New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-03
GRANT IN PEACE.
BY GENERAL ADAM BADEAu,
XVIII.
PRESIDENT ELECT.


of assassination and had opened several letters
that contained warnings of this danger, but
Grant took no precautions and made no change
in his plans, though his route was known IN
advance. The aldes-de-camp were armed, put
this was unknown to him.
Twice when had been travelling with Grant
attempts were made to take his lie. III
North Carolina. on his return from the surien-
de- Of Johnston to Sherman. the train on when
he was J0urneying was thrown from the ralls
under circumstances that left little doubt Of
the design. There was no one in the single
car but the Union Gencral-in-Chief and his
party Of two or three officers, and If some bit
ter and disappointed spirit out OF all the mill
ions al the South had taken this method TO
avcnge the lost cause, it would hardly have
been extraordinary, and certainly not unprcce-
denied At another time, soon after the war,
Grant was passing through Southern lndl-
ana, q region where the rancor during the re-
bclliOn had been almost hercer than In the
field, and as those who INDUCED it did not
fight, but only talked, they cherished their
hatred when the war was ended-unlike most
of the men who split their blood for the cause
they preferred.
1t was night, and we were on a special train.
again in single car. Again there was no
one in the party hut Grant with two Of his
staff, a servant and the officers OF the road.
We were moving at a rapid rate, and about
midnight arrived at bridge at least an eighth
Of mile in length. and hat crossed stream
dark, and a switch had been left open at
tho approach to the bridge, while stones were
placed on the road in advance. The train was,
Of course, thrown off the rails, but the impetus
was sufficient 10 carry us across the bridge
and into narrow cut beyond, before the car
was overturned. The banks Of the cut pre-
vented a serious fall and the speed of the en-
CINE had been checked. but Grant was more
disturbed than | often saw him IN an emerg-
ency. The car was violently shaken, and he
left his scat and went to the door ,bctore the
motion ceased. No one was injured, but had
the overturn occurred twenty seconds sooner
the train must have been preclpltated into the
river The car was too much damaged TO pro-
ceed but we mounted the engine and IN this
way travelled to our destination through the
any that the interruption had been planned,
out it was thought wise to say nothing on the
subject, and the details of the incident were
not made public Only one or two miscreants
had probably been concerned in the attempt,
and there was no reason 10 cast Odium on
whole region, or t0 arouse the indignation OF
the country, which was hardly yet appeased
since the murder Of Lincoln. Grant himself
enjoined silence in regard to the circumstance,
and his companions were very wiling TO COM
plv, for crime is contagious, and to announce
ono attempt like this is to suggest another.
There was little change in Grants outward
dcmeanor after the election. He was as sim
pie as ever, though somewhat more reserved.
1 1
spons bility and that it depressed him. On
his arrival at Washington he was ut once be-
set with applications for Office, and advice for
his own behavior and policy. One of his ac-
quainttanccs a MIR. Corbyn' who atterward be-
came his brothcr-in-aw. wrote out an inaugural
address for him in full, and brought it to him
in nv presence. As soon as COrbyn left the
room Grant handed the paper to me and told
me 10 seal it up, and be sure it was not read
bv any human being till after the 4th Of
He no |
never read more than the first line Fellow
citizens, I appear before you at this time"
There were more than six hundred letters
waiting for him in Washington, all of which
] opened. A newspaper correspondent came
in and saw me al this task, and the next week
there was a caricature Of 'The man that opens
the letters sitting behind a heap of rejected
applications as high as the table: this part Of
the representation was not exaggerated. Grant
directed me TO show him no letters that asked
for Office He always had an idea that the
man who sought place was unfit for 1t that
the place should seek the man ; a notion that
in his case might have been correct, for he
lacked ordinary ambition and yet possessed
great faculties but most people will consider
that he was exceptional in this peculiarly as
in so many others.
Some Of the applications, however, came
from people of so much consequence, or from
friends of such a degree of intimacy, personal
or political, that notwithstanding his iniunc ZION
I did not always feel at liberty to withhold
them. and he tacitly admitted that ! was right.
Among the aspirants was Henry Wilson, then
Senator from Massachusetts, and af erward
Vice President. who set forth his desires and
qualifications for the position of Secretary Of
War. Grant did not answer the letter, and
the subject was never preached in converse
ton between them. Those who wanted for
cign missions were numerous, and collector
ships and Other lucrative posts were in great
demand But no applicant receivedan answer.
While he was at Galena Grant had said to
me that he thought Motley, the historian,
would make a good Secretary Of State. Mot
removed by Johnson for crticising the Recon
struction policy of the Administration too
sharply, ard great sympathy was felt for him
by Republicans. Sumner especially was
anxious that he should be restored to the post
he had lost Motley correspOnded with me
during the canvass, and sent me copies of the
speeches he made for Grant. These were
shown to Grant and they impressed him favor
ably. But soon after the election Grant Wis
tied Boston, where Motley called on hun; !
and on his return ! inquired his opinion OF
Motley 4" He parts his hair in the middle and
carries single eye-glaSs," was the reply: and
the tone as much rs the words Indicated that
the historian was too foreign in his WAYS to
please the Presdent-elect At that time Grant
had not entirely rid himself Of the. narrow,
ness of his early life some of which indeed
lasted even through. his Presidency; but after
he went abroad and met so many great men
in Europe and Asia, and even Africa, with
dress and manners different from anything ne
had seen in America, he ceased to regard such
peculiarties as decisive. No man ever grew
or expanded in mind and taste and character
more continuously and cOnSpicuOusly.
During the winter of lS6S-'69 Seward, as
Secretary of State, attempted to settle the
difficulties with England arising out of the
Alabama claims. AS the new Admnistra-
ton was just coming into power, the
Republicans were very indignant that
the policy of the Nation in so important an
affair But Seward pcrsise and a treaty
was negotiated at London which was extreme
ly unacceptable TO the Republicans, and indeed,
nartv Grant was especially displeascd, and
expressed eS his feeling openly. He dislIkcd Sew
ard. to whom he attri butcd not little of John