The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-04-23
ANECDOTES OF GRANT.
Senator Hawley's Recollections of the Re-
publican Convention of 1868.
Gen. Grants First Nomination for tho
Presidency.

Gen. Grants First Nomination for tho
Presidency.
Senator Hawley, writes n Washington COR
respondent, was aked Tor some "Reminiscences
or the Republican National Convention OF
1858, 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
soiute unanmity and enthusiasm with which
Gen. Grant received his first nomination for
the Presidency. IL was with difficulty that
tho convention could be restrained and oon-
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, ana
In due course of things the names or every
State and Territory were called. and the
leader of each delegation formally gave its
full vote for Ulysses s. Grant each suc-
cessive announcement being received with
roll of applause. and at the summing
OF the whole, the convention breaking
into n tremendous and overwhelming demon
stration that died away and rose again for
many minutes. 1t 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 or
the convention, il became my duty to lead
the committee that was instructed TO pro-
coed 10 Washington and formally notify the
General.
ARRIVING in Washington, the comm ttec
requested me TO call upon the General and
ask him Tor 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
ments for the next day were easily male, but
the General seemed inclined to talk, and, OF
course, we were only too glad TO listen. Some
of his expressions 1 remember with exact
ness: others can give correctly In substance
HE said, IF this were simply a matter or
personal preference and satisfaction, would
not wish 10 be President. i have now ar
rived ut the extreme limit OF the ambition OF
a soldier. i was Mt the head OF the army OF
the United States during the great decisive
war. i remain the head of the army, with
the country reunited and at peace, as i be-
lieve il is to be for many years. hope for
ever. The people speak kindly OF me, even
our fellow citizens of the South, many Of
them. IL / remain where am, as time passes
and the animoslties of the war die away, do
not see why / should not be al peace with all
men. The pay OF the position abundantfy
provides for myself and my family. What
more could "A man wishl To go into the Pres.
idency opens altogether new field to me, in
which there is to be new strife TO which 1
am not trained. 1t may be that i should fail
I'm giving satisfaction to the country. Then
should go out at the end of my political
service having reduced the number OF my
friends and lost my position "a a solder.
That is very disagreeable 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: i have
no choice whatever but submission He
spoke with serious respect for the great
place, and sense of its responsibilities. IL
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 at 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
ware. with the simple obedience of thorough
soldier.
"When the committee callel upon Gen.
Grant the next day, held in my hand the
manuscript OF the few remarks I'm which |
made the formal announcement. The Gen
eral replied without notes and without hes
tation. The accurate stenographic report
shows that he replied with as much aptness
as though he had taken day TO prepare.
''The most precious autograph in my col
lection is the letter of acceptance, which was
addressed to me as the President of the con-
vention, and in which occurs the famous ex-
preston, Let us have peace Ii is all I'm his
own hand, was his first draft, and contains
only one correction, the change of q word, at
the suggestion of Schuyler Colfax."