The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-18
Il Manly Man.

There is no trait of Gen. Grants char
acter more conspicuous than his manly
candor and courage. 1t was manifested in
the case of Gen. FitZ. John Porter. Be
lieying that he had done him injustice in
his first conclusion about the verdict of
the court martial dismissing him from the
United States service, he, on the first OPP
portunity, corrected it, urged Congress to
remove his disabilities and restore him to
his old position in the army. In his recent
article in the Century Magasase, giving an
account of the preliminary operations and
the battle of Shiloh, he reflected some
what upon Gen. A. d. McCook s posi-
tion and disposition for active aggressive
work. Being satisfied that he did Gen.
McCook injustice, he has inserted the fol-
lowing sentences in his history, now about
being published II refer to these circum-
stances with minuteness, because | did
General McCook injustice in my article in
the Century, though not to the extent one
would suppose from the press. | am not
willing to do any one an injustice, and if
convinced that have done one, I am al
ways willing to make the fullest admis-
sion. Z
We remember an instance of this manly
characteristic in Gen. Grant. During his
second term as President, he was ap-
preached by the writer of this in behalf of
a gentleman who was an applicant for a
Federal office. In the course of CONVEX
sation he remarked that he had at one time
done the gentleman injustice. based on
information which he then had. But since
then he had become better informed, and
desired to correct tie wrong by some tan
gihle act. expressive of his confidence. He
did so and conferred the appointment
asked for. The gentleman was in humble
life, and could have had very little
influence in affecting the reputation of the
President of the United State. 1t was not
for policy's sake that the wrong was ac-
knowledged and the correction made, but
from an inherent sense of justice. This,
to our mind, constitutes one of the most
exalted qualities Of great man.
Gen. Grant would never dismiss an Off
Ger or refuse to re appoint one, against
whom charges had been preferred and not
proven. He assumed that for him to do
SO, would be tantamount to endorsing the
charges. If charges were preferred, he
ordered the fullest opportunity for the ac-
cused to vindlcate himself, and if he sue
ceeded, it was sure -tosecure his retention,
whether the appointment was in all respects
such as he would otherwise have liked or
not. He gave the accuser and the accused
the opportunity to face each other. Charges
affecting official or personal character were
never pigeon-holed with his consent. The
charges had to be sustained, after the ac-
cused had the privilege of replying to and
repelling them, and if not sustained the
party preferring them was condemned,
and not the person against whom they
were directed.
No position is so exalted that it should
be exempt from an observance of this SIM
pie rule of justice. The higher the Office
and the more unchallenged and supreme
the authority, the greater scruple should
be observed in dealing with official and
personal character. No man, whether
President or Cabinet officer, can afford to
do a deliberate act of injustice. The hum
blest citizen has the right to his good char
acter, and it is robbery Of the most criminal
kind to attaint it, either directly or in
directly