Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-11
Grants Views.
Special Correspondence Of the World.l

Special Correspondence OF the World.I
WASHINGTON, January 2.
Without pretending to entire verbal
accuracy, am able now to give you his
expressed opinions about some other
matters, and especially about men con-
cerning whom he would naturally talk,
about this time.
General Grant says: Washburn was
my friend when l needed friends-when
it was no advantage to be my friend, and
when l had very few friends anywh ere
scarcely any outside of the army. My
friends are very numerous now. l often
wonder how many of them would remain
my friends if my position and patronage
were taken away from me. The friends
Of my adversely shall always cherish
most / can better trust those who helped
to relieve the gloom of my dark hours
than those who are so ready to enjoy with
me the sunshine of my prosperity. The
newspapers cannot ALLEVIATE me from
WashburH by any abuse of him or ridi-
cule of his supposed influence with and
over me-"
General Grant says of Fessenden: i
regard him as the sblest statesman in the
Senate. He is q man of high order of
intellect, of catholic views, OF large and
well improved experience, and has that
moral courage which is far more COM
mendable, as it is far rarer, than physical
courage. / have differed from his opin-
ions sometimes. When ] did, l invoun.
tarily recalled the kind words of Mr. Lin
coin, i am satisfied now that you were
right and l was wrong.
"Senator Sumner" says GeneralGrant,
"is great scholar and finished orator.
/ am moi well qualified 10 judge such men
as Summer. He is faithful representa-
tive of his State If he had net been
chosen by Massachusetts do not believe
be would ever have been a member of
the United States Senate"
General Butler is man of very great
force of character. He would be leader
in any country in which he lived, any
any cause which he espoused. The Re-
publican party could better afford to lose
almost any other of its captains.
In answer to the inquiry about the news
paper story that he had offered Cabinet
portfolio to Gen. Mcclellan, Gen. Grant
said: "There is no truth in the report
that | have offered Gen. Mcclellan a
place in my Cabinet" After moments
reflection, he added: 81 do not say
that l have not thought of doing it, and
il do it ] know of no one who has q right
to object. When l am inaugurated l
shall be President of the United States
not the head of q party. | shall be the
executive officer of the whole people
not of a mere majority. If the interests
of the people can best be served by any
man, l would have no right to set him
aside because he did not vote for me. Of
course, all other thiRgs being equal, my
personal or political preference might
justly decide the competition. But l
shall never remove good man and a
competent officer who is Democrat, to
make place for bad man or an incom-
petent man who is a Republican.
know something Of politicians. While
believa / was the first choice of
the masses of the Republican party,
/ believe i was the last choice of a
msjority of its leaders II these latter
had imagined there was any possibility
Of eleciing anybody else they never
would have nominated me. As we sol
diers say Of things we don't like to do,
or doubt the right of doing, 1t is a mill
tary necessity; so the politicians consld-
cred my nomination a party necessity.
Therefore, while / fully appreciate my
indebtedness to the men who voted for
me, do not overrate my obligations to
the men who nominated me. l do not
wish yeu to understand that have not q
warm sympathy with the Republican
party. As party, like it better than
/ like the Democratic party. As to the
masses who compose the parties, re-