The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-22
THE SOUTH AND GRANT,
Letter from Colonel Ewell-Grant's Re-elec-
tiOn Crged-His Services for the South.
WILLIAMSBURG, VA, May IS, 1872.

WILLIAMSBURG, VA, May 10, lSI2.
TO- -. ..a. -..- Id
DEAR SIR--ln compliance with your re
quest | have to repeat the substance of oul
conversation on the last and approaching
Presidential elections, though / do not sup
pose my opinions on such q subject arc
worthy of attention or repetition. You
expressed some astonishment when | in.
formed you that in 1868 was favorable to
General Grants election to the Presidency
of the United States, and was as decidedly
in favor Of his reelection. will, again,
give my reasons for this preference.
1t was my conviction, in 1865, that the
election of a President, opposed by de-
cided majorities of both Houses of Con-
gress, would serve no purpose but to in
crease the ill-feeling and disquietude that
followed like condition of affairs during
Mr.. Johnson's administration, and, per-
haps, to pave the way for more disorders
and uneasiness. 1t was also my convic-
tion that an assured and peaceful Union
was necessity to the people of Virginia,
and as much so to those of the other
Southern States.
Whatever tended, directly or indirectly,
to produce undue excitement, and thence,
possibly, revolution, | deprecated as the
greatest evil that could befall this country,
agreeing with Bulwer, that "a cause, which
the noblest allow to be good, and which,
whea successful, all time approves, may
seem to justify the attempt at revolution !;
yet recalling now all the evil passions it
excites, all the ties it dissolves, all the
blood it commands to flow, all the health
full industry it arrests, all the madmen it
arms, all the victims that it dupes, ques-
tion whether one man really honest, pure
and humane, who has once gone through
such an ordeal, would ever hazard it again,
unless he was assured that victory was GER
tain aye, and the object for which he fights
was MOTTO be wrested from his hands amidst
the uproar of the elements that the battle
has aroused" Then, too, i had implicit conf
dence in General Grants earnest wish to
shave peace" in his good will, and in his
patriotism. This confidence originated in
the terms he gave at Appomattox court
house to his great opponent and the bat
tered remnant Of that brave army that had
staked its all upon cause for which it was
''no more to combat or bleed" and that
had so long resisted his legions. These
terms, that teach officer and man will be
allowed to return to his home, not to be
disturbed by the United States authority so
long as they observe their paroles and the
laws in force where they reside" are with
out precedent in the history of all such
struggles for their liberality, and were as
wise as liberal, for while they effectually
terminated the contest they protected those
who surrendered from the legal conse-
quences of wagng war against the govern
ment, and probably saved from execution
or imprisonment Lee and scores of his gal
liant associates.
The effect of these terms, as stated in
General Grants report of the closing oper-
ations of the war, was 'that Gen. Lees
great influence throughout the South
caused his example to be followed, and to-
day the result is that the armies lately
under his leadership are at their homes,
desiring peace and quiet, and their arms are
in the hands of our ordinance 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 themo 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 devoted mer
composing the Southern armies, and most
honorable to its author.
1t seems to me that since the return O
peace General Grants aim has been to re
| iieve the Southern people to the extent O
his ability, attempting nothing which thu
controlling power of the North would no
allow; and this was expedient as well Al
necessary. That he has not accomplished
ali that was hoped for, or expected perhaps
is true; but it was simply impossible
His favorable and friendly report on tn
condition of the South, made as Genera
Commanding the armies of the Unite,
States, that excited the censure of som