Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-01-15
Senator Wilson on General
RnA

In an arllClS IN the l~H4epeNOeHtg lAc
Hon. Henry Wilson writes:
The Presidential contest for 1868,
with its vast issues, will stir the nation
to its profouudest depths. The Dem
ocracy, without responsibilities, under
the leadership of men of talent, tact,
and experience, will put forth s gigan-
tic effort to win back lost power. The
Republican party, upon which rests
grave responsibilities, has in its ranks
able, tried, and true men-ciEil and
military-men whose names are honor
ably associated with the country's
struggles for unity and liberty Who
among these honored men, Of proved
capacity and tried fidelity, shall be Sc
lected to marshal the Republican hosts
to victory ? whose nomination will, in
advance, make the assurance Of victory
doubly sure. Above personal aspira-
tions and ambitions, above local pride
and attachments, aboVean associations
and interests, there comes from the
body of the three millions Of Republi-
cans to whom the success of the old
cause is so dear the prompt and emphat-
tic response, "Ulyssus S. Grant" These
masses see, with the clear iustict Of pat
riotism, that the great soldier would
bring into the impending contest the
weight of his great name and illustri-
Gus achievements, his solid and practi-
cal Judgment, his concealed integrity,
his modesty that meyer vaunts his oWn
deeds, and his rare magnRnimity that,
ever recognizes the deeds of other gem
erals, soldiers and civilians These un-
selfish masses, with their practical So
gacity, see that the ranks of the Re
publicans, in the struggle which duty
has led them, have been weakened by
timidity and ~treachery; that their sa.
cred cause now needs to be reinforced,
as il 80 often has been, by drafts from
the most advanced men of the Democ-
racy ; and that the selection of Gen.
Grant will rally tens of thousands to the
cause their hearts love.
The military achievements of Gen
eFal Grant are gratefully acknowledge,
his administrative capacity as now con
eed ed, and his general views of pub
lie policy commended. Earnest Re-
publicGns, however, whose fidelity 70
vital issues connot be questioned, but
whose distrust of public men has been
quickened by the shameful treachery
of men they had trusted and followed,
are anxious concerning the sentiments
of General Grant upon those vital issues
the right settlement of which can alone
bring permanent security aud repose to
the ration. The past snd present Of
the Republican party and the personal
integrity Of General Grant afford ample
assurance that their and his sentiments
and opinions will be distinctly sTowed
in the coming nVa In the trying
DAYS of warm the summer of 1868
General Grant wrote from his camp on
the Mississippi, to his tried friend Wash
burne:
al have never been an anti-slaVery
man; but I try to judge justly of what
| see. l made up my mind when this
war commenced that the North and
South could only live together as one
nation, and that they could only be one
nation by being g free nation. Sla-
very, the great corner stone of the
so called Confederscy, has been knock
ed out; and it will take more men to keep
black men slaves than TO put down n
belIion. Much as L desire peace, 1 ana
opposed TO any peace until this ques-
ton of slavery is forever settled"
This emphatic aEowal fully commit
ted Gen. Grant to the policy of eman-
cipation. He was, too, for the reelection
of Abraham Lincoln, declaring TO his
nearest friends that his defeat would
be a dreadful calamity to the country.
Since the close of the war he has been
in accord with Congress, in its efforts
to protect the loyal, blsck and white,
secure the equal rights Of al, and re-
store the Rebel States 10 their practi-
cal relations. When the pending Con-
stitutionai Amendment was before
Congress, he was for its Submission TO
the people; and when it was submit
ted, he urged the leading men of the
Rebel States to vote for its adoption.
After its rejection BY the Rebel Legisla-
ture, he pressed Southern men, who
sought his advice, 10 consider their
action, adopt it, and and give suffrage
to the freedmen. To leading Southern
men he said: "You must look TO Con-
gress; the Republicans have the pow
er consult them, do not seek the coun-
ellis of men in the North who opposed
the war, the people will never trust
that class OF men with power, the
more you look to them for advice, the
more exscting Congress will be and
ought to be; the rejection of the a.
mendment and the legislation against
the freedmen will cause Congress 10 re-
quire universal suffrage; and you
should give It." Some Of these men
we're wise enough to accept and set up
on his sdyioe. To the Reconstruction
policy Of Congress-the vital and over
shadowing issue of the dzy-General
Grant gave his earnest support, and he
has zsalously striVeu to carry the legis-
lRtion of Congress into effect. On the
Reconstruction policy Gen. Grant has
been and now is in accord with Con-
gress and the Republican party. So
anxious was he to have that policy
promptly carried into effect that he
urgently pressed upon members Of
Congress the vital Importance Of SO ar
ranging the a6journments as 10 be able
to meet at any time, should the needs
Of the country require it.
-@O@
Gen. Candy reports as the result Of the
elections in North and South Carolina, q