Litchfield enquirer., 1881-02-03
Senator Lamar on Gen. Grant.

ws In taesdebatesin the Senate sppanA thssbill placing General Grantwon the erstired Army lisk M Lsnar spoke as fellows
 Mr President. | am in favor of having this bill disposed of; and when it is called up for action shall vote to place General Grant upon the retired list of the Army.
 Had General Grant at any time when he swass sGeneral desired to be retired from the of the Army, 1 presume no one would have objected to the liberal provision proposed in this bill. It is the policy, in my opinion the proper policy, which the Govern ment has adopted for it's generals, it's admi- raIs and it's judges It means that such off, cers shall devote their lives to the discharge of their great duties, and that in return the country shall secure them honorable and ade- auate independence. So far from objecting to the principle, am willing to extend it. But the people of the United Stats did not give General Grant the opportunity of retiring. They summoned him to abandon his place of professional Aemipence in order to become President Whatever may be my opinion as to the political administration of General Grant, do not think his consent to the ex- pressed wish of his country ought to deprive him of tbe provision which is secured tothose him. %AkaRE
 I would with greats pleasurevote for alaw by which every PresidentI upon closing his administration, should be placed upon the re tired list, with such allowances as are fitting for the rank of Commander-in-C Chief of the Army and Navy given him by the Constit,l- tion. I'thipk it en,inently proper that Pres ident should retire frO.l active politics, and equally proper that he should be able to live in quiet independence. The proposition that see urged in some of the journals and maga- zines, that an ex-Presdent should be givena seat in the senate, seems to me anoinals,us. Equality efrepfesentation IS Guaranteed, and A- Senator not represeuting State would have DO life under the Constitution. But do not propose to discuss any general plan. If l would have voted to retirez General Grant at his own request from veservice, if would have done this after eight years administra- ton of the Presidency, | do not see why should not vote for it now. l cannot consider this question of any political consequence. It involves no breach of the Constitut ion to pass it; it will De the violation of no constitutional duty to reject il. As it is presented, I am willing to consider it the expression of pop nlar wish that tlie1 general most eminent in g war which a majority of the American people dO, as we all know, fegar1 as sacred Tn US motives and aa important in it's, consequences as the war of the revolution, should be secur. ed in honorable competence at the close oi long and arduous service.
 Nor do I see any sectional feature in this measure. It threatens danger to no southern interest; it does not impair any southern right; it ought not to be considered as wound ing any southern sentiment. I am willing te accept the popular appreciation of Genera Grant as great soldier, and acquiesce cheer fully in this method of its expression. But cannot vote for this bill unless the second sec ton providing for calling Gen. Grant into ac tive service1 is stricken out. There are many grave and insuperable objections to it which will not here present I will state one Il seems to me to be ln violation of the principle upon which the retirement of officers rests. In interferes with the actual, proper admins tration of the active service, and will not by it's omission in the slightest degree 2diminlsI the honor or justice of the position assign ed.
 Without any reference to the principles in yolved in General Grants administration ot the National Government, without any refer ence to the merits of the strategy of his militia ry campaigns, I::amlin favor, as was done witt those who had completed their service under the Roman eagles, of writing opposite tht name of General Ulysses S, Grant Emeritus