Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-11

gard them as equally loyal, equally
honest, and equally intelligent. AS to
the leaders, thing there are good men
and bad men in each party; but / think
the controlling element in the Republican
party is mere loyal, more honest,
and more intelligent, than the con-
trolling element in the Democratic
party. The great objection to either
party, in my mird is the want of
independent action on the part Of its
members. / shall support the Republi-
can party whenever its policy commends
itself to my Judgment and conscience,
and l shall observe the same conduct
toward the Democratic party. So in re-
gard to appointments, if think the inte'
rests of the country will be subserved by
placing in Office man who opposed my
election, this latter fact will not deter me
from making the appointment. McClel'
Ian, continued Gen. Grant, is an able
soldier, good citizen and a pure man.
He has great powers Of organization.
The Army of the Potomac was the best
organized, the best equipped, and the
best disciplined army the world ever saw.
For accomplishing this at least the coun-
try is indebted to Mcclellan. Another
remarkable fact is that, while to large
extent Mcclellan lost the confidence OF
the country, he never lost the confidence
of his army. know full well that when
l succeeded to the mmand of that army
did not supplant him in it's affections.
He was its first love-
II am in favor" said General Grant
to friend, of general amnesty. When
the war ended / was in favor of more
extended amnesty than was either Mr..
Lincoln or Mr. Johnson. / was in favor OF
amnesty to all except the men who or
ganized the Confederate Government, or
rather those leaders who organized the
movement which declared the rebel
States out of the Union. Those who sd-
hered to their States after they had es-
tablished de tacto government, and had
nothing to do in organizing the rebellion,
| thought it best to admit to amnesty.
Now l would make no exceptions" The
conversation occurred prior to the ap.
pearance of the Presidents last amnesty
proclamation am in favor of peace,
and / think the definition of Mr.. Burke
the correct one. Peace means reconcile
alton. In my final report of the opera
tions of my armies expressed the hope
that we might live in perpetual peace and
harmony with that enemy whose man
hood, however mistaken the cause, drew
forth such Herculean deeds of valor. AS
we are compelled to live together, it is
far better that we should forget our diff
ferences and strive together to eradicate
all the ill-feelings engendered by the
war"
In answer to an inquiry as to his views
upon negro suffrage lin the same conver-
sation) he said: Negro suffrage is in
evitable. was bitterly opposed to it
until it was forced upon us by the logic of
events. The extension of suffrage will
not forbid the supremacy of intelligence. !"
OF Mr.. Henry Ward Beecher the Gen
eral says: guess Beecher don't want
any office; but he would be better
preacher if he were less politician, and
better politician if he were less a
preacher"
"Dana is a man." said Grant, " for
whom / ought to have a great contempt,
but to whom l owe nothing but good will.
he came to me spy upon my conduct.
he reported favorably. If it had not
been for his favorable report l should
probably have been removed from my
command. He is a shrewd man, and a
man of letters. he is very susceptible
to fattery. My staff read him. and cap
tured him. So far as know, he is not
an applicant for Office under me. He is
eminently fitted for journalism, and l
should consult his interest in declining
to remove him to any other sphere,
Bennett is Scotchman no man
born in Scotland ever became accli-
mated in this country. His grandsoRs
may, but neither he nor his sons are ever
true Americans. | am of this descent
myself, and therefore speak candidly.
No Scotohman ever expatriates himself
except from necessity, and nothing here
is equal to the auld lang syne. Ben
nett, like a true Scotchmsn, is ever
ready to trade upon the misfortunes OF
his adopted country. He cares not how
terrible time it is for the country if 1t
is only good time for newspapers. He
made his paper famous by making it in
famous 1t mattered nothing to him who
was harmed SO that he made money.
He has always conducted bis journal
upon the principle enunciated by the
Scoichmau who advised his son John
When you marry, marry a woman who
has money For any woman may turu
out i'll, but, Cad, the money never will.
Raymond always reminds me" he
replied, "of a jumpingjack. He is
heads up or tails up jsst as Seward
or Weed move him. When Ray
mond goes wrong l always. feel like for
giving him, for he knows not what he
does; nobody snpposes him TO be any
thing but the mouth piece of Seward and
Weed, though he is brilliant writer if
be would be independent and strike out
on his own hook. Seward is a man Of
very great ability and very little princi-
Pile If he had not intrusted bis politics
to Weed he might have been statesman.
Weed being a very corrupt pontician,
Seward was dragged down from bis eleva-
ton of craftsmanship to the lowest
depths OF demagogaery."
Cen. Grant en- ReeOnstruetion in Georgia.