Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-09
A CONTRAST.
Gen. Grant and His Presenfs-John
sons Refusal of a Present.

sons Refusal of Present.
The day before Gen. Grant was in
augurated, he was waited upon by his
friend, the great millionaire, Stewart, of
New York, and other gentlemen re-
nowned for their immense financial res
sources. The object of the visit was to
hand him little check for $65, 900, and
a receipt in full, for the house in which
he was residing, with the furniture
thrown in. The said house and furniture
were then presented to Gen. Sherman,
who accepted them, with warm thanks.
Gen. Grant said nothing, although, prob.
ably, he was almost as obliged party
for the taking Of his house off his hands
in such splendid manner as Gen. Sher~
man was to receive it as gift.
The President is very fortunate in
having such monetary friends always at
his back as A. T. Stewart, VIM. B. As
tor, Leonard Jerome, Hamilton Fish,
Daniel Butterfeld, and others. When
it is necessary for him to have house,
they buy it. When it is necessary for
him to sell it, they buy it back, and pre-
sent it to somebody else.
When Andrew johnson became Presi>
dent, he received a present of a magnifi-
cent carriage and span of horses from
some Of his friends in New York. He
declined to accept them. or any other
presents, upon some old fogy notion that
it was indecorous for public officer so
to do; that it might cause his action
with the donors, if any occasion ever
arose, to be suspected in its disinterest-
edness.
Gen. Grant is more liberal He is not
troubled with such conscientious scruN
pies. He is perfectly willing to accept |
all that may be rendered him, whether
it is a house in New York, house in
Philadelphia, or in Washington. There
is good story told in connection with |
the Philadelphia mansion, which illus
trates the business capacity of the Gem
eral The rich men Of the Union League
presented him with a magnificent resi-
ience in the City of Brotherly Love. |
They fitted it up with the finest furni- |
ture, selected with especial reference to
what they supposed to be the taste of
the General. They did not forget to place
in the sideboard the finest Havana cigars,
the richest wines and the best Bourbon.
They then presented him with the key,
that in short time he would
be comfortably domiciled among them.
But the General did not propose to live
on that line" In few weeks, to the |
infinite chagrin of the Union League,
the "red flag" was seen in the newly
presented mansion the articles selected
for Gen. Grant were sold to
The highest bidder, and the house itself
was rented by a gentleman, who, we be-
lieve, converted it into an excellent
boarding house.
But to his New York friends, who so
kindly furnished him with several hun
lred thousand dollars, as compensation
or his surrender of his life Office Of Gen
eral, he is more cOnsiderate. He will,
remember them with gratis
.ude. They are large owners Of United
States bonds. We venture to say that
he General is for their payment in gold.
As large importers, they have a great in>
.erest in the tariff and when it is re-
we presume they will be con-
suited, and that, in fact, in all financial
matters, they will be the very best au-
hority going at the White House There
8 nothing like being grateful TO ones
Cincinnati Enquirer.