Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-07-29
ANECDOTES OF GRANT.
Grant as q Smoker-A Habit That
Dates from Shiloh.
Senator Hawley's ReOolleCtions of the Re-
publican Convention of 1868.
Gen. Grants First Nomination for the
Presidency.

Gen. Grants First Nomination for tho
Presidency.
Senator Hawley, writes a Washington cor
respondent was aked tor some "Reminiscences
of the Republican National Convention of
1868, and Gen. Grants first nomination for
the Presidency. He gave the following: AT
the Republican National Convention OF 1868,
all who were present will remember the alb
solute unanimity and enthusiasm with which
Gen. Grant received his first nomination for
the Presidency. 1t was with dihculty that
the convention could he restrained ana con-
fined TO the regular orderly proceedings, for
the great multitude seemed determined TO
anticipate the proceedings and nominate the
General with one great shout while those
who desired more impressive and effective
proceeding restrained all Irregularities, and
In due course of things the names OF every
State and Territory were called, and the
leader of each delegation formally gave its
full vote for Ulysses 5. Grant, each sue
cessive announcement being received with
roll OF applause, and ut the summing
of the whole, the convention breaking
into a tremendous and overwhelming demon
stration that died away and rose again for
many minutes lt was but recording the
unanimous wish of the party; IL was re-
suit which no man contrived, and which no
man could have prevented. AS President OF
the convention, IL became my duty TO lead
the committee that was instructed TO pro-
coed to Washington and formally notify the
General.
ARRIVING in Washington, tho committee
requested me TO call upon the General and
ask him for his wishes concerning the more
formal proceedings. The late Senator Ferry,
of Connecticut, accompanied me. Gen.
Grant received us with his usual quiet and
simple cordiality, and we sat with him for
possibly an hour in his library. The arrange
mcnts for the next day were easily made, but
the General seemed inclined 20 talk, and, of
course We were only too glad to listen. Some
nf pN /
ness; others / can give correctly in substance.
"lIc said, If this were simply n matter of
personal preference and satisfaction, would
not wish TO be President. l have now ar
rived at the extreme limit of the ambition OF
II soldier. j was at the head of the army of
the United States during the great decisive
war. / remain the head of the army, with
the country reunited and ut peace, as i be-
lievo 1t is to DO for many years. hope for
ever. The people speak kindly OF me, even
our fellow citizens of the South, many of
them. If ] remain whore am, rs time passes
and the animosities of the war die away, | do
not see why j should not be a peace with all
men. The pay Of the position abundsntly
provides for myself and my family. What
more could n man wish? TO go into the Pres
idcncy opens altogether a new field to me, in
which there is TO be new strife, to which /
am not trained. IL may be that j should fail
I'm giving satisfaction TO the country. Then
j should go out at the end OF my political
service having reduced the number of my
friends and lost my position as soldier.
That is very disagrcoable possibility. But
there is nothing to be said; there is no choice
left for me; there is nothing else to do
''This he repeated several times: Il have
no choice whatever but submission He
spoke with II serious respect for the great
place, and sense OF its 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 mt that mo-
ment he seemed TO be dwelling upon the
pleasant things which he surrendered in ac-
cepting the nomination, and yet to go for
ward with the simple obedience of n thorough
soldier.
''When the committee called upon Gen.
Grant the next day, held in my hand the
manuscript of the few remarks in which |
made the formal announcement. The Gen
eral replied without notes and without hest
tation. The accurate stenographio report
shows that nc replied with as much aptncss
as though he had taken day to prepare.
"1he most precious autograph in my col
lection is the letter of acceptance, whici was
addressed to me as the President of the con-
vention, and In which occurs the famous eX-
preston, Let us have peace It is all in his
own hand, was his first draft, and contains
only one correction, the change of n word, at
the suggestion of Schuyler Colfax."