New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-23

m
were together three days. The President seemed 70
Ina in HIS silent mood; he talked very little to any
ono of the marty. Every attempt to draw him into
conversation was met with proposition to play
eucbre and thus hour after hour, rs we whirled
through the country and stopped at night upon sdo
track. for rest was consumed in this friendly game.
He seemed to have been suddenly struck dumb ior
no subject had apparent interest to MIN. oiten
"a M sat absorbed in the game silent as sphinx,
found myself contrasting his taoiturnlty with
h;s fresdom of manner and 6uency OF speech IN
wears before, and wondered why the weight OIL
official care should have made such transforna-
ton. But the silence was broken at the breakiast
tahIe at Senator Morton's house the morning we
reached Indianapolis when the subject oil the tsrlI'
then pending before the House in bills to modify
rates adonted as war measures" was introduced
Inv n ouest The President numbered" that, L
afterwarl discovered. was q favorite term with
him to indicate his willingness to unload all cares
and indulge in the freedom of conversational ana
for AN hour I was charmed with his mastery as
cussion of this question He had evidently studieu
il carefully and exhibited such familiarity with all
its phases as indicated that he regarded II as the
important question of tho hour. what MS views
were need not be announced herein. HIS subsequent
public declarations have made 1t unnecessary. lie
was evidently not favorably impressed with the
doctrine OF free trade. nor any modified form
thereof. =.
Shortly before my last term in Congress had
ended Postmaster General Jewell. behalf of
President Grant and himself. rendered me the
appointment of Second Assistant Postmaster
General and said the President desired to see mo on
the subject called at the White House. and the
tender was repeated. whcrcupon ASKED for time 20
consider it, was not ayerse to tho acceptance but
believed that ought to. abandon politics ana
IN nFtN ltn
expressed myself to him. Ii was, however, agrced
that should communicate my decision upon the
Saturday Just pref Geo pssssIds a 10 make msmor
anlum, but be replied that memorandums were
rar,ly necessaryto aid his memory-a fact OF when
| [ lad frequent confirmation In our SUI sequent
| aalcal intercourse Two days before the time set
| for receiving my answer. be sent NY nomination 10
the Senate. and the first intimation tnereot when
| I received the congratuaton OF one OF tle
sec,etorles of that body upon my prompt contirna-
| ton / went 10 the White House the next morning
TO inquire If he had not iorgotten t4s
| that can find any one willing to recetvc an ap-
| pointment and when such person turns up close
| the bargain promptly" ,
to which have just alluded, Postna, ter-Gen"ral
Jewell severed his connection with the department;
lie had gone to the White House an errnnd, aud
returned to tell that he had there rendered his
resignation at the Presidents request we were
| friends and was much gritvcd ~ this announce
| meut He had learned that the President intended
| TO offer tho place TO me- aud communicated mat
| fact in close confidence. While We were taking,
| a messenger from the White House handed me
note requesting Inc to call there. The President did
not know that had learned of bis intentions from
| the retiring Postmaster-General. 80, when was
| seated he turned abruptly with the remark,
want your resignation" All right, Mr.. President
| | answered, "you could not ask for anything
would more cheerfully give you under the cream
| stapcsD He eyed me closely and suspicOusly
while wrote out the resignation, and hoidng ms
pen If to indorse his acceptance upon IT, no sAiu
| (. accept this resignation upon certain cOnuit.Qas
the main one being that You will accept the appoint
inent of Postmastcf-teDeral." There Were other
| conditions. only one OF which need be mentioned
| herein That was that should not remove certain
lady then employed in tho deai-lettcr once OF tue
| department. She is q furious rebel am tod,
| ana YOU would probably punish her by disn ssai /
| but il must not be DONE" he added; and when |
| inquired the reason for retaining her he an;wered
She is tho only person. except AelDTs lhl
| daughterj little baby, ever born in the White
| Uouse and she shall not be disturbed because OF
her opinions while am President Nothing ever
occurred IN our inerco irse tbat gave ne greaer
! insight into the depth OF his feelings ami the
| strength of his sentiments, The old hero's eyes
| mostened with emotion when he reforrsd so ten,
| derry to the young life that had recently dawned
under that historic roof. and announced that the
place WAS sacred to him that another whose eyes
were irst opened upon the light or day III that same
| place was his ward, and he her protector.
| Another instance OF General Grants devotion 70
friends came under my observation: In fact, ne
would throw the doubts of tho law,and wasincIihod
70 enlarge his con yctions of duty to favor any
one to whom he was ATTACHED. In pflyat; ire sush
! fidelity is worthy OF all praise IL pubic me-
especially in the distr button OF patronage 10 soue-
| times becomes q serious fault. lie womb Tolerate
| no condemnation OF Que whom he cherisbcu as
| friend nor believe any thing wrong o. him, except
npon the most conclusive proof His charity was
| OF that absorbing quality That ne wouia coh1ohe
almost any offence except certain ana proVokllg
betrayal OF confidence. Whoever was once driven
from the citadel of his love. ever after found It's
gates barred against him. He passed sentence only
upon unquestoncd evidence ana POSITIVE kn"w y, i
| edge and there was subsequent pardon 81 the
sin. Upon one occasion he seriously contemplate
the appointment to an Important place oil ono who
| pardon had been extended. When demonstrated
! with he answered He is an Innocent man, and
cution Why shoud not stand by him when fee
and know that he IS nnocentf ~ required
considerable reasoning to the proprety OF sucl
| an appointment TO persuade HIN from MS PURPOSE
Upon one OCCASION a lady Of evident culture and
refinement. and stranger 70 me. inqilfssa VIVA
large post office was vacant in u certain state
| answered None" She thon said that sue was
: widow OF an army officer who was formerly clos
; friend of the President; that no had lett he
without the means of support. and she wanted 70 b
appointed postmaster at Office where the salarl
would a95d her ,e si gbv for snn .,
appointment to q resident within tue delivery %
the Office, to which she replied that she ha'
examined the law and ascertsined that 4 might b
complied with by being resident at the date OF til
commission. That. told her. might DO CON
pliance with the letter bug surely not not Tt In
| would cpnstrue il more literally she replied an
| thereupon recommended her to consult him upo
I tbs subject. This amusing incident passed out u
my thoughts Tor two or three days, when wa
, reminded of it by another call from the lady VIII
y brought note from the PRESIDENT which was SUI
stantlaIly as follows: Make out the papers for ia
$ appointment of Mrs. n. as postmaster at -"
a is hardly necessary TO add that she was soon dnl
y installed In the Office. which was located in
) the late rebelli0us States.
10 There was another prominent trait In Generl
IT Grants character worthy OF notice lie would nt
tolerate INSTRUMENTATION. One proof of his scvert
70 In this regard came to me IN this wise: lie Ia
1t appointed friend of one OF his Cabinet officers
d postmaster of one of the leading Cities and ha
"a based the Appointment upon the recommendation
- this Secretary. The postmaster had celebrated hi