Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-29
From Harper's WeeKly.
The President and the General.

| kBe Pfesl0enA ana kkae sseBerdk.
There eau no longer be doubt al
Gen. Grants opinions upon the political
situation. lie has spoken as be should
have spoken, not in obedience to a party
request, or to satisfy the exigeney of q
Presidential canvass, but IL, iae course of
his official duty. and in a reply TO YER
bal order of the President of the United
States TO disregard the law. OF the
scope and manner of the General reply
every body in the country is now aware.
He says ~ the most positive tone that
b s intention is and has been to obey the
law-an intention which, when asserted
by Gen. Hancock. threw the President
into extaeies of delght-and he adds
that he thinks ali the wretched falsehood
which has lately issued from the " bite
House. through certain newspapers, is an
attempt to involve him in the resistance
to law for which the President hesitated
to assume the responsibility.
10 a question of veracity between the
President and the General very few ia
telligent persons. we presume, would
long hesitate which to believe. 1t is GER
tainly painful duty for any citizen to be
compelled to say that he does not be
lieve the President to have told the truth !;
and to obviate that necessity Gen. Grant
generously states. at the close Of his letter
of January %. that the President may
have misunderstood him. But that is
hardly possible. The Presidents inlen-
ton to use Gen. Grant to the Generals
political ruin has been evident from The
CAV that he called him TO the War
Department. He counted undoubtedly
upon the involuntary lexibility Of sol
der who had lived remote from politics
10 the hands of trained politician -
Grant was too popular. He commanded
the confidence of thoughtful men, as well
rs the admiration ot the multitude
There we.e plain signs that be was to
be an irresistible candidate for the Pres
dency, unless his fame was in some man
ner furnished, or his incompetency some
how exposed. He was no; yet the fully
accepted fayorite of the most radical
Republicans, and it would be an ingen-
iOus and effective movement to entangel
him in a net Of false appearances.
For this purpose he was made to dis
place Me-. Stanton, the Republican rep
Fesentative in the Cabinet. For a mo-
ment toe plot seemed to succeed. Those
Republicans who were opposed to the
nomination of Gen. Grant made the most
of the occasion, and spoke Of his action
with regret which betrayed the utmost
sat sfaetion. Gradually the truth began
to appear. The General quietly dis
charged his duties, and remained upon
the best possible terms with Mr.. Stanton.
Those VINO truly comprehend the position
of affairs felt that he had succeeded Mr..
Stanton as the representative of the anti
reacliOnary spirit in the Cabinet, and
were content. The feeling for him in
the country deepened. Without writing
letters or making speeches, be became
more AMI more the accepted candidate #
the liberal party under the changed cir
cumstances of the time. The meeting
in New York, proceeding from a great
interest which is not political, reminded
the President of his own forlorn position
aud waning hopes. The natural and
admirable silence of the General, VINO
had always spoken-and Enthusiastically
whenever a proper occasion arose. was
rs pGZzIing to his enemies as it was sat
isfactory to his friends. The impeach
ment failed. Generals Ord and Pope
were removed. Congress debated, and
as the necessity Of action 10 the case Of
Mr. Stanton approached, the President
resolved to turn it to his own advantage.
Nobody should be surer Of bis weap
ons of his adversary than n political
fencer. The President made anpther
thrust-and has thrown himself instead
Of touching lis opponent. There is
something comical in his discontinue
If It did not involve some very grave
considerations. Knowing that Mr.. Stan.
ton would be reinstated, and desiring to
thwaTt the Course of law, the President
tried to engage Gen. Grant as an accom-
plice. He failed ANONYMOUSLY, aud ia
revenge declared that the General had
promised to help him break the law
Tho General. Of course, denies it, bat
says that the President may have thought
otherwise. To say that the President
must have thought otherwise. or he
would have removed the General, is folly.
The President is not Of mettle that would
brave tie sure consequences of such an
act. He hoped to place Gen. Grant in
the attitude of passively opposing Con
gress 6y awaiting an order of the Su,
preme Cortland was again foiled.
The correspondence will not materially
affect the opinion which honorable men
bold Of the President, but if shows that
Gen. Grant is as faithful rs he is silent.
aud as sagacious as he is brave. The
most skeptical Republican now sees what
many have always known, that the Gen
erals devotion to the principles upon
which alone the country can be restored
to permanent peace is sure and profound.
We all talk so much in this country that
we can hardly believe a man 10 be stead
fast and right unless he occasionally
veciferates the fact of his fidelity. But
there is something in the total want Of
exaggerration both in Gen. Grants char.
actar and conduct. charm of blended
modesty, sagaeity, and simplicity, sc
unusual among our public men, that, a:
with Lincoln, its contemplation tends tc
bioh public benefit. He is the only