The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-04-09

Of the Union, his knowledge Of every fac
OF thesituation was always thorough ant
complete, and such as 10 enable him {,
make clear what might BIZ obscure to al
uniniormed mind, but II he habituali,
thought far ahead he said little abou
what was distant and uncertain.
TILE CONVENTION OF 1s0s.
General uawley Tells Of The Firs, Nomina
tion of Grant for the Presidency.
WASHINGTON, D. O., April S.-senatol
Hawley was asked for some reminiscence
Of the Republican Convention Of 1868, and
General Grants first nomination for the
Presidency. He gave the following:
AT the Republican National Convention
Of 1868, all who were present will remem-
ber the absolute unanimity and enthusi.
asm with which General Grant received
his first formal nomination for the Presi-
dency. 1t was with difficulty that the
convention could be restrained and con-
fined to the regular orderly proceedings,
for the vast multitude seemed deter.
mined to anticipate the proceedings and
nominate the General with one great shout,
while those who desired more impressive
and effective proceeding restrained all ir-
regularities, and In due course OF things
the names OF every State and Territory
were called and the leader OF each delega.
ton formally gave its full vote for Ulysses
s. Grant, each successive announcement
being received with roll OF applause,
and at the summing Of the whole, the con.
vention breaking into tremendous and
overwhelming demonstration that died
away and rose again for many minutes.
It was but recording the unanimous wish
OF the party; it was result which no man
contriyed and which no man could have
prevented. As President OF the conven-
tion, II became my duty to lead the COM
mittee that was Instructed TO proceed to
Washington and formally notify the
General.
Arriving in Washington, the committee
requested me to call upon the General
and ask him for his wishes concerning the
formal proceedings. The late Senator
Ferry, OF Connecticut, accompanied me.
General Grant received us with his usual
quiet and simple cordiality, and We sat
with him for possibly an hour in his
library. The arrangements for the next
day were easily made, but the General
seemed inclined to talk, and, OF course,
we were only too glad to listen. Some OF
his expressions remember with exact
ness; others ] can give correctly in sub
stance.
He said: "If this were simply mat
ter OF personal preference and satisfaction,
/ would no wish TO be President. Ihave
now arrived at the extreme limit OF the
ambition OF a soldier. was at the head
OF the army OF the United States during
the great decisive war; j remain at the
head OF that army, with the country re-
united and at peace, as believe 1t Is to be
for many years-1 hope forever. The
low citizens Of the South, many Of them.
III remain where am, as time passes and
the animosities Of the war die away, / do
notseewhy Ishould not be at peace with all
men. The pay Of the position abundantly
provides for myself and my family. What
more could q man wish ? To go into the
Presidency opens altogether q new field
to me, In which there Is to bs new strife,
to which am not trained. It may be
that l should fail in giving satisfaction to
the country. Then I should 60 out at the
end Of political service, having reduced
the number Of my friends and lost my
position as soldier. That Is a very dis.
agreeable possibility. Bat there is nothing
to be said; there Is no choice LETT for me !;
there is nothing else to do"
This he repeated several times: 81 have
no choice whatever but submission He
spoke with q serious respect for the great
place, and sense OF It's responsibilities. 1t
is not possible that the gratitude OF the
people and the unanimity with which he
was sought, should have been otherwise
than agreeable to any man. But at that
moment he seemed to be dwelling upon
the pleasant things which he surrendered
In accepting the nomination, and yet to
go forward with the simple obedience Of a
thorough soldier.
When the committee called upon Gen.
eral, Grant the next day, l held in my
hand the manuscript .of the few remarks
in which / made the formal announce
ment. The General replied without notes,
and without hesitation. The accurate
stenographic report shows that he replied
with as much aptness as thoughhe had
taken day to prepare.
Tho most precious autograph in my col
lection Is the letter Of acceptance, which
was addressed to me as the President Of
the Convention, and in which occurs the
famous expression, "Iet US have peace"
II is all in his own hand, was his first
draft, and contains only one correction,
the change Of a word, at the suggestion OF
Schuyler Colfax. ~ ", (
THE nERoss PROBABLE GRAVE.
A Final Rssting.plaee in the Shadow ofthe
soldiers' Home.
WAsHlSsTos, April alt is taken for
granted that when General Grant dies he
will be buried in this city, and various
places have been suggested as appropriate
10 receive his remains, among them the
crypt OF the Capitol, the building which
he saved from the assaults OF the Con-
federates, the Washington Monument,
the Soldiers Home and the Congressional
Cemetery.
The last named, although It holds the
ashes Of many distinguished public men,
will hardly be selected as General Grants
burial eyound. Ills on the extreme East
ern limits OF the city, surrounded by a
marsh and the nearest points OF interest
are the fail where Guiteau was hung and
the wofkhouie. It Is doubtful Il the Gem
erals tomb will be under the Washington
Monument. There has been some talk Of
bringing the ashes OF Washington from
Mount Vernon, and deposiupg them In
the rock foundation Of the obelisk that
bears his name, hut this suggestion met
wlthyery little favor in official circles.
II General Grant is not buried in the
crypt ofthe Capitol It Is probable that his
resting place Will he In tho Soldiers Home.
This Is q beautiful park two miles north
Of the city. The Home Is built upon an
elevation commanding bird's-eye view
otthe Capital, AleSAndria, the Potomac
and the Virginia and Maryland shores Of
that beautiful stream. II has been for
many years the summer residence of the
Presidents, and General Grant has passed
there many delightful hours. II