Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-31
GRANT.


actersskfes and Ezsn Condition Tsmrfnl
that Memorable Trip-Hfs Polftf
cal Views at that Time. as y
The Chicago Times of the 9th, produce
as leading editorial, the following, writ
ten by an eye-witness of the facts given:
Grant possesses only one prououncet
characteristic, which is an imperYiousnes
that resists everything except the desire foi
drinking and smoking.
II was With this same quality that ena.
bied him 10 face the terrible and nnneres
sary bioodshed of the Wilderness thai
permitted him thoroughly 10 commit him.
self 70 the policy and support of Mr.. John.
SOD, only With equal nonchalance to desert
his position. What is inconsistent to al
Others is consistent to Grant, for Il is but a
continued want Of feeling, only broken by
the effect of alcohol.
The century has NOT vet forgotten the
Presidential excursion, popularity known
as Swingin Round the Circle The
country also remembers that Gen. Grant
was oaeo of the most prominent men in the
Presidential party. It was at time when
the name Of Grant was synonymous with
8o5 Ait B, FAtricf.sEd ard sdccezs The Rad
icals held up their hands in holy horror
that this idol Of the people should aceompa-
ny governmental party that was in favor
of thirty States in the Union, instead of
twenty-five that advocated. the extension
Of Federal rights to, the whole country I;
that preferred civil authority over military
despotism.
The explanations of General Grants
presence with this party were as unsatisfac-
troy asthey were various. Many said that he
accompanied the President as an officer on
the staff ofthe Commander-in-Chief. Subse@
quent events have proved that Grant does
not regard the President as Commander-in.
Chief Others said that he was ordered 10
90, and obeyed as q military subordinate
should always obey. superior. But there
have been Instances that prove Grant not
20 willing and ready In subordinafion. At
hrst, none were willing to admit that Grant
had committed himself to the Presidential
policy; but, before the excursion, had
come 20 an end, the Radicals regarded
Grant as tainted with sentiments of Union
ism, and treacherously fayoring speedy
return to peace and prosperity.
The true reason of Grants presence with
the Presidential party, as we'll as of his
Subsequent return to the interests Of Radi-
calism, ia to be found in that character.
istic Of indifference, stolidity, or stupidity,
which is prominent during his whole
career. Whatever bis motive for Joining
the party may have been, he looked upon
IL as an excellent occasion for prolonged
and uninterrupted drunk" He did not
draw a sober breath from the time the
party reached Niagara until after it had
landed in Chicago.
At Niagara Fails he made only one ap-
pearance, in the open air, and that 10
carriage, supported by couple of friends.
On the way to Buffalo, at Tonawanda, Adj
miral Farragut excused General Grant
from making an appearance because he
was played out" At Buffalo and other
places, Secretary Seward excused Grants
non-appearance, on account of "illness.u
The truth Is, audit is well known to every
man who accompanied the excursion, that
Grant was sent to Cleveland by another
train in order to give him the time and OPP
portunity to sober Of. This, however, was
DOT the Generals pleasure. He preferred
10 remain drunk; and, on the way from
Cleveland to Detroit, he was in staggering
condition of drunkenness, and only made
his way through the cars with support on
each side, and his appearance on the plat
form at stations with the same assistance.
The reporters of the New York Tribune
and of the Chicago Republican, who were
in attendance, telegraphed to their respec-
tive journals that Grant was in the eondi.
ton described.
1t is equally true that Grant, on several
occasions during this trip, committed him
self fully 10 the Conservatism represented
by Mr.. johnson at the time and denounced
by the Radical party. At Detroit, Secre.
tary Seward, speaking TO the people from
the balcony Of the hotel. said: "Iet me
tell those who are trying to make dis
tinction between General Grant and the
President, that nothing in this world could
divide him from the President, or me from
him and the President !" and General
Grant acquiesced in his customary silence.
Mr.. Seward has kept faith, and General
Grant has broken il.
At Battle O. ek, Michigan, there was a
great crowd and loud calls for Gen. Grant,
while Secretary Seward was expounding
the Presidents policy for restoring the
Union. "Gentlemen,S the Secretary con.
tinusd, with Grant by his side, "if you ex-
pect to hear anything different from Gen.
Grant from what the President would tell
you, you are very much mistaken. The
General allows me to do his speaking, and
] allow him TO do my fighting, and we have
neither of us as yet fought or spoken
against the other" The Secretary then
turned to Gen. Grant, who bowed in ac-
quiescence amid the cheers Of the crowd,
and concluded, "That is General Grants
speech"
There is bat one alternative for Grant
in regard 70 bis position at the time.
Either he shared the convictions and APP
proved the policy of the President, which
were fundamentally the same then as now,
or he was too stupidity drunk to deny the
sentiments attributed to him before such
vsst crowds Of his countrymen. Both con.
illusions are equally discreditable in the
turn that affairs have recently taken.