Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-17
The Notification to Grant and COlfax.

Inc N|OIlncallOn 10 TRAM ana JOllaX.
The joint committee, composed of
Senator Morton and Representatives
James +. Wilson and J. V. l.. Pruyn,
of New York, appointed by Congress
to officially inform General Grant of
his election as President of the United
States, waited on him this morning
at half-past ten o'clock, at his head
quarters, and discharged the duty as
signed them. The ceremony took
place in the Generals private Office.
About two dozen gentlemen were
present, among them being nearly all
the members OF the Generals staff,
Representative Robertson, General
Logan, and one or two personal
friends. The whole affair did not oe-
cupy more than twenty minutes.
| After the usual ~courtesies, Senator
Morton, on behalf of the committee,
said:
"GESERAL:-TheJoi Joint committee appoint
ed by the two Houses Of Congress visit you
this morning to notify you officially that
! you have been elected President Ofthe United
States for the term of four years from the Attn
Of March next The great majority Of your
cOuntrymen hail your election with delight,
while even those who did not support you at
the polls entertain for you the highest conf
dence and respect. The friends OF our coun-
try and the friends Of liberty Throughout the
world rejoice at your elevation to the Presi-
iency, and all believe that you will bring to
the performance OF FOUR duty unallOyed pat
riotlsm, infexib!e integrity, great powers Of
intellect. and all the high qualities that en-
abled yOuto achieve such distinguished sue
cess in another sphere of duty. They cherish
full faith in your ability and virtues, and en-
tertain the highest hopes Of your success, and
that during your administration the work Of
reconstruction will be completed and the
wounds OF civil war healed, and that our
country will take a new departure in growth,
progress, and prosperity"
Senator Morton then handed the
official notification to General Grant,
of which the following is \ copy:
"BE ITKSowE, That the Senate and House
of Representatives OF the United States of
America. being assembled at the Capitol in
the city Of Washington, on the second
Wednesday, being the tenth day Of Febru-
airy, i'm the wear OF our Lord 1853. the under
written President Of the Senate did, in pres
ence Of the said Senate and House Of Repre-
scntattves, open all the certificates and count
sill the votes of the electors for a President
and Vice President, by which Is appears that
Ulysses 8. Grant was duly elected, agreeably
to the Constitution, President Of the United
states for four years. commencing on the
fourth day Of March, 1859.
In witness whereof I nave hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal Of the Senate, this
tenth day of February, 1859.
President pro TEN OF the Senate"
General Grant, on receiving this
certificate, made the following re-
Spouse, speaking very deliberately
and with evident embarrassment:
81 can promise the COMMITTEES that il will
be my endeavor to call around me as assist.
ants such men only as 1 think Will carry oui
the principles which you have said the cOun'
try desires to see successful, nom re.
trenchment, faithful collections Of the rev.
enue, and payment Of the public debt. II
should fail in my first choice, l shall not al
any time hesitate to make q second or ever
a third trial, with the concurrence OF thu
Senate, who ave the confirming power.
should Just as soon remove one of my Owl
appointees as the appointee OF my predeees,
sor. 1t would make no difference. There 1:
one matter that l might possibly speak o
here, and that Is the selection of a cabinet
=, l have always felt that 1t would be rather in
delicate to announce or even 10 consult will
the gentlemen whom / thought of inviting
, to positions in my cabinet before the officia
= declaration Of the result OF the election wa
4 made, although / presumed that there wa
no doubt about what the declaration would
, be. But, after consideration, / have come Il
the conclusion that there is not a man in tn
country who could be invited to a place il
, the cabinet without the friends Of some Othe
l gentleman making IN effort to secure tn
g position, not that there would be any objec
= ton to the party named, but that Their
, would be others whom they had set thei
l hearts upon having in the place. l can tel
l that from the great lumber OF request
I / WHICH, tOllAC W ~ III HAAAAAAh dlA DNAAC " -
for this particular person or that one from
: different sets OF delegations. II announces
in advance, efforts would be made to chang
my determination, and therefore / hav
ON to the conclusion not to announc
T whom l am going TO invite to seats in tn
q cabinet until i send in their names TO tn
, Senate for confirmation. II I say anythin
to them about it, 1t will certainly not b
more than two or three days previous {
I sending in their names. I think II well {
makes public declaration Of this to the com
, mittee, sothat my Intention may be known.
Atthe conclusion Of General Grant
remarks, Mr.. Pruyn stepped forwar,
I. and said:
"GENEEAL:-In the great principles whic
you I'VE marked out for the d Of you
!, administration. you will have the support
= those with whom / am politically associated
ready to act with you"
General Grant made no response I
this beyond bowling his thanks. TIL
o committee and most of the gentleme
present then shook hands with hiI
a and retired. They afterward waite
|, upOn Mr. Colfax at the Capitol, an
Y were received in the Speakers room
. a similar notification was handed
him by Nh. Wilson, when he handle
q to the committee his response /
@ writing, as follows:
h "GESrLENEN Please convey to the tv
\ Houses Of Congress my acceptance OF q
office to which / have been elected by II
people ofthe United States. and assure thel
IT hat 1 shall endeavor to prove worthy OF n
= marx OF confidence by fidelity 10 prtneip
and duty"
This ended the ceremony.