The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-01-07
tOoFresrondsnes ostha syraeuso Journal.
GENERAL GRANT. 5
More Statements Respecting his
Views-A Social Chat.

r WASHINGTON, d. G., Dec. "a, '69.
It is quite evident that General
3 Grants silence is not the result Of OBJ
tuseness or want of ideas. Since his
return to Washington, he has not
been remarkable for reticence. On
the contrary, he seems to have taken
, every proper occasion to express his
opinions on current topics.
Just before Congress met, he an.
nouneed himself as desiring to see
passed an amendment to the Consti-
tuition making a uniform rule Of suf-
frage. He also reiterated his favor
able opinion of the Wade amendment,
limiting a President to one term.
Perhaps the most outspoken things
he has said were. spoken yesterday at
interI Jews had with several Congress-
men. Among them was Senator
Chandler, of Michigan. In the course
4 Of conversation the Senator urged the
claims of certain Pacific Railroad
Il schemes, presenting, of course, the
plausible argument that the develop
ment of the country, &C., would more
than warrant the outlay. General
Grant, in the most emphatic manner,
i declared against all schemes of the
kind. The first duty of the Govern
ment, he said, was to prepare for the
payment of the national debit In or
der to do this, the most rigid economy
and care was necessary in all public
expenditures. Subsidies to railroad
schemes, unless shown to be absolutely
necessary for the completion of inn
pOrtant routes, must be opposed.
The Senator, of course, was not con-
WINGED, and reiterated his own views.
Mentioning that he was going home
las was understood, to look after his
re-election), General Grant remarked
jOcularly, but meaningly, d, that he hoped
he would stay, having in view that he
could be spared. He could be
spared if his views continued as stated.
At another interview with m 3mbers
of the House, General Grant took oc-
casion to urge the absolute necessity
of a session Ofthe Forty-first Congress,
to begin on the 4th of March next.
He said that legislation was greatly
behind the real needs Of the country,
and that, further, his administration
would require the presence of Congress
to aid in the adoption of measures
that might.be found absolutely necps-
sary for the pacification of the country. |
This ends, without doubt, all attempts |
to repeal the act by which each Con-
gress is required to meet on the 4th of
March, though it is understood the
House Judiciary Committee agree to
report a bill for that purpose.
Another and desirable evidence of
the Generals watchfulhess is seen in
sending members of his staff to make
thorough inspections in the disturbed
States. 1t is understood they are di- |
reeted to make the most careful exam
inatiOns into the slate of affairs. Cen
eral Parker is to leave soon for the
Gulf States, and Assistant Adiutant
General Leet has already gone to Sher-
idan's Department.
A gentleman who spent several
hours recently at General Grants res
idence, with several others, gave me
some interesting gossip about the in
terview. The person referred to was
"a former friend of the Grant family. I
and knew the General when q West
Point cadet at home on a visit. Like
others T have seen, he did not believe
the cadet had any elements of power
and greatness in his character, and
told how vehemently he contrOverted
General Hamer's (the Congressman by
whom Grant was nominated to West
Poiat, and who afterward fell in Mex
ico), declaration that Lieutenant Grant
would make bis mark that there was a
good deal in him.
My informant was delighted with
the easy geniality of the General, and
described with gusto his manner and
conversation. Among other things,
he said that Grant told how surpris-
ed he was at the number Of men Penn
berton had at Vicksburg when he sur
rendered. He General Grant, sup
posed the force to be not moro than
fifteen thousand. PembertOu told
him, when they were arranging terms
Ofsurrender, that his men must be fed
until they could reach their own lines
and depots. This was acquiesced in.f
Pemberton then said he should need /
Immediately. 81 asked him
for how many" said Grant, sand
when he told me $4,000 men, my
eyes, gentlemen. opened as wide as
that" at the same time Illustrating
by placing his thumb and fore-finger
together so as to make a large oval.
There was laugh over this. Many
were told of campaigns and
The regard for Sherman,
so well known to the country, was
shown quite plainly by several aIu-
siOns to him, and especially in the mar
ration Of incidents connected with the
surrender Of Johnston.
Senator Wilson, who was present,
remarked jOcularly that he had MOTTO
ed that the General had been closeted
with Mcclellan. Grant responded af-
and further said that Nc
Clellan was an able man and soldier.
The only point on which he ex-
pressed himself during the conversa-
tion that bore upon public affairs, was
in relation to General Sheridan, and
his removal from the command of
Louisiana. 1t was an easy and fair
deduction from his remarks, to be-
lieve that among the first, if not the
very first, act of his administration, as
'Commander-in-chief," would be the
signing of an order placing Little Phil.
in command of Louisiana and Texas,
probably also of all the Trans Mississ-
ippi region. -
An old apple peddler in st. Louis has
Just received information that thirty
thousand pounds sterling have been