The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-11
"CAPTAIN.GESERAL aRANT.~
Proposition to Create o New Oaico for
tho Ex-President.
Washington Letter to The NJ y Herald.

| "us""y'o" LeN0 20 inc ~. Z. Herald.
Since the adjournment of Congress /.
number of Gen. Grants friends have het
under consideration suggestion, comipc
originally from distinguished Southerf
soldier whose name ir withheld for thu
present, but whose services in military
aud civil life have won for him the con
fidence and esteem of his people, as well
as the respect Of the country at large. tc
create the Office of Captain General OF
tho Army, with suitable pay and allow.
ances, and to have the same rendered &c
Ger. U. s. Grant, in recognition of his
patriotic services in behalf Of the Union
as we'll as to afford him permanent occu.
patton in q congenial employment the re.
mainder of his life., This idea has been
quietly canvassed among the members OF
the Senate and House who have visited
Washington during tie recess, as we'll as
at Saratoga, Newport, Long Branch aud
White Sulper Springs. II ctAn be said
that the proposition has been received
with great favor, and will take shape in
bill accomplishing Il purposes named
early at the next session of Congress.
Tho friends of Gen. Grant have view.
ed with great regret tie efforts of politi.
clans to embark bin once more on tho
muddy stream of politics, and have been
casting about for some suitable cmploy.
ment and position for the distinguished
ex-rresident. This proposition has been
prematurely developed in consequence of
the recent announcement that Gen.
Grant was willing to accept the presiden.
cy of the Nicaraguan Canul Company.
His friends are of opinion that the posj.
ton of Commander-in.C Chief of the Army
OF the United States would be much
more acceptable to him if it could be
gracefully rendered by Congress, since il
would restore him to the rank he was Ia.
ken from almost f6rcibiy by the poiiti.
clans in 1868, and which sacrifice lie has
frequently had occasion to regret.
1t 10 understood that quite number of
distinguished Southern men have not
only warmly espoused this proposition.
but, i'll fact, tbs leaders of the move,
ment in both houses will be repre.
sentative Southern statesmen. It can
be said also in this connection that
no one in public life whose name has
been associated with the Republican
nomination for the Presidency has been
approached on the subject, and the prop
osition will doubtless be heard by
them with great surprise. Inasmuch as
those who are in the confidence of the
leaders OF the movement have deemed it
proper to make known at this time their
intention, it is not longer a secret that
the idea originated and has been fostered
as the best answer that the South can
make to the clamor that cnlIs for Grant.
1t will be remembered that on the prop.
osition to pension Gen. Shields in she
Forty.fifth Congress en- amendment was
offered in the Senate to add the name of
Gen. Grant, which was voted for by
quite number of the Southern Senators.
The amendment was adopted, but the
whole bill was subsequently lost in
conflict between the two Houses. Then,
however, the Senate had Republican
majority. Now, the regular session of
the Forty-sixth Congress will contain n
Democratic majority in both branches,
so that the proposition to edd 10 General
Grants hoaors will be a Democratic
measure, and will, it is, believed by its
promoters, be the grandest challenge that
enny political party has ever given to any
of it's adversaries.
The present law recognizes four grades
In the rank Of general. These are: First,
General; second lieutenant-geneIal;;
third, mnjor.general. and fourth, briga-
dier. ge neral twill be observed that the
prefix is purely, arbitrary and simply
distinctive. Therefore, it is in the pow
er of Congress in creating the Office Of
captain general to define its powers and
responsibilities.