Nebraska advertiser., 1869-02-25
Grants Commission.

Senator Morton and Representatives
Pruyna and Wilson, OfIowa, on the 18th
inst, presented to Gen. Grant the GER
tificate of his election as President OF
the UnitedStates Senator Morton adj
dressed the General, announcing that
they were the Committee appointed by
Congress to present him with his com
mission as President of the United
States for four years, commencing on
the 4th of March next, and in a few
remarks assured the General his cleo
ton was extremely gratifying to his
cOuntrymen, and that the people felt
assured he would, in exercising the du-
ties his distinguished office applythe
same energy, integrity, and patriotism
that had characterized him in former
sphere of usefulness; and in cOnclud-
ing his remarks, said that be would
have the support of the people of the
natiOn-even including those who diff
cred politically from HMM admins
tering the affairs of the Government.
Gen. Grant, on receiving from Senator
Morton the certificate of his own cleo
ton, in a firm and audible voice made
the following response:
81 can promise the committee that
it will be my endeavOr to call around
as assistants, such men only as / think
will carry out the principles which
you have said the country desires to see
successfull-econOmy, retrenchment,
faithful collection of the revenue, and
payment of the debt. fl should fail
in my first choice, I shall not at any
time hesitate to make second, or even
a third trial, with the concurrence of the
Senate, who have the confirming pow
er, and should just as soon remove one
of my own appOintees as the a~ppointee
of my predecessor. 1t would make no
difference. There is one matter /
might properly speak ofhere, and that
is the selection of a Cabinet. / have
always felt that it would be rather in
delicate to announce or even to consult
with the gentlemen whom l thought
of inviting to positions in my cab
met, before the official declaration OF
the result of the election was made,
although / presumed there would be
no doubt about what that declaration
would be. But after consideration ]
have come to the conclusion that there
is not a man in the country who could
be invited to a place in the Cabinet
without friends of some other gentle
man making an effort to secure the
position; not that there would be any
objection to the party named, but that
there would be others whom they
hadset their hearts upon having in the
place. lean tell that from the great
number of requests which come to Inc
in writing and otherwise for this par.
ticular person or that one, from differ.
ent sets and delegations. IfannOunced
In advance efforts would be made tC
change my determination, and, there.
fore | have come to the conclusion
not to announce who / am going tOin.
vite to seats in the Cabinet until
send in their names to the Senate
for confirmation. If I say anything
to them about it it will certainly
not be more than two or three days
previous to sending in their names. ]
think it well to makea public deelar.
alton of this to the Committee, so that
my intentions may be known.r
The Committee after leaving Gen.
Grants Headquarters proceeded to the
Copitol and waited upon speaker
Colfax in his reception room. They
presented him with a certificate of his
election as Vice-President, signed by
the President Of the Senate, and then
severaly congratulated him, to which
friendly expressions he responded as
follows:
Gentlemen: Please convey to the
two houses of Congress my acceptance
of the Office to which / have been
elected by the people of the United
States, and assure them that I shall
endeavor to prove worthy ofthis mark
Of confidence by fidelity to principle
and duty.