Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-18
A WOMiN'S ACCOUNT OF the PRESI.
DENT.

A lady writing to the Washington Chron-
icle in answer to to the detraction OF Pres
ident Grant, which has characterized some
newspapers, well and nobly says:
To off set the charge little let me tell
you some things which | happen to know.
Soon after the outrages commenced in
South Carolina last autumn, Governor
Scott sent up some men to Washington to
represent the case and ask assistance. They
told their story at the War Department,
and to other great men in Washington,
and did not relish the manner in which it
was received. They felt that they were
snubbed and trified with. But finally they
got an interview with Grant. and he treat
ed them in a very different way, heard
their case, seemed to have no difficulty in
comprehending it, and in very short
time, and with very few words, gave them
all they wanted. These gentlemen went
home with increased respect for our Presi-
dent, and said ''that there wds more COM
mon sense in Grants little finger than in
all the rest of the big people they saw"
remember again, when an unfortunate
soldier in our late war needed mercy, and
that when it was impossible to get through
the red tape and the obstinate Stanton, to
relieve aching hearts, how quietly Gener-
al Grant put pen to paper as soon as /
Whose errand it was) had stated the case
to him. No questions asked, no haggling
or fuss, but in few plain words. which
he put on paper, the thing was done. /,
too. left him with the idea that he had
much common sense and little red tape.
Another occasion comes TO my mind
when General Grant actedl like a much big
ger man than our late War Minister. Some
Of the best ladies in Washington had de-
termined to hold fair for the benefit of
the orphans of soldiers and sailors. Moth
ing could then be done in this city to which
Stanton was opposed, or. at least, such
was q prevalent belief. Much progress
among the ladies had been made. the
whole thing widely advertised, and yet
certain aid and help which they had count
ed upon as matter of course, in so good
a cause, was Withheld. No open opposition
was made by Stanton, but such obstacles
were thrown in the way by every one UNI
der the iron rule of his vigorous genius,
that nothing could be done as they wished
by the ladies'. The lumber which Con-
gress gave them to make their building
must be returned to the government unin-
jured @, and the ladies must give bonds
of many thousand dollars to that effect
No windows, nails or hinges could go with
the lumber, etc. The ladies retired in
despair. They had asked for the materials
of the torn down hospitals, which were of
no use to the government, for good and
charitable purpose, and this was the way
they were treated by the men at the War
Department, who, nevertheless. protested
all the time that they felt "very friendly
IN tho onfarnr;so Gonarol Grant xyac
then out of town. In few days he re-
turned, and then the ladies presented the
case to him. In very quiet way, with
few words ofpen or tongue, he gave them
all they wanted--lumber, teams, men to
put up the building, etc. These ladies
have ever since that time had consider
able respect for Grants good sense, he
could'so easily do good thing which so
many other big people seemed utterly un-
able to accomplish, evidently as they de-
sired to please the ladies