The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-01
THAT CHAPTER on HISTORY.
Reply to General Grant by the Son Of
Gideon WelleS.
"PAlNED; BUT NOT SURPRISED
Remarkable Extracts from the Dead
Secretay's Diary.
HAnrroRp. Conn, June %, 1878.

was panied to read article your ISSUE OF the
27th ut under the title, "A Chapter OF History"
but not surprised. The silence observed by Generai
Grant CONCERNING my father has been studied, and
now, while the sod is yet fresh upon his grave,
the venom ana malice nourishsd for the past ten
years begin to break fortn The whole artlcle-and
refer to the interview and General Badeau's letter
as one tor both are published as statement OF Gen.
eral Grant-as Tar my father Is concerned is de-
lberate attempt ut iumny and misrepresentation-
a tissue OF ialsehoods cunnngIy interviewer and
called ahistory." The public position General Grant
has occupied my only for noticing the Sian.
derous uttcrances
The article pretends to be, and Is IN measure,
correction OF a statement made by General Richard
Taylor in an article in the North American Reuieo
that General Grant In a conference with President
Lincoln and Secretary Stanton assented to the over
land Richmond, although stating that 1t
would involve the additional loss of one hundred
thousand men. The article OF General Taylor alluded
called my fathers attention just as he had
completed contribution for the Atlantic Monthly
He Incorporated some remarks concerning 1t IN this
article. which appeared in the Atlantic Monthly for
March April Of this year. Mr. Giles quotes Gen.
eral Tay lor's statement and says
ssrhero Is reason to doubt the veracity OF Gen.
eral taylor, who says this statement came to him
well authenticated. but those VINO knew the three
persons said TO have had conference Will
question the accuracy OF the statement
Mr.. wees then proceeds to comment on General
'Tayor's remarks, presents suggestions OF interest,
and closes with paragraph commencng:-
'Al, the facts and details OF current events of the
period evnes the mistake OF General Tayiors state
ment'
General says that General Taylor's statement
is "hction" Mr.. W Giles questioned It's accuracy
aud pronounced IL "mstake." Both agree with
reference to charge made BY General Taylor. 10
call Mr. Welles' conclusions extraordinary msstate
ments' Of necessity sustans the charge that General
Grant is trying and makes him deliberately
falsify his assertions
is 1t not caumny to place in Mr.. weles' mouth
things he has never said, to create the impression
that he and General Taylor made the same charge ?
But, without any pretext General Grant goes out OF
his way TO make personal and political assault
fa CHARGES COMMENTED on
l comment on lew only o. ms charges.
is unfortunate Tor Mr. Wslles fame that he should
nip,-tration in which no held prominent place.
l regret General Grants knowledge OF the English
.ory puDiisned by Mr. Wsnes IN the last few years
have ailsd reach bis understanding. To those who
nave peru them no words re necessary ior re u
OF this caiumny. My father labored to have the
truth known Only those 70 whom truth is objections
able VIII agree with General Grant
But the welles never was a
lean
Mr.. weles was one of the organizers of the repub-
lcan party 10 Connecticut; It's hrst candidate for
Governor; delegate tue Philadelphia Convention IN
1856; meuber OF the Republican National Committee
iii 1864 when. he Declined as he thought II unoecon-
ing member Of the Cabinet 10 retain such posi-
ton chairman OF the Connecticut delegation 10 the
Chicago Convention which nominated Mr.. Lincoln;
member oil the National Executive Committee mana
glng the campaigns OF 1856 and 1860 &C., &c. Does
not The ABOVE sufficer
Tue charge Is made by n man who voted the repub-
can cxetl think for the arsI aud only time in MS
le-wnen he was President aI candId date ia 1865.
HIS only previous vote, II am not mistaken, was
chanau.
He Numbered into Lincon's Cabinet.
Mr. Lincoln stated, and it has repeatedly been pub
1sned, that blocked out his Cabinet on the night
day following his election, and that, wni.e
there were some changes rs regards other mem.
bers, us regarded the New Engaud member
there never any change. And, 10 quote
Mr. Lincoiu's words MS gwen by the gentleman 10
wnom ne sit been ny and
anotner that influenced TO make that selection
But il is Mr.. Welies OF the earliest
vi the appointments decidsd upon In my own mind.
l mad thought OF him before my election, and
before was spoken to the subject by any body"
General Grant goes on TO say: -
He remained quiet "a long he held q
hgh office under the republicans and drew large salary
'Remaining quiet u mouse" and ''drawing a
large salary words that come with III grace from
benerai Grant. They are TRAITS OF character pecu-
larry his own, IN wnich ne cannot be exceiied. MY
inousiy, efficiently His sole tho good Of ms
country. hut duty, General Grant seems to tbink
consists largely 10 drawing pay; He refers TO 1t as
aDOve, ana than later-Generai raylorJs loyal to his
sause"ne fought the other side, drew pay on the
ptncr side anu writes the other side" These are
he three qualifications Of duly AZ enumerated by Gen
sfal Grant.
From that time the end OF his life Mr. weIcs was in
perfect with who tried TO break down
the government.
Mr.. welles was unalterably ana uncompromisingly
opposed to SECESSION ana as strongly opposed TO ex-
fclusion. The doctrines oil stevens found
lHvor Win him than those OF Caihoun. He was
sympathy with those who stood by the Union aud
Teverenced the constitution, and he always had the
avow nis convictions and dare to do
rgnL He often remarked uuripg the war that there
could be but one Result OF the conflict OF arms-tho
Uufo1 Cause must triumph, but the strength oil the
would be tested the real conflict would
passions would be engenersd he often expressed
gravest apprehensons. This siur IRON General
Grant III becomes who pu Tor the few years
after The war sucn a devious political course.
Mr.. Welles since In anything as his de-
mocrscy.
Correct General Grant has bore tally
maze a truthful statement sincere In his convic-
lions, ny never hestated 10 boldly Them.
ne Jackson Democrat an original republican, a
Mon man, adhering through his wnoic Lille to tue
principles he had adopted in his youth. he never
Compromised. HIS abiding latin IN tno people-uue
denvcracy-nevcr wavered.
MY only is that ageutie who has been
larry Of tue Navy during ,ns rlsion should devote his
he rebellion.
To my personal knowledge my father's great aim
his writings has been ~ present iscts VITA as little
comment possible; 10 CORRECT current false Inn
presSons; 10 nave tue "trutb, the wnoc trutb, aud
OoiniGg out the ruth" known; to do equal, even,
fxact justice To every man. In an active poftcai
of upward OF nall injury his perfect truth
luiness WIS never questioned la his brief political
career OF q dozen years can General Grant say as
muohY
Iutcrjccting the CON menis on General Taylor $
statement into the Atlantic Monthly article caused the
concluding paragraph mat subject 10 be the last
from his pen-a defence srne humane, sell sacri-
icing Don hearted LincoIALr Ft words TO be h 8
last public utcranco Yet they are called della
matIvn.n
Tor General Taylor, who 10 still living, General
Bfant has the most boneyed Words
lie is oyal his cause. We friends. and have
maintained the oest relations AIN quite sure he would
do auy unkindness, ~, would not do him
II Of the agrees bile who talks we'll
N Taylor said ~ positive untruth Us
he a
AN inadyertenes, not my ,sllful error.
Those the words for General Taylor but Tor Mr..
Neies, frat reDutt ed General laylor's charge,
vcrinea "a the rcbutIai by General Grant We have
pniy abuse petty pcrsoDai hngs brought Tor
ward upon the urst oppo ttuny after his DEATH IL u
not remarkable thai theee discoveries oi General
Grant we're not made public when Mr.. Wees Was
alive auu could scrutini Ee them 7
nave sara was not surprise at an uttcrance OF
tins chi from &c rant Friends informed
my aiher myself repeatedly wtnin tue last few
years that General Gra and others who uesred 10
Lssilian m certain limit