Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-18
GRANTS SPEECH.
The Feeling in Warrington hagrIu
of Radical Senators

Correspondence Of the New York Herald.
WASHINGTON, Feb l4.-The address
delivered yesterday by Gen. Grant-the
longest aud most noteworthy he has ever
ventured upon--in response to the joint
committee of the two Houses Of Con-
gress that called upon him to present his
certificate Of election, has been the main
staple Of conversation to-day in all cir
cles Of Washington society. 1t is easy
to understand why every expression that
fell yesterday from the lips Of the Presi-
dent elect should possess an Importance
for the three Thousand actual and twice
as many prospective ottice-Lolders here.
Gen. Grant, with degree of commune
cativeness not exactly anticipated from
one in his position, told his policy in re-
gard to removals with terse clearness
that left nothing further to be desired on
that head. The interest manifested,
especially by government officials, to ass
certain his views was expressed IN
the extraordinary demand for the
evening papers containing his spesch.
So far did the curiosity of certain high
fanctionaries of the departments extend
that stenographers were sent iHcOgnito
to dot down in an unobserVed manner
the words of the President elect. A
certain secretary was engaged about
noon yesterday in his department read
ing over letters and documents, when one
of his assistant secretaries entered and
exclaimed; 81 have Grants speech"
"The devil you have! Let US hear it,"
was the hurried and emphatic response
of the other. The speech was pulled out
and recited, while several Corgressmen
who happened to be present crowded
eagerly around to hear its contents.
That's darned plain talk" cried one.
eyes; l think l see a squall ahead" OBJ.
served another. "Grant means it," ems
phasized third. at will be rough
time for some" remarked q fourth, and
so on with fifty similar commonplace
commentaries, which amounted to moths
ing save to indicate that nobody felt his
corn trod upon, but thought his neigh
boris must be seriously endangered. 1t
is understood that President johnson also
shared in the general interest to hear
what Grant had to say.
Senator'S and Representative of the
House kept the members OF the Joint
Committee that waited on Grant busy
the whole afternoon retailing what they
had listened to at army headquarters
yet in the early part of the day little in.
terest was felt in the event, for the reason
that Grant was supposed TO make oae Of
his customary short speeches, merely
thanking the committee and then with
drawing. The fact, however, that he
de arted fiom his characteristic retic nee
and had actually laid down the policy o
his administration spread over the town
RAPIDLY and reached those interested at
both ends Of the avenue in an incredibly
brief space of tine. The general effect
of the address might be called tranquil~
izing. Every one who wants an office
believes, with the inevitable vanity Of
human nature that he has some peculiar
equality which will recommend him
to Grant which his fellows fail to
possess. Grant may remove anybody
else. but he can hold on. The only
class ofpoliticians in Washington Tonight
to whom the speech has not brought
hope and comfort is the extreme wing oil
the Radical party and the Senate OF the
United States. Not word about the
man and brother at the South nor the re-
construction of the States thereof is q
grievous omission in the eyes Of Charles
Sumner; but the whole Senate is inclu-
ded-except perhaps, the handful Of in
different Democrats who don't seem to
care how the ship of state sails since they
abandoned the helm-in the feeling OF
disappointed vanity at not being called
into the confidence ofthe President elect
in the momentous task Of constructing a
Cabinet. In consequence of this it is as
sumed to. night that the tenure~of-oth1 &c
act will stand poor chance OF being
modified, judging from the dissatisfied
mood that has suddenly come over the
amiable disposition of the Senate