The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-08-27
a Defence Of Grant as the Great
American Traveller.
Colouel Forneys Correspondents from wash
ington to the Philadelphia Prsss-)


ington to the Philadelphia Prsss)
Like all public functionaries and most
of the leading candidates of both par
ties, he travels free over the rallroass'
through the ready courtesies of the com
papies, and, like them, he is generally
guest of the hotels at which he stops.
But all this is very different from the
periodical jaunts of former Chief Magis.
trates. They rarely moved, save in pro-
cession, and with large following. The
CORPORATION of every town through
which they passed made extraordinary
and even extravagant preparations for
their reception. When President Jack
son accepted the invitation to visit New
England he was welcomed like mon
arch, and every city through which he
iourneyed We'd with the other in expen.
sive demonstrations. The outlay of New
York alone must have been very great.
All parties united to do him honor. 1t
was the same with Mr.. Van Buren, and
with President Pierce.
The cost of Andrew Johnson's trip to
the grave of Douglas, with Mr.. Seward
and other members of the Cabinet, and
a galaxy of officers of the army and the
navy, would make pretty figure If 1t
could be ascertained, and the great
dinner given to him in New York was
at the time estimated at an enormous
sum. That city is proverblal for It's
generosity to distinguished men, espe-
cially where they happen to be in favor
with the authorities; but, in addition
to the public expense, many men OF
wealth gave their checks for large
amounts. President Grant has declined
most of these costly exhibitions. He
prefers the invitations of private indi-
viduals. He visited Baltimore few
weeks ago at the opening of a new
steam line, but the affair would have
gone on without him. He attended the
dinner to the trustees of the Corcoran
Art Fund here, given by Henry D.
Cooke, but that would have taken place
if he had not been at home. He was
present at the banquet of the New York
lawyers to Mr.. Evarts, because he was
in theicity at the time.
At Long Branch, at Cape May, at
Newport, where he is now, he came and
went quietly, and, though he was rap
turously welcomed, the expense of his
presence was rather to the advantage
of these resorts than otherwise. His
object is to see the country and the
people, as it is his duty, and so, when a
friend like General Kane, of Pennsyl-
vania, or Marshall o. Roberts, of New
York, or James H. Orne, of Philadel-
phia, or Mr.. Albert, of Baltimore, iu-
vites him to his house, he makes it
point to accept. Now, this is different
from his predecessor, but who will COM
plain of It'll When he made one of the
vast number at the Boston Jubilee,
thousands of his fellow-citizens came to
greet him; and when he dined with the
directory he received a tribute that
would have been rendered to any other
President, or to any other soldier of
distinction. In this way, and i'll this
way alone, the President can be made
acquainted with the wants and interests
of the people.
Passing along rapidly and stopping
for day or an evening at different
points, he meets different people and
hears different opinions, Had he re-
mained in Washington during the long
recess, he could not have acquired this
or, indeed, have been more
attentive to his public obligations, of
which he is kept constantly advised.
When Old Hickory went to the Rip
Raps, near Fortress Monroe, every SUM-
mer, he remained absent for weeks at
time, and saw nobody but few friends.
The place itself was inaccessible by
land and was set apart for the Presi-
dent and for such as he might ask to
visit him. General Grant goes out to
the populace, excludes nobody, hears
every body, and though not much of
speech he carries away with him
a far better knowledge of the people
than if he had shut himself up in the
White House, or remained in Washing
ton to receive the petitions of the office
seekers.