Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-01-19
MORE OF GRANTS VIEWS.
His Opinions of Stanton, Banks, Kill
patrick, CONFESS, Sickles, Wilson,
Ben Wade, and Others Tenure
of Office Act,
From an Occasional cOrrespon'dt Of N. Y. wOrld;l

Ben Wade, and Uthers-Ihe tenufe
of Office Act.
From an Occasional correspOn'dt of N. Y. WOrld;l
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 8, 1869.
NY communication of week ago, detail
ing some of General Grants expressed opin-
ions regarding several of the prominent pub
lie men of the day, has created quite an ex-
element here, but 1 have yet TO hear of
single denial from any source of the entire
verify and authenticity of those views aud
opinions, as given in my letter as; coming
directly from General Grant. now propose
to give you something about the effect pro-
duced by the publication of those views upon
some of the Immediately interested persons,
and to add some further 'opinions" of the
General with the assurance that their authen-
ticity places them beyond reach of contradic-
ton. They are in every instance the SUBJ
stance, if not the verbatim repetition, spoken
by General Grant.
$50 A SORRY ESTIMATE OF STANTON.
In recent conversation with Gen. Grant,
Elk Secretary Stanton's name was mentioned,
when the General unbosomed himself sub
stantially as follows +: Stanton is remark
able man; man of tremendous energy, OF
fixeducss of purpose, easily blinded by pre-
iudice, and anintense Halter. lie was most
successful war minister. l know of no man
who could have filled his place. With Press
ident all kindness, all sympathy, all forgive
ness-who had ''charity for all, malice to-
wards none"-Stanton in Lincoln's cabinet
was military necessity while the war lasted.
He should have retired at the close of the
war y cabinet officer in time of peace is
not his place. His general executive abli-
ties are not good. His Office, when took it,
was like an army after a great victory, which
had 10 decipline except in the fight. 1t was
full of undecided cases, unsettled claims, and
unanswered letters. The regular business of
the Office, except so far as it affected the ope-
rations of the armies, was sadly neglected.
How he kept his place so long is a mystery
to me- Lincoln feared him; johnson hated
him both wished themselves rid of him; yet
neither dared remove him. johnson finally
mustered courage to remove him, because he
thought he could use me as convenient in
strument for that purpose. [ always regret
ted for Stanton's sake, that he held on to the
Office. When [ surrendered it to him, after
the decision of the Senate, [ confidently ex-
pected that he would only hold the position
long enough to write his resignation.
GENERAL BANKS VS.. SPEAKER BANKS.
OF Congressman Banks, Grant speaks as
follows Banks, as soldier, was not a sue
cess. His best and most patriotic service in
that line was in retiring from the army
General Banks was not half SO great man
as Speaker Banks. There are few, if any,
civil positions l might not think him quail
fed for; any military position [ would never
think Of giving him. J. think he possesses
many elements of high craftsmanship, but
should never nominate him to fill vacant
Brigadier>G encralship
CONFESS GARRULoUs AND TROUBLESOME.
General Grant was recently asked his opin-
ion of Senator Conncss, when he replied -
Conness speaks SO much for himself that he
scarcely needs any one else to speak for him.
He is constitutional fault finder He gave
me great trouble by his attacks on one Of my
officers, who was completely vindicated by an
investigation. The vindicatiou was more
complete Us the investigation was made by an
unfriendly commissioner CONFESS is not as
great man was Daniel Webster, nor will
his name live SO long in the annals Of his
country.
FITZPATRICK MORE INFAMOUS THAN BUTLER.
The kindly opinions General Grant gener-
ally entertains of military men and ex. officers,
lie does not seem to possess in regard to the
valiant Fitzpatrick, regarding whom, in re-
cent conversation, he thus freely expressed
himself: When | assumed command of the
armies General Meade told me he must get
rid of Fitzpatrick, he knew too many politi-
clans in Washington through their influence
and interference he compelled him General
Meade) to permit, against his own judgment,
the unfortunate raid upon Richmond which
resulted in the death Of poor Dahlgren and
general disaster to the EXPEDITION. johnson
knew him better than the Republican party,
oD he would not have permitted him to come
home to stump the country against the De-
mocracy. That the friends of Mr. Dana
should have selected man like Fitzpatrick to
traduce Butler amazes me. If all that But
ler's enemies say of him is true, Fitzpatrick,
without Buffers abilities, possesses additional
elements of unpopularity that have never
been charged on Butler. I think the Tenure
Of. Office bill would have furnished slight OBJ
staclcs to Mr.. johnson in Kidding Chill CT
such an ambassador
SOFT SOAP FOR SICKLES.
OF General Sickles, Grant speaks as fol-
lows I know nothing personally of the SOL
dicrly abilities of General Sickles, though [
have always thought he never had fair
chance to develop himself He rose rapidly
during the early part of the war-so rapidly
as to excite the jealousy of his brother Off
GERS. He incurred General Meade's hostility
at Charlottesville, and ever after suffered in
consequence. lie is man of fine executive
talent. His administration in the Carolinas
was entirely acceptable to me, IS it was cer~
tauly eminently successful. As politician,
he should be ranked among the first lie
did the Republican cause great service in the
last campaign, and deserves as much as any
other man at the hands of his party.
FIGHTING BEN .wADE-No CABINET OFFS
CES VACANT.
Old Ben Wade is evidently one of Grants
fayorites in a certain sense He speaks of