Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-12-01

nj 0hAh Cih-nectiuH my muCu
esteemed friend, your eldest SOD, upon
che Pennsylvania avenue, on yester.
day, and receiving from his lips the
most gratifying intelligence touching
the present state Of your own physical
health, hs well ~ the marked success
which has attended upon your re-
assumption of the important duties OF
- newspaper editor, l have been in.
duced (somewhat at his instance) to
write you this letter-thus securing to
myself the opportunity Of expressing
ioy you opce more the high regard
which have 80 long cherished, and
which I am happy to know has been
at all times most cordially reciprocal cd
Wy yourself.
Allow me to say, that there is in my
Judgment not q little in the existing
condition OF our public affairs of a
nature to crafty the feelings of all
tair-minded and patriotic men, and to
justify the most confident anticlpations
as TO our future influence and power
rs the leading Republic of the world.
The many evil effects inevitably result
ing from our late most deplorable civil
war, are rapidly disappearing. Much
Of the bitterness aud evaporation en-
gendered by 1t has been removed by
wise and healing expedients; friend-
ship and eonfraternity are beginning
10 be everywhere prevalent; and sew.
sral political questions of the greatest
'Jmport-the agitation of which seemed
at one time TO threaten the most seri-
Gus mischiefs-have been recently dis
posed of by the sovereign people of the
land themselves, ard in "a manner so
decisive as greatly to relieve the minds
Of patriots every where, and to awaken
IA hope that Congress at its approaching
session will be able to do all that may
he necessary to the thorough consoli-
dation of the public credit, whilst
wisely and effectively providing for
all the real exigencies of trade and
business.
Since my recent arrival in Washing
ton, / have In every proper manner
sought to acquire reliable Information
IN regard to the existing condition of
oar national affairs, alike in reference
20 matters Of strictly domestic char
setter and to those having connection
with our foreign concerns; and re-
Joice to assure you that the result of
this scrutiny has been in all respects
most encouraging and satisfactory.
Never did that twice elected Execu-
tive Chief TO whom you have for
many years past manifested most
steady and devoted affection, stand so
nigh as lie now does In the general
esteem and confidence of his country
I men ; never did those who know him
best seem to be so fully assured of his
4 firmness, his ardent love of country,
Z Its wise, practical stateemanship, his
freedom from sectional bias, and ex.
erAption from all narrow and illiberal
! prejudice. In the midst of such de-
traction and obloquy as few men be-
sides have been able to endure, it Is
rTuly delightful to See that this re-
{ Enarkable man is at all times as calm
and self-possessed as he is reported to
3are been when issuing orders upon
the field of battle, and altogether re-
training from complaints under nearly
similar circumstance, as are known
on more than one occasion to have
reused the indignation of the first and
most august of his official predeces-
sors.
Alexander Ii. Stephens-by far the
nost elear-headed aid sagacious man
who participated in the late Confeder-
ste struggle for .Independence-has
4ong ago, and on more than one occa-
Fion, expressed him self in most favor
able terms of General Grants intel
ectual powers. Concurring fully in
Rll that he has said ss to this matter, / |
must confess that my own mind has
been, If possible, still more agreeably
impressed with President Grants uni. |
form composure and serenity of aspect
hnd manner; his civility and unaf. |
ected courtesy towards all with whom |
be is brought in contact by the neces- |
titles of business; his unclouded !
Hankness and sincerity, and the in
Iense solicitude which he manifests to
No all that he can to promote the |
Happiness of his country; to maintain |
he laws of the land in full vigor; and
o save all classes of his trusting coun-
*rymen from all oppression and injus- |
ice. Igrieve to declare here that some
f our fellow-citizens of the South
eem yet to be laboring under the !
greatest and most deplorable miscon- |
'feption of General Grants temper,
babits of life, and leading characteris- |
les, and to have become strangely
blivious that his official report touch |
3ng the condition OF public sentiment |
a theStates of the South Immediately |
+itCI SlOop VI bhC war WAS one Ol
r he earliest and most gratifying indi- |
ations of returning goodwill on the !
art of those with whom we had been |
T Faging bloody and exhausting war
four years continuance that il was |
is manliness and magnanimity, !
which alone saved General Lee and !
General Joseph +. Johnston from be- |
ng apprehended and brought to trial |
8br treason in obedience TO the man
ates of the much lauded Andrew |
ohnson and that he was one of the |
arliest, aud by far the most effective |
( all the defenders of the Union, who |
demanded the adoption of an act of
Universal amnesty,
In regard TO the cabinet officers at |
his time encircling President Grant, |
have but little to say here-presum- |
|..hg that most Of them are far better |
nown TO you than to myself / may |
o allowed to declare here though, as |
bdeed l am prepared to do in very |
Emphatic manner, that the gentle |
ben at this instant composing the |
abinet of President Grant, are, as a |
M n. u. a.. Il