Year: 1874

mistakes at the South was a necessity; cir
cumstances made him pOwerless to do any
thing for the true welfare of our people


Deluded by the appeals and assurances OF
Northern Democrats, our people plunged
heltersSelter into the political melee, and
General Grant was forced to use as his
friends and supporters just such material
in each of the Southern States, not as he
would, but as he could. have no doubt he
tried to Gull it over and select the best men
he could find among his party friends for
office. This of itself was hard if not i'm
possible task. 1t was expecting a little too
much of human nature for him to take for
his officeholders people who were consorting
with the enemies of his administration.
The Southern people did not ask it or ex-
pect it. and would have looked with dis
favor on any of their number accepting Office
at his hands, in consequence of the bitter
party feeling inspired by the appeals of the
Northern Democracy. They had allied
themselves with party hostile to General
Grants administration, and bad no claim to
be consulted in regard to the offices. They
have never yet, however, made an overture
that has not been met with kindness and
conciliatory spirit. General Grant, have
reason to believe, feels that mistakes have
been made by his administration in regard
to the South, and has tried to make no
more. His course in Arkansas and Texas,
and bis late refusal to comply with parti-
san demand for troops in Mississippi, show,
better than words, the direction of his
mind have no knowledge of his views on
the civil rights bill. do not believe any
body has. He keeps his own counsel on
public questions, and acts always on his
own deliberate judgment. have no doubt
he favors and will sign bill giving certain
civil rights, not enjoyed now, to the negro
race; but have grave doubts whether the
present bill, grossly interfering with the
police powers Of the States, will ever re-
ceive his sanction.


l have seen but little Of General Grant
since we were at West Point together; our
lines have laid in different places: but l
know his character and appreciate it. He
has good sense, courage and manfulness,
united in a degree unequaled by any one
since "Old Hickory" These sterling traits
made him the hero of the federal armies


and enabled him to save the Union. l
doubt whether without him the North
would have ever succeeded in the struggle.
He had those qualities as leader that COM
mand success. No wonder that he is strong
with Northern people. They would, indeed,
be ungrateful if they did not always cherish
him in loving remembrance. He pre-
served the integrity of the country, and it
would not be unnatural if he should now
desire to compose and pacify its people. l
have no information about his wishes in
connection with third term; but believe
that if any consideration could induce him
to serve again in the presidential Office, it
would be desire to tranquilize country
he did go much to save from dismember-
ment, and to retrieve any mistakes that
circumstances might have induced his adj


ministratiOn to make IN the South. He
has certainly good opportunity, one that
seldom falls to the lot of man. If he should
desire to embrace and improve it, trust
and believe he will be seconded by the
great body of the American people with
out regard to party Z. o. HEBERT.