New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-06


burt. Prentiss, and McClernand were appointed.
When Grant was informed of his promotion he said
" 1t never came from any request Of mine IL must
be some of Washburne's work.
On October, 1861, while Grant was in command at
Cairo, Washburne paid him visit and then for the
first time became impressed with the conviction that
Grant was to be the coming man. of the war, In
the language of his friends from that time he had
"Grant on the BRAIN" When Pope's friends urged
him for Major Generalshp, Washburne secured a
promise from Lincoln that none of the Bridgaders
should be further promoted till they had
distinguished themselves in the field. ring of
contractors whom Grant had offended circulated in
the newspapers a report of his intemperance Wash
burne wrote to Rawlins to know if it had any grain
of truth. Rawlins replied that much as he loved
his chief, he loved his country more; and if from
any cause he sould see him unfit for his position, he
would inform Washburne. Having written the
letter, he showed it to Grant, who replied.
Fright, exactly right; send it by all means"
1t was not until the battle of Fort Doneson that
Grant fairly achieved position which rendered the
kind offices of Washburne no longer absolutely
necessary to his promotion. -Four days after that
victory he was appointed and confirmed Major Cen
eral of Volunteers. waslrburne had the honor, how
ever, Of framing the bill to revive the grade of
Lieut.. General, which had been previously
conferred only Washington, and was
an active and efficient leader in every movement to
further Grants progress toward the chief command
of our armies After the battle Of Shiloh and during
the sicgo of Vcksburg Washbune, notwithstanding
Grants growing fame, had abundant opportunity to
give his influence and arguments in refutation OF
the criticisms upon Grants soldierly qualities On
Grants accession to the chief command, Washburne
became as one one of his household Yet we have
good grounds for saying that neither he nor
any other person has at any time been much
in advance of the public in knowledge OF Grants
opinions or intentions Though Grant has stronger
affection for Washburne then for other civilian
perhaps for any other friend, we believe Washburne
knew no more than any other Cabinet officer that he
would DO appointed. Indeed from Grants silence on
the subject, so much more remarkable Ill his
case than those of others he must have ceased
to expect it, Mr.. Washbume is bluff,
hearty, busy vigorous man, yet not de-
gree that trenches upon courtesy. As speaker
he makes vehement, short plain, practical speeches
He has no casuistry, makes no display of learning
aims at no profundity in argument, or flowers
of rhetoric but in sledge-hamer style takes hold OF
few strong, leading points Of common sense or
practical honesty and sticks TO them. leaving the
lesser details TO those who like them For four years
at least he las been tho champion Of economy in the
House, opposing every Subsidy grant and private
BILL and doing his best at least to expose, if he could
not defeat, every game Of plunder
AT the Senatorial election in Illinois in 1915, lie
ran against Gov Yates for the United States Senate
and came very near being elected. His record Is
that Of an energetic. unimpcachnble. earnest
honest man, whose most distinguished service per
haps 10 his country is that of having been the first
to predict tho genius Of Grant, and the most
efficient and powerful TO secure his promotion. AS
To-. n. - 4.
policy are like President Grants, rather more vgor
ous and less mercantile than those which have shed
such a dim. religious light upon Mr. Stewards
foreign administration