St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-08-30
Grant and Stanton.

A LITTLE STORY TOLD BY MRS. GRANT.
G'Gaths" Saratoga Letter to Philadelphia Times
The following anecdOte is new, and
being related by Judge Hilton, not
withstanding his acute perception of
Grants weakness, attests the curious
hold Grant has partly got even upon
his critics: "NOthing injured Grant so
much," said Judge Hilton, ''in the
minds of gentlemen as his alleged be-
haviOur to President johnson in break
ing his word to johnson about the war
office, which he promised to deliver
back, but let Stanton resume instead.
1t was that which disgusted Commodore
Vanderbilt. Mr.. Grimmell said to me,
That man is not gentleman 1t is
still the subject of the principal criti-
cism on Grants individual honor. Now"
continued Judge Hilton, 'In that mat
ter Grant was not a bit guilty in any
way, and Stanton exercised a coup
d'etat on the Office, but Grant, though
incensed at Stanton, would never open
his mouth to explain. In one of these
spells of silent Obduracy or obstinacy
which seem to reach the depths of his
character, Grant let mankind rail on
and closed his lips. Not even johnson
got the benefit of an explanation, and
abused Grant without answer until he
died"
The following incident was then re-
lated on this very subject, and it is IA
pretty study of Grants domestic life {:
Il went to Washington and, in the
course of general conversation with
Grant and his wife, touched on the in
cldent of Stanton resuming the war
office, and said if there was an explana-
tion of it no time ought to be lost in
having it published. 1t was one of
those things impugning the personal
honor of Gen. Grant, which was doing
him harm in lofty minds.
ellis wife, who was one of the truest
women and wives in the world, wo-
man all oversize has more influence
with that man than all the statesmen
in the country-said to me: You are
right, Judge Hilton. 1t ought to be
published. But Gen. Grant will not
allow word to be said about it. Now
| want to tell you, before him, the Cir
cumstances of that taking back of the
war office by Mr.. Stanton
Grant sat perfectly immovable while
Mrs. Grant told the story. Grant had
only taken the war Office to keep peace
In the country and had promised john
son not to give it to another without
telling him. Grant was a strong friend
OF Stanton and went to Stanton and
told him he had thought it right and a
duty to take the war Office. Said Stan
ton: General Grant, there is not a
living man l would give it up to but
yOu,' and he did give it up. Time
passed on and the radical Senate re-
solves to put Stanton back. One eve
ning Gen. Grant was about to go out of
his house with some ladies to spend the
evening, when messenger met him in
the hallway. Grant had his hat and
coat on; the ladies were behind him,
and the carriage ready. The messen-
ger said: Here is something for Gen.
Grant, Grant took the parcel. He
was then receiving papers and all sorts
of things by multitude, and he merely
saw that it bore the inscription Sen
ate of the United States' He thought
it matter to be looked into next day
and went out with his ladies. Next
day he arose and breakfasted and along
toward official hours took up the papers
at his dwelling. He found the thing he
had laid down the night before was
resolution of the Senate enon-copcurripp
III StantOn's displacement. This was
equivalent to Stanton being the lawful
secretary of war. Grant walked right
up to the war office, where he found
that Stanton, from an early hour in the
morning, had strongly installed himself
and was prepared for fight. He had
III fact taken advantage of Grants late
knowledge of the subject and took the
office by stratagem near daylight
Grant had no alternative but to 90
away. Mrs. Grant, finishing this story.
said Judge Hilton, there sits that
man (Grant) who knows that story tn
be true, and he will not let it be told
to acquit him of any duplicity with
President johnson rn
Grant sat immovable and did not
wag his head either way. Mr.. Stanton
told Judge Hilton that such were the
facts. Anticipating some point of honor
on Grants part, Stanton had seized his
own while the secretary ad interim
slept. "But," said Hilton, .sGrant never
was cordial with Stanton after that
and always looked at him askant. He
nominated Stanton, as a. dying man. to
the supreme bench, but never took him
into his counsels or confidence.n
A SINGULAR CURE FOR RHEr,rA