The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-02-18
COLUMBIA, IS. &C.
Thursday Morning, February ls. 1863.
General Grant,


One of the most important ceremonie.
that has yet occurred in connection with
the incoming administration was performed
to-day, when General Grant was officially
Informed by Congress of his election as
President of the United States For the
past day or two, everybody has shared in
the general excitement created by the dis
oussion of, aud specuations upon, what
Grant would say upon this interesting oc-
casipn. IT was generally supposed that he
would disclose to the favored few, who
might then be admitted into his presence,
not only the names of the gentlemen whom
he had concluded to invite into his Cabinet,
but that he would talk freely of his plans
and intentions concerning his approaching
administration. Notwithstanding the uni
versal interest manifested to learn these
highly important facts, however, there were
but few people gathered at army headquar-
ters when the Congressional Committee ar-
rived, although it had been extensively
published that the committee were to be
received at IL o'clock this morning About
/ half-a-dozen frequenters of army headquar-
ters, principally officers in the War Depart
ment, and two or three newspaper cores
pondents, were in waiting when the COM
mittee arrived, which was thirty minutes
earlier than the hour appointed Senator
Morton and Representatives Wilson, of Iowa,
into the hall leading to the Generals Office,
the two former bearing in their hands the
commissions of the President and Vice
President elect. The committee were at
once conducted up stairs to the Generals
office, followed by q number of Generals,
the officers of Grants staff, and the report
ers of the press-about thirty in all The
members of the committee seated them
selves, while the small circle of auditors
ranged themselves around the room. After
the lapse of about five minutes, General
Grant entered from ON adjoining room,
neatly attired in black frock coat, vest and
pantaloons, plain shirt bosom, turned down
collar, black silk neck-tie, highly polished
boots, and glossy silk hat On this occa-
sion the General had prevailed upon him
self to dispense with his inevitable cigar.
He passed through the opening made in
the circle of bystanders to the chair in front
of his desk, removing his hat as he did So
He then shook hands with Senator Morton,
General had taken his stand beside his
chair, Senator Morton arose and said:
"GEN. GRANT: The joint committee ap-
pointed by the two Houses of Congress
visit you this morning to notify you,
officially, that you have been elected Pre-
sident of the United States for the term of
four years from the 4th day of March next
The great body of your countrymen hail
your election with delight, and even those
who did not support you at tho polls, en-
terrain for you the highest confidence and
respect. The friends Of our country, and
the friends OF liberty throughout the world,
rejoice in your elevation to the Presidency,
and all believe that you will bring to the
performance OF your great duties unalloyed
patriotism, unimpeachable integrity, great
powers of intellect. and all the high quail
ties which enabled You to achieve such dis
tipeuished enccess in another sphere of
duty. They have full faith in your ability
and virtues, and cherish the highest hopes
of yonr success, and that during your ad
ministration the work of reconstruction will
be completed, the wounds of civil war
healed, and that our country will take
new departure III growth, progress and
prosperity"
at the. conclusion of Mr.. Morton's ad-
dresa, General Grant turned the roll of
paper which he held in his hands, round
and round, as though endeavoring to reduce
it to the smallest sized roll possible, and
hesitated but moment or two; when he
begun his reply in tone so low rs to be
inaudible to those standing at the most dis
tant part OF the room, and general closing
IN OF the party occurred. each individual of
which leaned eagerly forward to catch
every word that fell from the lips of our
future Chief Magistrate. Turning to Sc
nator Morgan. General Grant said:
"In reply, will inform the committee
that it will be my earnest endeavor to call
arodnd me as my assistants men who will
carry out the principles which you say the
country desires to have succeed-economy
|retrenchment, faithful collection Ct the
revenue, end payment of the public debt.
Ii should fail in making my first choice
of assistants, I shonld not hesitate to make
o second, or even third trial, in the hope
that should at last be successful. In the
matter Of removals, 1 will be governed
alone 10y the necessities of the service. I
should just rs soon remove from their po-
ait Il