Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-01-12
Especial Correspondence Of The World.l
GRANTS VIEWS.
Washburne, Fsssenden, Butler, Nc
Clellan, Raymond, Beecher
and Others.
WAsHINaroN. january 4.

Without pretending to entire verbal accu-
racy, am able now to give you his expressed
opinions about some other matters, and espe-
cially about men concerning whom he would
naturally talk about this time.
HIS OPINION OF ELIHU B. wAsHBuRNE.
General Grant says e Washburne was my
friend when needed friends-When it was
no advantage to be my friend, and when /
had very few friends anywhere scarcely any
outside of the army. BY friends are very
numerous now. ] often wonder how many
of them would remain my friends if my po-
sition and patronage were taken away from
me. The friends of my adversely shall all
ways 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 prosperity. The
newspapers cannot ALLEVIATE me from Wash
burne by any abuse of him or ridicule of his
supposed influence with and over me.
WHAT HE THINKS oP FEssENDEN.
Gen. Grant says of Fessenden " regard
him as the ablest statesman in the Senate
He is man of high order of intellect, of
catholic views, of large and well.improyed ex-
perienee, end has that moral courage which is
far more commendable, as it is far rarer, than
physical courage. / have differed from his
opinions sometimes. When / did, / invol-
UNFAIRLY recalled the kind words of Mr.. Lins
coin, 1 am satisfied now that you were right
and / was wrong.D'
ABOUT SUMNER. -
Ex-senator Sumner says Gen. Grant, sis
great scholar and finished orator. am not
we'll qualified to judge such men as Sumner.
He is a faithful representative of his State.
If he had not been chosen by Massachusetts,
1 do not believe he would ever have been
member of the United States Senate"
CONCERNING BUTLER. I
General Butler is man of very great force
of character. He would be a leader 10 any
country in which he lived, and any cause
which he espoused. The Republican party
could better afford to lose almost any other Of
its captains.
GEN. MCCLELLAN AND THE CABINET.
In answer to the inquiry about the news
paper story that he had offered Cabinet port
folio to General Mcclellan, Gen. Grant said:
"There is no truth in the report that have
offered Gen. Mcclellan place in my Cabi-
net" After a moments reflection, he added:
'I do not say that have not thought of do
ing it, and if / do it l know of no one who
has a right to object. When am inaugura-
ted / shall be President of the United States
NOT the head of party. / shall be the
q mere majority. IF the interests of the peo-
Pile can best be served by any man, I would
have no right to set him aside because he did
not vote for me. OF course, all other things
being equal, my personal or political prefer
ence might justly decide the competition
But shall never remove a good man and
competent officer who is Democrat to make
place for bad man or an incompetent officer
who is Republican. / know something of
politicians. While believe I was the first
choice of the masses of the Republican party,
believe was the last choice of majority
of its leaders. If these latter had imagined
there was any possibility of electing anybody
else they never would have nominated me-
AS VIC soldiers say of things We don't like to
do, or doubt the right of doing, it is military
nomination a party necessity. Therefore,
while I fully appreciate my indebtedness to
the men who voted for me, L do not overrate
my obligations to the men who nominated me.
i do not wish you to understand that have
not warm sympathy with the Republican
party. AS party, 1 like it better than 1 like
the Democratic party. As to the masses who
compose the parties, regard them as equally
loyal, equally honest, and equally intelligent.
AS to the leaders, l think there are good men
and bad men in each party but think the
controlling element In the Republican party
is more loyal, more honest, and more INTEL
ligent, than the controlling element in the
Democratic party. The great objection to
either party, in my mind, is the want of in
dependence on the part of its members shall
support the Republican party whenever Its
policy commends itself to my judgment and
conscience, and 1 shall observe the same
conduct toward the Democratic party. So in
regard to appointments, if l think the interests
of the country will be subserved by placing
ia Office man who opposed my election, this
latter fact will not deter me from making the
appointment Mcclellan, continued General
Grant, is an able soldier, good citizen, and
pure man. He has great powers of organs
zation. 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 country 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. I know full
well that when 1 succeeded to the command
of that army I did not supplant him in its
affections. He was its first love-"
his VIEWS WITH REGARD TO REBELS.
~ am in favor" said General Grant to
friend, "of general amnesty. When the war
ended l was in favor of a more extended am
nesty than was either Mr.. Lincoln or Mr.
johnson. I was in favor of amnesty to all
except the men who organized the Confederate
Government, or rather those leaders who
organized the movement which declared the
rebel States out of the Union. Those who
adhered to their States after they had estab-
lished a de Jacto government, and had nothing
to do in organizing the rebellion, 1 thought
it best to admit to amnesty. Now, I would
make no exceptions" The conversation oe-
Cured prior to the appearance of the Pres
idents last amnesty proclamation.) az am
in favor of peace, and I think the definition
of Mr. Burke the correct one Peanh rnnnns |