Middletown transcript., 1869-02-20
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Gen. Grant and MI, Colax were no.
tiAcd ca Saturday last, BY Senator Norton:
and Representatives Fruyn and Wilson,
of their election as President and Vice
PRESIDENT Of the United States. .,.u-..-s.
Gen. Grant, receiving from Senator
Morton the.certiicate of his election, an
n0nnced, substantially, that in accepting
the Office OF President of the United States
he assured them Of his determination to
carry out faithfully the obligations Of that
Office, and referred particularly to the ne
cessities for an honest and faithful dis
charge of the revenue laws. He would
call around him men who would earnestly
carry out the principles Of economy, re-
trenchment, and honesty, which were de-
sired by the people of the country. Should
the officers Of the different branches of the
Government not satisfy him in the dis
charge Of their official duty, he would not
hesitate a moment about removing them,
and would do so just as quickly with his
own appointments as with those of his
predecessor. Gen. Grant stated that he
had not announced his Cabinet up to the
time of the official declaration of the re-
suit of the election, but had intended at
that period to make known the names of
fhose whom he would invite to become
members. In the interval, however, he
had concluded not to make known the
names of the gentlemen whose services he
would be glad to have in this respect,
even to the gentlemen themselves, until
he sent them into the Senate for con6rma-
ton. The reason for this determination,
General Grant said, was because Of the
fact that should he do so, pressure would
immediately commence from various par
ties, to endeavor to induce him to change
his determination, not so much probably
from the fact that the opposition should be
made from personal motives, but on ac-
count Of the interest which the gentlemen
may have for their own friends. For these
and other reasons, he had concluded to
make no public announcement of his Cab
met until the time mentioned.
General Grant spoke without any reserve
and with the greatest frankness and cour-
tcsy, and his remarks were received by
his distinguished visitors with every mark
Of interest and appreciation. Afterwards
Mr.. Pruyn, Of the committee, addressed
the General very briefly, to the effect that
while the party with which he was iden-
tilted differed politically from the Presi-
dent elect, he desired to assure him that
his administration, in carrying out the
principles which he had mentioned, would
have their hearty support and co-opera-
tion.
The speeches were delivered more in a
conversational tone than in formal set
manner, and the occasion was one of quiet
though most intense interest. The mem
bers of the staff of General Grant were
present. About twenty gentlemen were
present altogether, including the commit
tee and staff officers.
The committee after leaving General
Grants Headquarters proceeded to the
Capitol and waited upon Speaker Colfax
in his reception, room. They presented
him with certificate of his election as
Yice-President, signed by the President
of the Senate, and then severally congra-
tulated him; to which friendly express
sions 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 shall endeavor to prove worthy
of this mark of confidence by fidelity tt
principle and duty
The committee then withdrew.
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