Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-02-16

organization SO marked, that the
Senate soon gave him the Chairman
ship of the Naval Committee. The
wonderful improvements in naval
architecture which marked the early
period Of our war, found an apprc-
ciative friend and advocate in him,
and to his judgment, and to the
unlimited faith which his fellow
Senators had in his Judgment, was
largely due the rapid creation and
great success of the Navy.
Mr.. Grimes was also appointed
by the State a delegate to the Peace
Congress, and in the troubles that
followed the election of Mr.. Lincoln
and preceded his Inauguration, did
much to brace up the weak and the
timid about the National Capital;
add, as one of a committee appoin-
ted by Republican Senators, did
more than will ever be known to
thwart rebel Vaccinations to get
control Of the city:
Mr.. Grimes received the unani-
nous support of his party friends
for reelection to the Senate, and
entered upon his second term in
March, 1865. Shortly after, he econ
templated resigning, because his
physicians, fearing the approach of
the disease which has stricken him
down, had warned him against OK
citement and mental labor. But
the complications growing out of
Andrew Johnson's apostacy,in induced
him to continue at his post, where
he Stayed until seized with paraly-
sis, at the close of the trial of I'M
parchment Of the President. When
sufficiently recovered to travel, he
went to Europe, spending nearly
two years abroad, returning last fall
apparently in better health than for
years, and giving his friends hope
that, as he was yet but in the prime
Of manhood, he might still be able
to give to his country many years
Of honorable and useful service.
Providence has ordered it other
wise, and the State and the nation
can only bow to the decree in sorrow
full submission.
The nation has had few stronger
intelleots than James W. Grimes.
1t has had no statesmen Of greater
practical judgment, of larger con-
science, of more thorough honesty.
He was a man of wonderful resource
and power when aroused, and act
ing only from clear convictions of
right, seldom failed to carry his
purpose. No man more thoroughly
dctested shams, and none more
heartily despised political trickery
and demagoguery. Popular APP
plause or popular condemnation
could not swcrve him particle,
and he made no bids for public
eclat, orprivate applause. Reading
men with wonderful readiness and
clearncss, respectcr of no mans
hobbies and tender with no mans
schemes-he was the acknowledged
foe of all the leeches upon the pub
lie treasury. Lobbyists and plum
derers avoided him instinctively, at
all times acknowledging the i'm
possibility of deceiving him, and
the uselessness of all attempts to
soften him. Esteeming official
places as something higher than
means with which to discharge
friendly obligations, he would
bluntly deny his best friends re-
concentrations to places he did
not deem them fitted for. He cared
little for official patronage, and
rarely put his name to recommen-
dations for Office, and never except
when he was sure that the applicant
would honor his endorsement. He
could say "no'' to selfish impor-
tunity more firmly than any public
man we ever knew, and even his
devoted friend, Mr.. Fessenden, had
more Of courtesy to men who came
to him cringing for favor. This
gave him the reputation of an un-
congeniality of disposition he did
not possess. To real worth he was
ever alive, and to unselfish friend
ship he was ever kindly. Possess
ing wonderful memory, mind
enriched by study and observation,
and apt in anecdote and illustration,
he was, to his intimate friends, most
genial and companionable, while
he was always tender of the feelings
and respectful of the rights, of those
under him and associated with him.
Mr.. Grimes was an able, forcible
speaker, clear, terse, incisive, logi-
cal. AS he was always true to his
convictions, and these were always
fortified by keen moral sense,
the matter Of the man were always
convincing. He was effective,
whether upon the stump and before
the people, or whether in debate on
the floor ofthe Senate. The respect
for his Judgment, and for his poin-
ions, among his fellow Senators,
was most profound, and no man
who ever sat in the body welded
so great an influence who made so
little effort to achieve control. Had
he cared more forpopular applause,
or had ambition stimulated his
great powers to continued efforts,
no man in the nation would have
been more influential.
That he was a moral giant, fitted
to face the widest storms of popular
passion and error, no one need be
reminded. 1t was the fortune of
the writer of this to have been in
intimate acquaintanceship and as
ISOLATION with Mr.. Grimes through
out the whole period of the contest
between Andrew Johnson and Con
gress. We know how little pre-
sonal respect or sympathy he had
for the then President. We know
indeed that he so thoroughly de-
spised the Executive that he could
not be brought to ask a favor ofany
kind of him. And yet, conscious
that in the movement for his over
throw there was promise of woe to
the nation, in the establishment of