The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-08
General Grant when he was Sam
Grant at GaIeHa.
From the Galena (Ill.) Democru

From the Galena Qll.) Democrat.
We are repeatedly called upon, in com
mon with otncrs Of our fellow-citizens, by
letters from different parts of the Union,
for information in regard to the antece-
dents-moral, social, and political-of
General U. S. Grant, or General Samuel
Ulysses Graut, according To q late news
paper writer, who says he derives the in
formation from Sans own father, who, il
he knows anything, ought to know his W
sons name.
Having no personal feeling against Us.
Grant, or S. u. Grant, we have conse-
quently no objections TO give an answer to
these queries, and to state fairly all that Is
known. or con be brought forward, i'll re.
gard to the political opinions of this gen
tleman. AS to his social and moral status
we have little to say al present but as to
his politics we nave excellent authority, TO
when we can refer for prooi-that is, il
General Grant ever had any fixed opinions
while he resided in Gaiena.
q. S. Grant, or S. U. Grant, came to
this city about nine years ago. His father
was O resident of CoviDgtvn, Ky, had a
leather store here, and was engaged,
through his two sons, Orville and Simpson
Grant, in the purchase Of hides, which
were shipped TO Covington. Hitber came
ULYSSES, after he wandered out of the
United States army, and was employed as
q kind Of porter about the establishment.
He was equally unknown to fame or to
society here, and SO remained until bis
good luck came into play with that Of the
Black Republican, dynasty of A. Lincoln.
1t has been repeatedly stated that Grant
voted for Douglas at the Presidential cleo
tion of 1860, which resulted in the triumph
Of
.sBlack Old Abe and the eternal nigger!'
Again, it has been said that both he and
his brother voted for 4. LiGcoln. His
brother did vote the Republican ticket,
but Sam did not vote at all. He told one
gentleman that if he did vote he would
prefer to do so for Bell and Everett, the
Know Nothing candidates. To another
gentleman he expressed his preference for
Judge Douglas, adding, however, that he
did not like to oppose the wishes Of his
father and brother, who were Republicans
thus exhibitingth the same vascillating course
in politics that he does at present. Know
Nothingism appears at all times to be his
predominating political characteristic.
But few of our citizens knew U. S. or
S. U. Grant during his residence here !;
and it was not untilthe title of General was
attached to his name that they began to
inquire I: Who and what is this General
Grant who is announced as a distinguished
citizen Of Galena?" (" We never knew
/. him!" "What is he-what did he do
here I" Everybody seemed astonished to
find that We chad q Bourbon among u.s."
and had ignorautly been nursing a military
genius in our midst, who was destined
politically at leastl to ogerslaugh all COM
petitors.
It is generally understood that there is.
and has been for some time past, in fact.
ever since General Grant doomed no in
the political horizon, quite a contest or
rivalry as 10 the particular individual who
first lent Grant a helping h%and-both e.
b. Washburne and Dick Yates Claiming
the merit of being his benefactor.
1t appears that on the breaking out of
the rebellion q. S. or S. q. Grant I've
had better call him Sam, for short,) wan
dersd TO Springfield, and obtained tempo
rary employment as a clerk or peace adju-
tant In the office Of that moral, sober, and