Year: 1869

Mgistellaueplls &eaaiag.
II Special Correspondence ofthe New York World,


! GRANTS VIEWS. .a.-..
| WASHINGTON, January 2.
| Without pretending to entire accuracy, am
able no& to give you his expressed opinions about
some other matters, and especially about men con.
cerning whom he would naturally talk, about this
time.


HIS OPINION ABOUT ELIHU B. wAsHBURNE


General Grant says: "Washburne was my friend
when I needed friend-when it was no advantage
to be my friend, and when I had very few friends
anywhere scarcely any outside of the army. My
friends are very numerous now. L often wonder
how many Of them would remain my friends If my
position and patronage were taken away from me.
The friends Of my adversely shall always cherish
most. can better trust those who helped to re-
lieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who
are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine OF my
prosperity The newspapers cannot ahenate me
from Washburne BY any abuse Of him or ridicule
of his supposed influence over me"


WHAT GRANT THINKS OF VIM. P. FEssENDEN.
| General Grant says of Fessenden: II regard
him as the ablest statesman in the Senate. He is
man Of high order fintellect, ofcatholic views,
of large and wellimproved experience, and has
that moral courage which is far more commend
able, as it is far rarer than physical courage. !
have differed from him sometimes. When l did;
involuntariy recalled the kind words of Mr.. Lin.
coin, 4 am satisfied now that you were right and
was wrong 49,.


ABOUT SUMNER. ,.s


s'Senator Sumner" says General Grant, lis q
great scholar and finished orator. am not well
qualified to Judge such men as Sumner. He is a
faithful representative of his State. If he had not
been chosen by Massachusetts,, I do not believe he
would ever have been member Of the United
States Senate"
CONCERNING BUTLER.


General Butler is man of very great force Of
character. He would be leader in any country
in which he lived, and any cause which he espous-
ed. The Republican party could better afford to
lose almost any other Of its captains.


GEN. NJ 'CLELI4AN AND THE CABINET.


In answer to the inquiry about the newspa-
per story that he had offered Cabinet portfolio to
General Nc Clellan, General Grant said: ''There
is no truth in the report that have offered Gen
eral Mcclellan place in my Cabinet. After a
moments reflection, he added: II do not say that
have not thought of doing it, and if do it l
know of no one who has right to object. When
aim inaugurated I shall be President Of the Uni
ted States-not the head of party I Ishall be the
executive officer of the whole people-not of q
mere majority. IF the interests Of the people can
best be served by any man, I would have no right
to set him aside because he did not vol for me.
Of course, all other things being equal, my person
al orpolitical preference might justly decide the
competition. But shall never remove a good
man and competent officer who is a Democrat, to
make place for bad man or an incompetent man
who is Republican. 1 know something Of politi-
cians While believe was the first choice OF
the masses of the Republican party, I believe l
was the last choice of majority of its leaders 1t
these latter had imagined there was any possibility
of elccting any body else they never would have
nominated me. AS we soldiers say of things we
don't like to do, or doubt the right of DOING it is
military necessity so the party politicians consid'
cred my nomination party necessity Therefore,
while I fully appreciate my Indebtedness to the
men who voted for me, l do not overrate my obi
cations to the men who nominated me- l do not
wish you to understand that l have not a. warm
sympathy with the Republican party. As party,
I like it better than the Democratic party. AS to
the masses who compose the parties, l regard
them as equally loyal, equally honest, and equally
intelligent. As to the leaders, I think there are
good men and bad men in each party; but l think
the controlling clement in the Republican party
is more loyal, more honest, and more intelligent,
than in the Democratic party. The great objec-
ton to either party in my mind, is the want of in
dependent action on the part of its members.
shall support the Republican party whenever its
policy commends itself to my judgment and con-
science, and shall observe the same conduct to-
ward the Democratic party. So in regard to ap'
pointments, if think the interests of the country
will be subserved by placing in Office man who
opposed my election this latter fact will not deter
me from making the appointment. Mcclellan,
continued General Grant, is an able soldier, good
citizen, and pure man. He has great powers Of
organization. The Army Of the Potomac was the
best organized, the best equipped, and the best
disciplined army the world ever saw. For accom-,
plishng this, at least, the country is indebted to
Mcclellan. Another remarkable fact is that, while
to large extent Mcclellan lost the confidence Of
the country, he never lost the confidence of bis
army. know full we'll when succeeded to the
command of that army did not supplant him in
its affections He was its first love-"


HIS VIEWS WITH REGARD TO REBELS.


| Il am in favor" said General Grant to friend,
'of general amnesty When the war ended was
in favor of more extended amnesty than was
either Mr.. Lincoln or Mr.. johnson. I was in ia,
yor Of amnesty to all except the men who organized
the Confederate Government, or rather those lead.
ers who organized the movement which declared
the rebel States out of the Union. Those who ad-
hered to their States after they had established
de tacto government, and had nothing to do in or
ganizing the rebellion, thought it best to admit
to amnesty. Now I would make no exceptions.
The conversation occurred prior to the appear
ance of the President last amnesty proclamation
II am in favor of peace and think the definition
of Mr. Burke the correct one. Peace means re-
conciation. In my final report of the operations
| of the armies expressed the hope that we might
live in perpetual peace and harmony with that
enemy whose manhood, however mistaken the
cause drew forth such herculanean deeds of valor.