Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-05-29

day, the result is that the armies lately I'M
der his leadership are at their homes, de-
string peace and quiet, and their arms are
in the hands of our ordnance officers"
In the closing sentence OF this report he
pays to the Southern troops so lately in
arms against his own the following tri-
butte:
LET Them (the Eastern and Western
United States armies) "hope for perpetual
peace and harmony with that enemy
whose manhood, however mistaken the
cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of
valor." A tribute most grateful to the de-
voted men composing the Southern armies,
and most honorable TO its author.
1t seems to me that since the return of
peace General Grants aim has been to re-
lieve the Southern people to the extent Of
his ability, attempting nothing which the
controlling power of the North would not
allow; and this was eXpedient as we'll as
necessary. That he has not accomplished
all that was hoped for or expected perhaps,
is true; but it was simply impossible His
favorable and friendly report on the con-
dition of the South, made as general COM
handing the armies of the United States,
that excited the censure of some members
of his own party, is an illustration.
The fact that "Nirginians now rule Vir-
ginia" is one result of General Grants
sympathy and good feeling for the state
and people and his active interference in
their behalf
Virginia is the only state whose rela-
tons to the general government have been
renewed since he became chief executive
officer of the nation. Without his aid the
people would not have been allowed to
vote separately on the offensive and reject
ed articles of the present Constitution.
The whole would have been adopted, and
as q necessary consequence the State would
to-day be no better off than the worst gov
erned Southern State.
Looking at all this, think / am right
in asserting that General Grant has done
more to heal the the wounds of war than
any other one of the great political party
to which he belongs. Believing this, L ae-
knowledge it, and an ready and willing to
show my appreciation and gratitude in
any becoming manner.
There Is loud cry of corruption against
the present administration, but | have
heard q like cry so long it was louder in
the days of jackson, so much louder that
my ears still ring with its echoes, and so
| often-it is always the battle-cry of the
"outs"-that do not put full trust in it or
pay much regard to it,
OF the reasons you of The North have
for supporting General Grant perhaps /
ought not TO speak, yet 1 will say that If
! military SUCCESSES ever merit civil rewards
then IS General Grant entitled to all you
can give.
Executing The important victory at Get
I, tysburg, he was the leader in almost every
triumph of the Union arms. Fort Donel-
son, Nicksburg, with vast stores and up
wards of 10000 prisoners, Chattanooga and
Missionary Ridge, and the finale at Apo
matoX Court House attest this. Though
| the end was reached by fearful losses, by
! the wearing but by attrition of the South
ern armies, yet such losses were required
! 10 disorganiZe and overcome such armies
1t was the only modes of ending the war,
for had the morale and organization of the
Confederate armies not been thus destroy
ed, war would now exist. That onr coun-
try has been spared from so continued q
calamity all should rejoice; and trusting
/ have not worn out you patience, re-
main yours sincerely,
! BENZ. s. EwELL.