Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-08-14

IOrCeb OF tne union, ne nA0 conquered the
most gigantic and determined rebellion tho
world had ever known, and at the head OF the
serried columns of his victorious grand old
army, bearing banners rent and torn by shot
and shell, he marched In triumph back TO,
and through, the streets Of the nations capi.
tai, amid the ringing OF bells, the deafening
applause, and the fervsnt prayers OF thanks
giving which ascended 10 Heaven from mil
lions of happy voices, and the land was re-
deemed and the country saved.
AS we view that mighty struggle in retro
spect, the true value OF the services rendered
by this great soldier becomes more and more
apparent, and his military reputation, won on
many a piyoted battlefield, will grow bright
or aud brighter as the years roll on. by ma
ny his merits were always grudgngly CON
ceded. Ills successes were by some ascribed
10 luck, by others 10 superior numbers, and
by others to his inability to know when he
WAS beaten. But when II is admitted, an it
must be, that bis presence won victories in
the East AZ well az In the Southwest, and that
lac never suffered a defeat, all these various
theories touching hs success sink into utter
nothingness. IL was, in fact, his unhinohng
courage his mastery activity his untiring
Rggressiveness, his rock like stesdfastness, his
simplicity Of method, his persistenoy and to-
nacity of purpose patient in toll, serene
amid alarms''-that gave unto him the victory
and crowned him with immortal honors.
Prof. Mahan, his old preceptor at West Point,
writing OF him in 1866, said. Grant will take
a conspicuous place in history, in that class
10 which William OF Orange, Turenne, Fred.
erick Of Prussia, Washington and Napoleon
belonged"
But, "peace hath her victories no less re-
nowned than war" II il not his military
fame alone, that will forever shine with the
lustre Of the stars for no less ustrous have been
his achievements In other spheres. After the
war, and during the early period of recon
struction, he performed for the country dis
tinguished and honorable service He more
than once thwarted and brought 10 nAught
the purposes OF President Andrew John
son to set at defiance the laws Of Congress-
On one occasion President johnson proposed
the arrest Of all the members Of the late oon-
federate government, aud the leading officers
OF the rebel army, the former 10 be tried In
the Federal courts and the latter by military
commission, that all might be made 10 hang
for their treason, and that the army be used
In aid of his design. General Grant indig-
nantly replied that the army never should be
used for such purpose, and should the
President issue orders TO that effect, he would
disObey them, and appeal 10 Congress- for
vindication.
On another occasion, after President John
son had abandoned his AvOWed purpose ITO
make treason odious, he proposed to General
Grant that he would order an election in the
states lately in rebellion, regardless Of the
laws of Congress which he claimed were un-
constitutional, and that the Representatives
and Senators thus elected would join with the
Democratic Representatives and Senators
from the North, whom he would recognize
a. the idnfW Congress, and that the other
Congress would then be in rebellion. With
an eye h4shing fire and indignation, General
Grant replied 81 will oppose and prevent
any snch thing by marching enough OF the
army into the usurping Congress 10 dsperse
or arrest and imprison all its members"
May 18th, 1868, q national convention Of
soldiers and sailors met at Chicago and unan-
imously nominated Gen. Grant for the Presi-
dency. Two days later the Republican ma
tional convention sitting in the same city also
nominated him by acclAmation. His formal
letter of acceptance had no ambiguous mean
ing, 1t was couched in simple, honest Ian.
guage, All earnest of that which was to follow.
He wrote, "If elected to the Office OF Preai
dent OF the United States, II will be my en-
deavOr to administer all the laws in good
faith, with economy, and with the view Of
giving peace, quiet and protection every
sequence-with economy of administration,
will tighten the burden of taxation, while il
constantly reduces the national debt. Let ua
have peace"
II is needless to say that he was triumph
antly elected, az he also wAs again elected in
1872. During his administration OF eight
years, he displayed q superior knowledge OF
public affairs, eXhibeitd wise stAteBmanship,
at times rising far above his party and that
intense partisan feeling so often manifested
In congressional legislation. cannot dwell
upon its incidents but not least among them
was the perfecting of the measures of recon-
struction the settlement OF the political
difficulties in Louisiana and Arkansas, bring.
ing the entire whole into harmonious accord (;
the exposure of the Credit MObilier," and
the resumption Of specie payment, by which
the country was enabled 70 enter upon a
career of prosperity never before equalled.
On the eth OF March, 1877, after sixteen
years OF continuous public service, his con
nectiOn with the active military and civil
affairs of the country closed. After his re.
tirement, he was enabled through the liberal.
ity of devoted friends, TO carry out his desire
to visit the countries OF the Old World.
True TO his American citizenship, he sailed
in an American steamship, May II, 1877, on
his long anticipated journey, returning home
December lG, 1879. Glad in the simple gart
of an American ctizen-his fame had pre-
oeded him-and never did royalty receive
such grand ovationa. Where is the patriot
glow OF pride as he watched the course OF
this one "silent man" in his tour around the
world, and learned how kings, princes and
potentates OF every land. bowed down before
that grand representative of American cit
izenship In humble alteration
His few last remaining years-not' free
from those trials and sorrows which follow
q friends deceit and base betrayal-he passed
in tho gentle quietude Of home. Afflicted
with fatal mAlRdy which knows no cure,
he bore his suferings patiently and met
death with that same calm resolution with
which be had braved its terrors amid the
storm clouds of battle.
To the members OF the Grand Army of the
Republic and the veteran soldiers living be
was doubly deRr. They mourn for him, fol
he WAS their beloved commander and com
rAde. They trustingly followed him at Bel
mont Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg
With him they beheld the TRANSPORTATION oi
victory on Lookout mountain. They follow
| cd him across the Rspidan, into and through
the Wilderness that terrible labyrinth oi
swift passing fury and quick coming glory
They stood with him at Cold Harbor and IL
the deadly intTenchmenta around Peters
burgh With him they unfurlsd our glorious
old flag at Richmond, and saw the star
and bara" of the Confederacy go down for
ever at Appomattox,
Az the Roman citizen was seen 10 weeI
when he beheld his "Cssars Vesture wound
ed" II need not seem strange TO read tina
gray haired veterans, who had bFaved deatt
ON score OF battle-halds broke down with
| grief and shed soldiers tears on beholdinl
| the simple casket OF their old commander
for II Was TO inclose their most preoioul
| Jewel, ''the noblest man OF all the world
call II manly, brave, heroic, for they loVeC
| him az they mover loved other man.
Aud II snoh things are, or can be, In the
better land-that We shall know and recog
nize each other there-then, when he reach
cd that blissful shore, there stood on il
shining banks to welcome him, not white
robed angels only, with golden harp ant
tuneful Tyre, but Washington, aud LinoolI
wearing the martyrs crown, Stanton and tn
sainted Garfield; his dear McPherBon, hi
| we'll beloved Rawlins Thomas and Hooker
Meade, Burnside and Fsrragut, and the lonl
line of other brave men who went down II
death all too early-the nations costly saori
flee '""
Matohless soldier Illustrious citizen
rest from your labors No bronze or grant,
monument can Outlive the memory OF you
/ glorious deeds. The bright example OF
pure life and unsullied character, which yol
have left to us, We may all safely initiate am
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