Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-08-15
GRANT AS A STATESMAN.


Some of the Copperhead papers dare to
assert that Grant is only General but no
statesman. We append letter written in
1869, which shows that his views on the
policy of the country are not only of states
manlike character, but fur seeing also:
During the progress of the war, and in
advance even of the craftsmanship of Lin
coin and his Cabinet, General Grant foresaw
the necessity of emancipation, not only as
means OF suppressing the rebellion, but to
the future peace OF the country, and on the
30th of August, 1868, lie addressed a letter
to MIR. Washburne, Of Illinois, in these
words:
VIcKsBURe, Miss, August 80, 1868.
DEAR SIR: The people need not quarrel
over the institution of slavery What Vice
President Stephens acknowledges as the
corner stone of the Confederacy is already
knocked out Slavery is already dead, and
cannot be resurrected. 1t would take
standing army to maintain slavery in the
South if we were to make peace to day, guar
anteeing to the South all tEeir former privi-
leges / never was an Abolitionist-no even
what could he called anti slayery-but try
to Judge fairly and honestly, and it became
patent to my mind early in the rebellion
that the North and South could never live
| in peace with each other except as one ma
tion, aud that without slavery. AS anxious
as am to see peace established, l would
not therefore be willing to see any settle
men: until this question is settled.
Your sincere friend, U. S. GRANT.
This was the precursor of the proclamation
of emancipation, which made Lincoln i'm
mortal and as he invoked upon that, so
may we upon this, ,"the considerate judgment
of mankind and the blessings of Almighty
God" Here is evidence of craftsmanship
which should be printed in golden letters at
the head of every copy of the proclamation
of emancipation.
| In Mr. A. d. Richardson's forthcoming
Life of Gen. Grant there is some interesting
evidence of this kind, of which we annex u
few specimens. In November, 1865, Grant
wrote to the ex.Rcbel Gen. Dick Taylor:
"The day after you left here the President
sent for me, as expected he would after
! conversation with his Attorney. General
told him my views canddly about the course
thought he should take in view of the YER
| dict of the late elections. 1t elected moth
ing satisfactory from him, but did not bring
out the strong opposition he sometimes
shows to views not agreeing with his own.
| was followed by Gen. Sickles, who express
ed about the same opinions did.
"Since that have talked with several
members of Congress who are classed with
the Radicals; Schenck and Boutwell, for in
stance. They express the most generous
views as to what would be done, if the con.
stitutional amendments proposed by Con.
gress were adopted by the Southern States
What was done in the case of Tennessee was
an earnest of what would be done in all
cases.
Even the disqualification to hold office
imposed on certain classes by one article of
the amendment would, no doubt, be rem0v-
ed at once except it might be in the cases
of the very highest Offenders, such, for in
stance, as those who went abroad to aid in
the rebellion, those who left seats in Con-
| gress, etc. All or very nearly all would soon
be restored, and so far as security to proper
ty and liberty is concerned, all would be re-
stored at once.
81 would like exceedingly to see one South
ern State, excluded State, ratify the amend
ment, to enable us to see the exact course
that would be pursued. | believe it would
much modify the demands that may be made
if there is any delay"
II never could have believed" said Grant
to friend, that should favor giving ne.
groes the right to vote; but that seems to
me the only solution of our difficulties"
Daring the Winter of 1867, while recon.
struction measures were pending, Orr, of
South Carolina, Brown and Walker, of Geor-
gia, and other late prominent secessionists,
asked his counsel. To all he replied, in
! substance
$50 to the Union Republicans in Congress,
and them alone. Hare nothing whatecer 10 do
toth N0rtherRers ach0 opposed the aoar. They
will never again be entrusted with power.
The more you consort with them, the more
exacting the Republicans will be, and ought
to be. When you get nome, urge your peo
pie to accept negro suffrage. 1t you had
promptly adopted the constitutional amend
ment abolishing Slavery, or the one making
negroes citizens, and guaranteeing the pub
lie debt, Congress would undoubtedly have
admitted you before this. Now it will in.
sst upon adding impartial suffrage. The
sooner you accept that the better for all con-
cerned."
In the autumn of 1866, when the French
were preparing to evacuate Mexico, General
Grant wrote the following sensible and en-
phatic letter to Sheridan, then commanding
the Fifth Military District:
"My opinion is that the interest Of the
United States, and duty, is to see that for
eign interference with the affairs of this coz
tinent is put an end to.
"* = 1t is probable that you may
have an opportunity of judging the designs
of Santa Anna, should he attempt to send a
force to the Rio Grande. Should his designs
be inimical to the government, OF Mexico,
with which We are at peace the same duty,
in obedience to our own neutrality laws,
compels us to prevent the fitting out of ex.
pedtionS hostile to that Government that
existed in the case of tho Fenisp movement
against our northern neigEbor.
There is but one party, one Government
in Mexico, whose wishes have claim to re-
spect from US. No policy has been adopted
by our Government which authorizes US to
interfere on Mexican soil with that country,
but there is nothing, that know of, to pre-
vent the free passage o. people or material
going through our territory to the aid of
the recognized Government.
"Our neutrality should prevent our allow
ing the same thing when the effect is to
make war upon that Government, SO long
as We are at peace with it,"
And within the present year, Sheridan
whose opinion of Grant is certainly well
worth having, wrote as follows to friend