The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-02-03
More Of General Grants Views.
HIS OPINIONS OF STANTON, BANKS, KIf.PAT-
RICK, CoNNEss, sIcKLEs, BEN WADE,
WILSON, AND oTHERs-THE
TENCRE-oF-oFFICEA ACT.
From New York World.1
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. IL, 1859

failing some of General Grants expressed
opinions regarding several of the promi-
nent public men of the day. has created
qnite an excitement here, but have yet to
see or hear of single denial from any
source OF the entire verify and authenticity
OF those views and opinions, as given in
my letter as coming directly from General
Grant. now propose to give you some
thing about the effect produced by the pub
LEGATION of those views upon some of the
Immediately interested persons, and to add
some further opinions of the General,
places them beyond reach of contradiction.
They are in every instance the substance,
if not the verbatim repetition of words
spokenn by General Grant
MORGAN BADLY FRIGHTENED.
Morgan, the 9" bag of dollars" was so
alarmed at the " views of General Grant
concerning himself that he Immediately
telegraphed to bis friends at Albany not to
make contest on the organization of the
Legislature of New York, and then, failing
to get a reputation from Grant, packed off
to Albany in hot haste, to personally su-
perintend the repair of the damages he
was conscious of having sustained in his
Senatorial chances by the exhibition of his
administration.
SORRY ESTIMATE OF STANTON.
In a recent conversation with General
Grant, Ex-Secretary Stanton's name was
mentioned. when the General unbosomed
himself substantially as follows: Stanton
is a remarkable man a man Of tremendous
energy, of iron will, of fixedness ofpurpose,
easily blinded by prejudice, and an intense
later. He was most Successful war min
lister. I know ofno man who could have
filed his place. With o President all
kindness, all sympathy, all forgiveness
who had "charity for all, malice toward
q military necessity while the war lasted.
He should have retired at the close Of the
war. :, A cabihet Office in time of peace is
not his place. His general executive abil-
tiles are not good. His;oflice, when I-toek
it, was like an army after.a great victory,
which had no discipline except in the fight.
1t was full of undecided cases, unsettled
claim, and unanswered letters. The regu-
lar business of the office, except as it af-
fected the operations of the armies, was
sadly neglected. Stanton had no single
element Of popularity. How he kept his
place SO long, is a. mystery to me. Lin
coin feared him !; johnson hated him;
both wished themselves rid Of him; yet
neither Of them dared remove him. John
son finally mustered courage to remove
him, because he thought he could use me
as convenient instrument for that pur-
pose. always regretted, for Stahton's
sake, that he held on to the Office. When
surrendered it to him, after the decision
ofthe Senate,I confidently expected that
he would only hold the position long
enough to write his resignation. - p
GENERAL. BANKS VS.. SPEAKER BANGS. ~.
.,f OF Congressman Banks, Grant speaks as
follows: Banks; as soldier, was not q
success. His best and most patriotic Ser
vice in that line was in retiring from the
army General Banks was not half so great
a man as Speaker Banks. There are few,
if any, civil positions might not think
him qualified for; any military position l
would never think of giving him. | think
he possesses many elements Of high states
manship but should never nominate
him to fill a vacant Brigadier-G eneralship.
CONNESS GARRULOUS AND TROUBLESOME. F.
General Grant was recently asked his
opinion of Senator CONFESS, when he re-
piled CONFESS speaks so much for himself
that he scarcely needs anyone else to speak
for him. He is constitutional fault.fnd-
err. He gave me great trouble by his at
tacks on one Of my officers, who was COM
pletely indicated by an investigation.
The vindication was more complete as the
investigation was made by an unfriendly
commissioner. CONFESS is not as great a
man as was Daniel Webster, nor will his
name live so long in the annals OF his coun-
try.
FITZPATRICK MORE INFAMOUS THAN BUTLER.
The kindly opinions General Grant so
generally entertains of military men and
ex-officers, he does not seem to possess in
regard to the valiant Fitzpatrick, regarding
whom, in recent conversation, he thus
freely expressed himself: When I assum-
ed command of the armies General Meade
told me he must get rid Of Fitzpatrick, he
knew too many politicians 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 disas-
ter to the expedition. johnson knew him
better than the Republican party, or he
would not have permitted him to come
home to stump the country against the
Democracy. That the friends of Mr.. Dana
should have selected man like Fitzpatrick
to traduce Butler amazes me. If all that
Buffers enemies say of him is true, Kill
patrick, without Buffers abilities, posses
ses additional elements of unpopularity
that have never been charged on Butler.
1 think tho Tenure-of-Office bill would
have furnished slight obstacles to Mr..
johnson in Kidding Chill Of such an am.
bassador. - ~ '
soFT-soAP FOR s1cKLEs.
OF General Sickles Grant speaks as fol-
lows: know nothing personally of the
solderly abilities of General Sickles,
though have always thought that he new
er had a 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 officers He incurred Gene
raj Meade's hostility at Charlottesville,
and ever after suffered lin consequence.
He is man of fine executive talent. His
administration in the Caro,inas was entire
" acceptable to me, as it was certainly
emineDtly successful. As politician he
should be ranked among the first. He did
r DO,