The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-02
GRANTS PERSONAL CHARACTER.
His Habit at Cabinet Meetings-Hfs Readi-
ness to Yield a P~reconceiyed Opinion.

His Habit at Cabinet Meetings-Afs Readl-
ness to Yield a P~reconceived Opinion.
Ex-secretary Hamilton Fish, in the Independent.
In his Cabinet meetings his habit was to bring
before his counsellors such questions as might
have been suggested to him either by friends or
as the result of his own thought. He would
generally ask of the members of his Cabinet,
in order or successfully, their views, and would
then reach his own conclusion and direct the
course to be pursued which he thought best. So
far as my own department was concerned, he
kept thoroughly up with all the questions that
arose., and, SO far as | could Judge, he was equally
familiar with the questions in each of the other
departments. He was very free to accept the
opinions and views of his Cabinet, often antagon-
istlc to his own preconceived notions. AS an
instance of this, when the imitation bill had
upon him for approval by many of his
most influential friends in each house
of Congress, and by a majority of his Cabinet, he
at first reluctantly yielded to a determination to
approve the bill, and prepareda paper to be sub
mitted to Congress explaining his reasons for ap-
proval of the bill. which paper was laid before the
Cabinet, but not read. | had most strenuously
advocated his vetoing the bill, and an evening
or TWO previous TO this Cabinet meeting he sent
for me and read me the paper. Having done If,
this the more | don't like it, and | have deter
mined to veto the bill, and am preparing a mes
sage accordingly. At the Cabinet meeting he
stated that he had prepared a paper assigning
the reasons for approving the bill, but had de-
termined not to present it, and had written
another message vetoing the bill, which he then
read to the Cabinet and subsequently, sent to
Congress. He had consulted his own good sense
and had given careful study by himself to this
important question affecting the currency.
Another illustration Of his readiness to yield a
preconceived opinion is afforded by his action
concerning the treaty of Washington. After the
beginning Of negotiations about the treaty it
became necessary to determine upon commits
cinr ~ m fhn yarf nc tha JTpita1 StotoC fatf
it important the commission should not be parti-
san, and that there should be at least one Dem
ocrat on it. The suggestion at first did not strike
the President as important. and 1t was opposed
by many of his confidential friends: but on pre-
senting the question fully and strongly to him,
he abandoned his position and decided the ques-
ton in favor of appointing Judge Nelson as one
Of the commissioners. Subsequently, when an
arbitrator was to be appointed to the tribunal at
Geneva, strong objections were urged from yari-
Gus quarters against the selection of Charles
Francis Adams, which made an i'm
preston adverse to- him IN the
adverse. But upon my urging upon him that
Mr.. Adams was more familiar than any other
man with the incidents attending the escape of
the rebel cruisers; that he had conducted the
legation in London during the rebellion with
admirable discretion. and under a great deal of
personal trial, and was entitled to recognition,
General Grant cordially yielded his opposition.
and overruled the objections of many close and
confidential political advisers.
Inever met any one who formed in advance
better estimates of elections that were about to
take place than General Grant. On the evening
preceding the presidential election of 1872, |
was sitting with him, and he gave the probable
result in each Of the States. | noted it down,
and found that it varied in each State almost
inappreciably. He was not a great reader. He
wrote with f1uency. tersely, strongly and with
great r~apidity. He was methodical in his habits,
and punctilious in the discharge of whatever
duties might be before him. He had no historic
al models, but worked out his own course from
his good sense and thoughtfulness. He formed
his opinions, apparently, from intuition. I think
he was the most scrupulously truthful man l
ever met. He had little idea of the value of
money, and had no tendency TO it's accumula-
ton. He WAS lavish in his expenditures and
generous in his charities. He gave to all who
asked of him, being often unnecessarily and
unwisely profuse in his donations. | have
not infrequently known him to give sums from
FIVE to ten times the amount of what the
applicants could have reasonably or probably eX-
pected.
In his family he was the fondest and most in
dulgent and liberal OF husbands and fathers. He
had a large fund of hu1nor, enjoyed a good
story, and had the faculty of telling a good
story, and of telling it we'll. | never heard
him use a ~profane or an obscene word. The
habit of public speaking came TO him after the
end of his presidency. His indignation was
always intense against any case Of marital in
fidelity.
He was strongly impressed with religious
views, and was a firm believer in the funda-
mental principles of Christianity. The moral
side of questions Of a public nature or otherwise,
whether presented by his Cabinet or by his
friends, always had influence with him. Before
strangers, or before a large number of persons,
he was naturally inclined 10 be ~tacitufn. But
few men had more powers of conversation ana Of
narration than he when in the company Of init
mate friends, without the restraints imposed by
numbers.
His memory was minute and accurate to a
degree. He was not fond of talking of the war
or of his battles: but when he could be introduced
or led to the subject he would carry it through.
giving the incidents Of a fight, stating infinitely
at the various stages of the engagement the
location of each division, or separate corps, or
regiment.
You ask, What position will General Grant
take in the history of this country?" l hope it
will not be considered irreverent to say that
Washington, Lincoln and Grant will be regarded
as a political trinity, the one the founder, the
second the liberator, and the third the savior Of
the United States. 1t is admirably illustrated
in that medallion in which they are represented
as the pater, the liberator and the salvador. The
work of each was necessary to the completion of
the whole.
Love and Death.
~ - l T. IL MI