Year: 1867




than an ordinary interest in all that per
tanned to him, and they had in all tn
vicissitndes of the war, amid obloqu,
calumny and detraction, given him thei


confidence and support. He said it wa


not strange that when the loyal masses


of the country were agitated by the grav
ty o the situation, public attention
should be turned to the General of th.
arm les of the United States. It was


not surprising that many people should
be sensitive and exacting, and perhaps
disposed to unjust criticisms, and should
be agitated by imaginary fears. But
the fellow citizens of General Grant,
who had followed his career from the
beginning, and who knew the man, had
never any anxiety in regard to his posi-
tion, and any fears that he would not in
the future, as in the past. realize the
fullest expectations of the loyal people
of the country. But many false ideas
had obtained. Many people had look ed
upon General Grant as they would upon
a civilian and a politician, and even a
candidate for civil office. They would
seem to demand that he should make
known his political views on the hust-
ings and through the newspapers with
all the arts Of the common demagogue
The public had no more right to expect
General Grant ''to speak OUT than they
had to expect Lieutenant General Sher-
man, General Meade, General Sheridan,
or General Thomas TO make public their
views The General was not in the
habit of proclaiming himself to the
world by words, but like wise man had
always made his record through his acts.
Though not speaking for the public, no
man was more frank in expressing his
views on all public matters.


NRvER BELONGED TO THE DEMOCRATIC


He was raised in the Whig school of
politics. His venerable father, so well
known in Galena, was always an active
and influential member of the old Whig
party, and, after it went out of existence,
of the Republican party. The General
was always Whig, SO far as he was
politician at all, and never belonged to,
or had any sympathy with, the SO called
Democratic party. He stated this as
fact. Had General Grant been q mem
Der of the Democratic party, he would
have been in the same position as he
now is, and the same as all the most
loyal and patriotic men who were in that
party now occupy.


Though not a voter in Illinois in 1861
yet after Mr.. Lincoln's administration
commenced, and after the firing upon
Sumter, there was no man who gave
more earnest support to that administra-
ton. General Grant was among the
first to comprehend the results that
would grow out of the rebellion, and the
country will not forget that as ea,ly as
1868 he wrote letter saying that as
anxious as he was for peace, he did not
wish to see it established until slavery
was wiped out In 1864 he was pro-
foundly anxious for the reelection of
Mr. Lincoln, and no man more fully
comprehended the great fact that upon
his re election hinged the success of our
cause and the suppression of the REBEL
ion. He so far departed from his usual
course in such matters as to write and
permit the publication Of letter by
which he briefly and emphaticallv
summed up the whole question. The
letter was published. by hundreds of
by the Republican Congress
ional Committee, and exerted great in
fuence in the country.


ENDORSES THE RECONSTRUCTION ACTS.


He was openly and strongly for both
the constitutional amendments, and lie
hailed the Reconstruction act of the
Thirty-ninth Congress, as the solution
Of our difficulties, and he entered upon
the discharge Of his duties under that
act with zeal, vigalence and fidelity.
Sympathizing with Congress, in its ac-
ton, and appreciating the importance Of
it's being in session, he urged and advis-
ed such action as would secure an extra
session, if necessary. When that ses-
sion came, he expressed the most seri-
ous fears of the effect of long adjourn
ment, and with far-reaching sagacity,
anticiI ating the precise state of things
that has occurred, he used all his influ
ence with Senators to have them adopt |
the House provision of the amended
bill requiring the assent of the Senate
TO the removal of the district command |
ers. Favoring the Reconstruction acts, !
40 effort of his has been wanting to Sc /