New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
GRANT IN PEACE.
BY GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.
XIX.
CABINET-MAKING.
no......Ls rl0n

he made room for the man whom he doubtless
detested more than any other, who had done
more than any other TO foil his plans and
thwart his wishes and who now was to supplant
him and demolish whatever of policy johnson
had been able to establish by Obstinacy or cir
cumstancc or craft. AT The Capitol another Of
Grants rivals, Chlef-Justicc Chase, admins
tered the oath Of that office which he had him
self so earnestly hoped and strivcn to attain
And thus the highest honor that any Amer1-
can can achieve was added TO the military
gories already heaped on Grant. lie was very
reserved and even restrained, colder in manner
than ever before and evidently felt the gravity
of his position. the full dignity of his office.
had never seen him so impressed but once he
fore. In the first days battle in the Wilder
n"ss he was almost stern at times and wore his
gloves and sword both were unusual clrcum-
stances with him and they seemed to me to III
dictate his sense OF the novel and increased re-
spOnsl bilitieS, for that was his first battle as
gcneral-in-chief Of the armies. On this first
day Of his Presidency there were no trapplngs
Of office to assume, but he bore himself with a
distant and almost frigid demeanOr that marked
how much he felt he was removed from those
who had hitherto been in some sort his asso-
crates. That day there was no gcniallty, no
familiar Jest, hardly smile but the man who
became the chief of a nation Of fifty millions
and stepped into the ranks of carth's mightest
poLentates might well be grave.
His personal staff attended HIM to the Cap
their military relations with him ceased. He
desired them to meet him the next morning in
the Cabinet chamber. and then returned to his
private residence, which his family did not
vacate for several weeks. He directed me-
however, to remain at the White House and
receive any communications for him during the
day. In this way it happened that his first
correspondence as President was with me.
give 1t in full:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 4. 1869.
DEAR GFNERAL: Mr. George Fl. Stuart is
OF committee the others being the Chief-JustIce
and Senator Frelinghuyser, who desire TO present
you IN the name OF some religious society with
Bible. They will wait on Won whenever you saw
except that the Chief-Justice must be at the
Supreme Court and Mr.. Stuart leaves here to-mor-
row night. If you will send word to me what time
will suit You. | will let Mr.. Stuart know. Mr..
Stuart proposes tomorrow morning before 10
o'clock, or if the court does not meet till l. before
that time. With great respect
Your obedient servant,
ADAM BADEAU.
To the President of the United States.
Ny note was returned to me, and on the
back Of it Grant pencilled these words, the
first he wrote as President:
Tomorrow before 10 a. NJ at nv house, or
between 10 a. N. and p. N. at the Executive
Mansion. T.. C.
The meeting took place in the Cabinet room.
and Chase presented the Bible, expressing II
hope that its contents might enable Grant to
fill his high Office wOrthily. The ChefJustice
must have required a full share of Christian
sentiment to enable him to perform his task
Immediately afterward Grant received his
staff for the last time and announced the dis
position to be made of them Three were NOM
inallv placed on the staff Of sherman, who sue
cecded Grant a. General-ln-Chcf. but hey were
in reality to lie on duty at the Executive Man
sion. Horace Porter was TO not as private
secretary, with BabcOck to assist him Coms'Ock
had some nominal duties from which he soon
requested to hc relieved, and ordered to
duty as engineer Dent renamed rs aide
dc-camp with ceremonial functions. and Parker
was shortly afterward appointed Commissioner
Of Indian Affairs. was assigned room a.
the Executive Mansion. where was to finish
nv Military History and to have some charge
Of Grants unofficial letters for a while but
when I saw the President alone he informed ne
that he meant to give me the mission to Bel
GUM He did not wish. however, to appoint
me at once, lest it should provoke charge Of
fayOritSm.
A few weeks before the 4th of March, as
nothing was Sard by Grant to either RawnS
or Washhune of their future both became
in RawliuS went off to Connecticut, and from
there it was reported to Grant that he was
diving. Grant sent for him and told him he was
to lie Secretary of War, whcreupOn Rawllns NJ
once GOT very much better. But Washburn
was III Of the same disease. and to HIM Grant
now offered the position of Secretary OF the
T.
with his promised dignity, but NaShnurnc
would have preferred to he Secretary OF the
Treasury. This position, however Nrant nc
signed for \. r. Stewart, the well-knoWn mer-
chant of New-York. He thought that man
Who had managed his own affairs so well mus
he successful with the finances Of the, Nauonii
stewart was. indeed. the first Of those designed
Cor Cabinet positions whom Grant informed OF
his intention II was necessary lhat Iht -lcd'
business man should he apprlsed IN advance
Il l. = pfrpr1
When Wash burne was positive that ne couiu
not obtain the portfolio of the Treasury ne
asked for the State Department, DuJ Uidnr N;t'
unwilling to make the APPOINTMENT. ASH
Iurne then declared that he would prefer To
Le Minister TO France. and to this Grant con-
sortnd Rut Washburne again requested as
n ncrsOnal favor that he might hold the posir0h
of Secretary Of State for few DAYS. inc
consideration this would give HIM Mterward
both AT home ard in bis rev position was S4nlc-
hing he thought Grant should not refuse
WaShhurne. indeed, had been a devoted friend
had made many opportunities for Grant IN the
As ybon Grant needed them. had first sue-
ocsfed and afterward urged in Congress every
one of Grants promotions that required eglSla-
five action. from brgad ergencral OF volunteers
a. General Of he armies and if Grant was under
ALLEGATIONS 10 any human being II was to w ash
rnrne He knew besides that Nashburnc han
expected more than he was recel wing mar ne
was a disappointed man. rs he well mght ne !;
and Grant consented TO the temporary appoint
ment of Secretary of State, with the under
Standing that no important places were TO he
6llcd while Washburne held the position that
he IV was S" TO have the name but not the authority
lanes T. Wilson. of Iowa. was offered the
nermanent position, hut declined it, on the
ground that he had no private fortrnc and that
thc salary was insufficient for the inevitable eI-
nensc that must be incurred Wilson also rrobably
felt that his abilities were better fitted for other
nos,s Rawlins had suggested Wilson's name.
for after Rawlins knew that he was himself 70
bc Cabinet Minister he felt free to offer, adj
vice on many points. and in fact rcgancd an
induence if not an asccndency, which at one
time seemed TO have waned.
Rawlins. however, was not to he Secretary
If War Immediately. Schofeld was TO hold
over for awhile. lie had proved himself
- trouhIe and this recognition was his re-
yyard He sat as Grants first Secretary OF War.
WIZ .bor annointments to the Cabinet were