The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-25


president Grant and himself, rendered me the
appointment of Second Assistant Postmaster
general, and said that the President desired to
see me on the subject. L called at the White
ouse; ana the tender was repeated. whereupon
asked for some time TO consider it. was not
aVerse to the acceptance but | believed that
ought TO abandon politics and turn my attention
TO private affairs, and so expressed myself to
MIN. IL was, however, agreed that / should
communicate my decision upon the Saturday
just preceding final adjournment, of which fact
l ASKED the PRESIDENT to make memorandum,
ouC ne replied that memorandum were rarely
necessary to aid his memory-a fact of which
hau frequent confirmation in our subsequent
otnciai intercourse. Two days before the time
set Tor receiving my answer he sent my nom
NATION to the Senate, and the first intimation
thereo1 which L received was the cong ratulation
or one or the secretaries of that BODY upon nv
prompt confirmation | went to the White
house the next morning to inquire if he had not
Forgotten the arrangement between us, when he
answered: mo; it is seldom that | can find any
one wiling to receive an appointment, and when
such person turns up, l close the bargain
promptly"
Sixteen months after the circumstance oc-
CURED to which have just alluded, Postmaster
general Jewell severed his connection with the
department. lie had gone to the White House
on an Grand and returned to tell me that he
had there rendered his resignation at the Pres
dents request We were friends, and was much
grleved at this announcement He had learned
tudt VIC resilient intended to Ofter the place to
me, ana communicated that fact in close conf
dence. While we were talking me ssenger from
the White House handed me a note requesting
me to call there. The President did not know
that had learned of his intentions from the
retiring Postmaster general. So when | was
seated, he turned abruptly with the remark
II want your resignation" '.All right, Mr.. Pres
ident answered, ''you could not ask for any
thing would more cheerfully give you under
the circumstances" He eyed me closely and
W Iln In kio,1
ana holding his pen as if to ndorse his acceptance
or IL, ne said: Il accept this resignation upon
certain conditions the main one being that you
VIII accept the appointment of Postmaster
only one of which need be mentioned
herein. That was that should not remove a
certain lady then employed in the dead-letter
ONCE OF the department. "She is furious
rebel, am told, and you would probably punish
her oy dismissal; but it must not be DONE" he
added: and when l inquired the reason for
retaining her he answered: ''She is the only
person, except Nelies This daughtersj little baby
ever born IN the White House, and she shall not
be disturbed because of her opinions while am
President" Nothing ever occurred in our inter
course that gave me greater insight into the
depth or MS feelings and the strength of his
sentiments The old hero's eyes moistened with
emotion when he referred so tenderly to the
young life that had recently dawned under that
historic roof and announced that the place
SO sacred to him that another whose eyes were
first opened upon the light of day in that same
place was his ward, and he her protector.
Another instance of General Grants devotion
to friends came under my observation In fact
he would throw the doubts of the law, and was
inclined to enlarge his convictions of duty, as
10 favor anyone to whom he was attached In
private ife such fidelity is worthy of all praise;
in public lfe especially in the distribution of
patronage, it sometimes becomes serious fault.
He would tolerate no condemnation of one whom
he cherished as a friend, nor believe anything
wrong OF him. except upon the most conclusive
proof His charity was of that absorbing quality
that he would condone almost any offense except
certain and provoking betrayal of confidence
Whoever was once driven from the citadel of
his love- ever afterward found its gates
barred against him. He passed sentence
positive knowledge, and there was no
subsequent pardon of the sin. Upon one occa-
sion he seriously contemplated the appointment
to an important place of one who had been SEN
fenced for crime and to whom pardon had
been extended. When demonstrated with he
answered: HE is an innocent man, and his
conviction was the SEQUEL of a shameless perse-
cution. Why should not stand by him when
feel and know that be is innocentl' 1t required
considerable reasoning as to the improperly of
such an appointment to persuade him from his
purpose before he reluctantly yielded.
General Grant would not tolerate insubordi-
nation. One proof of his severity in this regard
come to me in this wise: He had appointed a
friend of one of his Cabinet officers as postmaster
of one of the leading cities, and had based the
appointment upon the recommendation of this
Secretary. The postmaster had celebrated his
Inauguration into Office by dismissing an employe
recently sent there and detailed to duty by the
officials of the department. I demonstrated
with him and ordered reinstatement, upon the
ground that the employee was an expert and the
personal representative of the department. but
the postmaster seemed to be immovable When
presented this case to tie President, to inquire
if | could have his authority for the warning
that if my order to reinstate the employee was
not complied with someone else would be
promptly chosen as his successor, he replied
very sternly: 'No. want the name of his sue
cessor now. l never tolerated INSTRUMENTATION
in the army, and will not tolerate it in any
official in the civil service
Niagara Falls and return. SIS 90