New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-12
THE Presidency.

senator Wilson ON General Grant.
In an article in the Independent, the Hen.
Henry Wilson writes:
The presidential contest of 1868, with its
vast issues, will stir the nation to its pro-
foundest depths. The Democracy, without
responsibilities, under the leadership of
men of talent, tact, and experience, will
put forth gigantic effort to win back lost
power. The Republican party, upon which
rest grave responsibilities, has in its ranks
able, tried, and true men-civil and mill
tary-meu whose names are hOnOrably as
ISOLATED with the country's struggles for
unity and liberty. Who among these
hOnored men, of proved capacity and tried
fidelity, shall be selected to marshal the
Republican hosts to victory? Whose nom
nation will, in advance, make the as
surance of victory dOubly sure? Above
personal aspirations and ambitions, above
local pride and attachments, above all
associations and interests, there comes from
the body of the three millions of Repub-
licans to whom the success of the old cause
is so dear the prompt and emphatic re-
Spouse, ulysses S. GrantW These masses
see, with the clear instinct of patriotism,
that the great soldier would bring into the
COhttob buC WCikub vi us EEGdl
name and illustriOus achievements, his
solid and practical judgment, his conceded
integrity, his modesty that never vauHts his
own deeds, and his rare magnanimity that
ever gracefully recognizes the deeds of
other generals, soldiers, and civilians.
TheGs unselfish masses, with their practical
sagacity, see that the ranks of the Repub-
licans, in the struggle through which duty
hao laA than havn haa IL
ity and treachery; that their sacred cause
now needs to be reinforced, as it so often
has been, by drafts from the most advanced
men of the Democracy; and that the selec-
ton of General Grant will rally tens of
thousands to the cause their hearts love.
Tho military achievements of General
Grant are gratefully acknowledged, his ad-
ministrative capacity is now conceded, and
mended. Earnest Republicans, however,
whose fidelity to vital issues can not be
questioned, but whose distrust of public
men has been quickened by the shameful
treachery of men they had trusted and fol-
lowed, are anxious concerning the senti-
ments of General Grant upon those vital
issues the right settlement of which can
alone bring permanent security and repose
Republican party and the personal integ-
rity of General Grant afford ample assur-
anoe that their and his sentiments and
opinions will be distinctly avowe6 in the
coming canvass. In the trying days OF the
war in the summer of 1868 General
Grant wrote from his camp on the banks of
the Mississippi to his tried friend Wash
burne:
at hava ,,axyot l,aap an o,,t; .Io,,or- ,,,,,,
but try to Judge Justly of what 1 see. |
made up my mind when this war COM
meneed that the North and So 18th could
only live together in peace as one nation,
and they could only be one nation By
being free nation. Slavery, the corner
stone of the so called confederacy. IL
knocked out, and it will take more men to
keep black men slaves than to put down
the rebellion. Much as l desire peace, |
am opposed TO any peace until this cues
ton Of slavery lie forever settled"
This emphatic avowal fully committed
General Grant to the policy Of emancipa-
ton. He was, too, tor the reelection of
Abraham Lincoln, declaring to his nearest
friends that his defeat would be dreadful
calamity to the country. Since the close
of the war he has been in accord with con-
gTess in its efforts to protect the loyal,
black aud white, secure the equal rights of
all, and restore the rebel states to their
practical relations. When the pending CON
stitutional amendment was before congress
he was for its submission to the people; and
when 1t was submitted he urged the leading
men of the rebel states to vote for its
adoption. After its rejection by the rebel
legislatures he pressed Southern men who
sought his advice to reconsider their action,
adopt it, and give suffrage to the freedmen,
To leading Southern men he said: You
must look to congress-; the Republicans
have the power; consult them; do not
seek the councils 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
mere exaeting congress will be and ought
to be the rejection CT the amendment and
the legislation against the freedmen will
cause congress 70 require universal snf-
frage and you should at once give itr
Some Of these men were wise enough TO
accept and act upon his advice. To the
reconstruction policy Of congress the vital
and oVershaa0Wing issue Of the day-Gen-
eral Grant gave his earnest support, and be
has zeaisuely striven to carry the Iegisla
ton Of congress into eiIecG On the recen-
struction policy General Grant has been
and now Is In nccord with congress and The
Repnblican party. So anxious was be 70
have that policy promptly carried into effect
that be urgently pressed upon members Of
congress the vital importance Of so arfanR-
ing the adiournments as to be able to meet
a. any time should the needs Of the country
ransslra IL