Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-08
GENERAL SHERIDAN.
What the Hero of Winchester Says

Journal, who has recently visited Gen. .
Sheridan, writes rs follows:
'Our Phil" has been to see his par
ents and a good MANY not related to the
hero of Five Forks, including the writer,
called to see him. The General stayed
only few days, and during that time
received no distinguished marks" OF
consideration, such as public receptions.
firing Of guns, and parades, but those
other ''marks, not near so noisy, the
hearty greeting. the warm approval, and
the cordial welcome implied in private
calls and invitations to dine. tho latter
Of which was, il one or two instances,
accepted.
As Sheridan sat smoking his pipe and
talking Of men and things about home.
with a satisfaction and comnosure which
it seemed almost sacriIege TO invade with
an attempt 10 change into illusions to
other topics Of political mature, / ven
tured 10 call his recollection to q printed
report Of our last conversation, prepared
by myself some months afterwards.
| had the highest satisfaction of an
unreserved endorsement from the Gen
eral. who felt Ike complimenting the
falthFulness of my report, and did me-
the honor of expressing his full satisfac
ton Herewith. Since then he had been
called to command the Fifth District. and
since th,n he bad had splendid oppor-
'unity Of testing his fidelity to the prn.
ciPIes, and fa'thfulness to the party which
prevailed in the late struggle for nation
ality, for liberty and equality.
1t is because his fidelity anil faithful
fuIness were proof against the bIandish
ments Of power, and rose above al de-
sire to bask ip the sunshine Of Execn.
tive favor, at the expense of virtue. that
q greeuer chap!et entwines his brow than
any placed there By the ever favorino
hand Of victory in the field Of war.
The law was the voice Of Congress.
and with him the voice Of Congress was
the voice Of the people, and the voice of
God; rather than stife which, he would
lay down his head upon the bloody gull
Iotlne Of bis chief, and give room to
one less mindful of the duty which he
owes to humanity, to law and liberty.
"Ihe papers report you, General, rs
having said That { rant WINS more ralicar
tlIdn yourself; how do you make that
out? II said 50, returned the Gen
ernl, land prove it thus: When first
took command of the Fifth DISTRICT
Gen. Grant sent me an order to allow
no man 10 sit on jury who could not
take the 'ironclad oath | mildly re
monstrated against this. and wro:e to
he Genera! requesting a modification Of
he order, 50 that ali who might vote.
might also SIT upon a jury"
This he dill accordingly, and If was
for this very radical order ard its molfi
cation to suit me that said that he was
F1nore radical than myself" The OATH
referred to requires a man to swear that
he never bore arms for or acknowledged
allegiance to the Southern Confederacv.
or gave TO the enemies Of the United
States aid comfort or encouragement. =.
1t is therefore, called the "ir5n clad"
But Sheridan found many could not
take the oath, who had cen forced into
rebellion, and who had been clothed with
the right Of suffrage, aud 10 that class
he very properly accorded right to sit
upon the jury.
"ls it your opinion, General, that
Grant did all he could to sustain You 2"
"Undoubtedly," was the reply, "Ev-
erything did was under direct order
from him, or under his endorsement and
approval. 70 fall out with me, there
fore, was to fall out with Grant himself.
lu a few days you will read letter from
Gen Grant, protes ing against my re-
moyal. mot then publisbed) which will
demonstrate to the public what say to
you"
VII Grant certainly be a candidate
for President?' Not by his own choice"
promptly replied Sheridan, ''but if he
accepts The nomination believe he will
DO 50 from motive Of duty 20 his friends
and country, in the spirit of sacrifice
and patriotism, for which he is so re-
markably distinguished"
Viii the Congressional policy Of
reconstruction succeed e. Another Whit
Mt his pipe, and his answer was rs ready
rs an old time statesmen. "Of course II
mast succeed. It's too late to GO back
warl. III negro has been admitted
T. the bal box. All the power on
earth cannot keep it from him nor -
lie has not only been taught to read but
cote also. He can unlearn neither the
one or the other. When he was mus
tered into the military seEsice as sol.
der, his right 10 vote was decreed.-
In ass inning the highest and most SOL
emn duty rs a ciiizen--the defense of mis-
couutry--as a scldier, all minor priyil-
eyes aud duties at once attached ia him.
He is therefore votsr by virtue of hav.
ing become . .fgkter, tax payer, q cit.
izen."
I felt that Sheridan va, equal to the
political, as he had been equal 10 the
military. emergency Of his career,
never falling below, and often far sur
passing public expectation. Glorious
Phil Sheridanl You are rot only
soldier but statesmen in Bham there il
no guilei