The daily gazette., 1880-10-07
From the N. Y. Star.
COMMENTS ON GRANTS STATE
MRNTS BY GEN. w. f.
SMITH.

~ IAh GDliOh OF THE DUH-Slr
A Geographic despatch in the New
York Times of this morning gives
what purports to be a condensation OF
an interview between the Rev. G.. H.
Fowler, ID. D.. and Gen. Grant, said
to have taken place in Gen. Grants
library at Galena on Sept. 81 last.
In that interview Gen. Grant is
made to assert that after having re-
ceived one vote at the Democratic
Convention held at Chicago in 1864,
Hancock became crazed by he "bee in
his bonnet" that after he (Ilancock)
would hardly speak to him (Grantj i,
and shaped everything to gain Demo
cratic and Southern favor.
Gen. Grant is made to say, "He
Gen. Hancock) is crazy to be Presi-
dent. He is ambitious, vain, and
weak. They (the Southern people)
will easily control him." at the same
time asserting that it was he (Gen.
Grant) who nominated Gen. Hancock
for the post Of Brigadier- General in
the regular army, and afterward for
the vacant Major Generalship in the
regular army. Gen. Grant thus con-
fesses that after Gen. Hancock became
so crazy with the Presidential bee that
he would hardly speak to him (Gen.
Grant) he nominated a vain and weak
man for the post of Brigadier General
and Major General in the regular
army Of the United States. What a
high regard Gen. Grant must have
had for the efficiency of the regular
army, and what flood of light this
throws on some other nominations by
Gen. Grant.
The fact is that the whole country
would have cried shame if the services
of Gen. Hancock had been ignored.
Gen. Grant also says: "When the Army
of the Potomac was hunting for com
mander it took almost everybody, even
came over into the West for officers, but
nobody ever even suggested Gen, Han
cock for the place" There is nothing
to be said on this subject except that
when Gen. Grant came east as LieuteA-
ant-General commanding the armies OF
the United States he found Gen. Meade
in command of the army of the Potomac,
who continued in command until that
army was diSbanded. Was Gen. Gran,
making all these attempts to supersede
Gen. Meade?
To call Gen. Hancock a weak man,
in view of his brilliant record in the
held during the war, to call him weak
man in the face Of his civil administra-
lion i'll the South in 1867, and in the
face OF his writings which are before the
country, such as General Order No. 40,
the letter to Gov. Pease, the letter Ia
Gen. Sherman, the letter of acceptance
OF the Democratic nomination, and his
letter with reference 10 the Southern
war claims, is to express an opinion
which does no credit TO Gen. Grants
intelligence.
Gen. Grant gives long account OF
what he calls the inner history of Order
No. 40, in which he says: Il can
| demonstrate that he (Gen. Hancock,
| dld not subject the military power to the
civil, but that he used his military
| power to overthrow the civil"
| The history of Gen. Hancock's admin.
lstration IN Louisiana and Texas, from
and after the publication of Genera
order No. 40, and the statements con.
tAined In his letter to Gov. Pease, which
have never been contradIcted, directly
refute Gen. Grants assertion. Gen.
Grant says that Gen. Hancock nwould
be easily controlled by the Southern
p"OpioI ~ sounhDly III hostility to the
interests of the bounty; while in his
own speechss, made after returning from
Mexico, his assertions were positive AZ
TO the good faith and loyalty of the
south; and In this very interview to
which refer, speaking OF his own nom
nation, he says: "Many lifelong Dem
| ocrats In the South had given the strong
est assurance of their cordial support
believing that | could deliver them from
the evils of solid South"
| The unanimity of the Southern Deople
In accepting the nomination of Gen
hancock would seem to prove couclu
sively that these many lifelong Demo
Gratis in the South" are now among tn,
supporters OF Gen. Hancock, and the,
nave, OF course, all beco ne disloya
since they could not support Grant an,
came out for Hancock.
Gen. Grant says Gen. Hancock 4
crazy to be President. The ambition I,
DO President Is one which il worthy O
any man IN this country, however Qrea
his reputation and abilities To charR
II upon Gen. Hancock as a fault Gene
with exceedingly bad grace from ON
who served in that capacity as long a
Cen. Washington, and who debase,
himself SO far Is to go down into tn,
arena and struggle for third term, lik
any other political gladiator against TIN
best sentiment of the country Your
sincerely, VIZ. SMITH.