position toward General Lee and the sol
diers under him, when they surrendered, was
certainly generous and soldier-like. Since
the close of the war his conduct has been
such as to preserve the good opinions of his
countrymen, and he has never suffered in
reputation except in his unfortunate differ
ences" with President johnson, and even in
that case great allowance was made for the
infiamed partisanry which gave tongue to its
publicity. The Radical accounts of his inc.
briefly have never been believed because moth
ing would be believed from such source.
As an administrative officer it cannot be
denied that his limited experience, has been
characterized by great efficiency. Having
control over vast sums OF the public money,
no word of suspicion has ever been breathed
against his honesty. During his administra-
ton of the War Office his ability was mani
fest, and even President johnson affrms in
his message to the Senate that salutary
reforms have been introduced by the Secretary
al interim, and great reductions of expenses
have been effected under his administration
ofthe War Department, to the saving of mil
lions to the Treasury.
If from so short an experience a Judge
ment is to be passed, it is but sheer justice to
say that General Grant has given indications
of possessing the sterling qualities of a wise
and liberal craftsmanship. And in this esti-
mate, we need not include the favorable re-
port he made of the condition Of the South
after his visit in 1865, nor the remarkable
reticence which he has maintained since his
nomination. Richmond Enquirer, NoU. IL.