National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-10-17
General Grant on Virginia Politics


lowing letter to the chairman of the Re-
publican Executive Committee of Vir-
ginia:
NEW YORK, Oct. L. 1881,
| JAMES d. BRADY, esq, Chairman Republican State
Executive Committee, Petersburg. Va;
| DEAR SIN: Your letter of the 10th OF September
was duly received but not answered at the time
| because of my absence from the city. | was busy
on my return, and have only Just come across your
| letter again. u rule am avcrse TO taking any
| part In political matters outside of the state in
| which | reside, except where they become ma
tional in their character. do regard the present
contest in Virginia rs being national, and there
| fore justifying me aud all other lovers of
| their country, without regard to section in ex-
pressing all opinion. III conversations on the
| subjecii have openly and frequently expressed
my sympathy with General Mahonc and the Read
justers, so called, in their present contest have
never been sympathiaer with population In
| any form, but In the present instance the virtue
| claimed by the Democracy OF the State of Nlr-
| gnla regard as all assumed, They have hGd
| control ofthe State for quite number of years,
and as understand the politics of the State they
notOnly have made no effort pay the Interest upon
their State debt, but they have prohibited taxa
| ton beyond II certain percentage, which looks to
| n determination to pay no part principal or in-
| terest. In other words, while they In favor of
| acknowledging the whole debt, principal and
| interest, they are opposed to paying any part of
| either Hence. on this point between the two,
much prefer those who are willing to acknowledge
| as much of the debt as they think they can pay,
| aud who want to bind themselves to provide for
| tue interest and the acknowledged principal when
| It becomes due. But in this contest there is much
| more important issue at stake | regard the sue
cess OF what Is called the Readjus.ers rs working
the emancipation ofa the voters of the State and
| when that Is secured 1t Is q matter of much less
difference which party succeeds, It Is patent to my
mind that at present and for years back while
there is an acknowledgment of the right of
the cOlored citizen to vote there is determina.
ton that his vote shall not decide the success OF
| political party, When this freedom Of the ballot
Is given 10 all legal voters Virginia will be in
| condition to invite migration of people who
will add greatly to the resources as well rs to the
population OF the State. The interests of all ciGi
zens will then become so great that no fear need
be entertained ofbad government, no matter which
political party may have the ascendancy Truly
yours, U. :. GRANT
These words are full of the strong sense
which characterizes all that General
Grant says He expressed regret when
here that his views had not been earlier
reported. To the writer of this he said
that he had long before expressed
himself earnestly in favor Of Cen
eral Mahone's cause, and thought
what he said was to have been
printed. He said he intended to write to
Colonel Brady in response to letter
then on his table in New York, and the
above shows that he did not neglect to
do il. The latter cannot fail to do good
among people of all classes in Virginia.
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RI. t.sl.
tinues to pour out its venom concerning