The morning call., 1893-12-24
IN PEACE.
A Tribute From a Close
Friend.
GEORGE H. WILLIAMS TALKS
The Great Captains Wonderful Inn
perturbabiiity-fiis Modesty and
Magnanirnity.


cording the achievements of great men. but
it often happens that biographies neglect
to tell what they were simply as men
among men.
The evidence of intelligent men who for
a long period Of time have been closely
associated with famous characters is in.
valuable to the biographer. Such testi-
mony as TO the personality Of Ulysses s.
Grant has just been given to THE CALL
by distinguished citizen who for four
years was the great captains most trusted
Cabinet officer and closest political friend.
This man is Judge George II. Williams of
Portland, Oregon, who is in this city on
legal business.
:: In December, 1871, he was appointed
Attorn ey-General of the United States by
President Grant. Two years later he was
nominated to De Chief Justice of the Su-
-pTeme Court, but through the efforts of
Senator j. W. Nesmith of Oregon, who
was the personal enemy of Judge Williams.
enough opposition was aroused in the SEN
ate to make his confirmation doubtful, and
Ills name was withdrawn.
His service as Attorney General was
during the reconstruction period. and the
many varied political problems from the
South came before him for adjustment.
Upon his shoulders rested the whole work
for Grant trusted him implicitly and always
upheld him. The movements of troops
which Grant sent south to preserve order
were directed by the Acknowledgement
with out consultation with the War De-
partment.
AS Senator he was the author of the re-
construction act, by which the Southern
States were restored to the Union. 1t was
his original idea, though afterward modi-
fed TO suit the demands OF New England
Asked for his own story OF this most i'm
portant poSt-bellum leg Station Judge Will
.liams said to CALL reporter:
20 After President Johnson had shown
his treachery TO the Republican party and
Joined the Democrats, he set about re-
20 rganiZing the South by appointing 10
Office those who had lately beer in arms,
practically attempting to put the country
into the hands of the rebels. This ex-
posed the Union men of the South and
the negroes to the persecution and prose
cution of those who had been leaders in
tie rebellion. Our friends in the South
were alarmed. | was then "A young man.
Wade. FessendeH, Trumbull and other
%leaderS protested against Johnson's
policy. but confined themselves TO COM
plants We offered nothing in opposi-
tton to Johns0n's positive policy. We
drlfted along without knowing just what
TO d..
..tDne night 1 was alone in nv room,
thinking over the subject which gave US
all a-2reat deal OF worry. and | was turn
pg over in my mind policy WHICH
eemed 10 me could meet the situation. ~
II clock L took up my pen and wrote
OIL for the Government OF States lately
In rebellion and handed it TO the clerk>
Of the, Senate next morning. He read IL
by t,lA. This was a surprise to the Senate
and upon request it was read in full.
Senator FrsseDden was sitting behind
me- It may seem egotistIcal FOL me to re-
lint EnEEpndpn " of
man, Stamped me on the shoulder, eXclaim-
ing: by -! you're a genius. That's
Just what we want"
The bill was referred to committee of
thirteen from both houses. Thad Stevens
was chairman of the House branch and
Fessenden OF the Senate branch. They
referred it to subcommittee of three con-
siSting of George S. Boutwell,. Roscoe
COnklIng and myself. We reported it
back as originally drawn with few slight
verbal changes and 1t passed the House by
an Overwhelming majority. In the Senate
Wilson ana Sumner of Massachusetts in
sisted on an amendment which practically
provided negro suffrage. Wilson fought
most tenaciously and with marked ability
for the amendment. In the Senate caucus
he won his point by a majority of one or
two. His principal argument was that
having given freedom to the negro we
must protect him with the ballot In those
days we had 10 stand close together aud
the minority acquiesced The bill passed
the Senate as amended. 1t went back 10
the House, which adopted the amendment.
johnson vetoed it and passed it over
the veto. 1t was a hard fight all through.
| then thought, and am still of the opinion
that this granting of suffrage to the
negroes was great mistake.
Judge Williams said his friendship for
Grant originally grew out of his hatred Of
Andrew Johnson. The Judge then told
something OF Grants personality He
had two qualities which distinguished him
above all other men | have ever known.
The first was impeTtur liability. He never
became excited, never showed anger never
lost his head or got ratified AS one re-
markable instance, l recall the night o.
his second election in 1872. He invited
ME to the White House. The returns
were coming in by wire every minute. /
canuot Conceive how any man could keep
from some mental excitement, but Grant
was entirely unaffected. stolid. | observed
him very closely He smoked his cigar in
measured pnffS, and appeared TO take no
more interest in the result than a lack
driver in the street.
''Ihe only time [ ever saw him show
eXcitement-and l have been with INN
often on occasions of great stress-was
when he heard the news of Stanton's
death. Stanton had been Ill several
weeks, and some way or other the news
of his death reached me first. / passed
Inc II6SIuBUl Oh lbGDSNlFhuld dVbUut
and said rather abruptly 'Stanton's dead
A tremor seized him for moment, but he
recovered almost instantly. This was the
only time in the four years knew hun ill.,
tlniately that / ever saw him display emo
tiGn.
:. .'Grant loved Stanton. His affection for
'<Lncoln's War Secretary was founded upon
The conviction that Stanton was great
. lEan and bad rendered great services TO his
Country. Grant appreciated Stanton's
: wisdom and strength Stanton was so
: q agreeable personally that the country
VIII never appreciate his service to the
:,::ilaton. He was a stole. he had hear,
;:Dut he crushed his personal feelings for
Inc good Of the Onion cause. he and Bis
: 'nlaTck had two strong characteristics Ia
common - back bone and an unyIeiding
natnre~so necessary in times nj war
Lincoln was too good-natured, too simple
hearted LOO kind. too sympathetic. loo
. easily Imposed upon, and II needed man
.'ol stanton ihfex Ibility TO neutralize Lin
cOn's lack of rgor.
Grant was never disturbed. Victory