Year: 1872

l.
! Presidential elections, though [ do moi
suppose my opinions on such subjects are


worthy of attention or repetition You
expressed some astonishment when in
! formed you that in 1868 | was favorable
General Grants election to the Presidency
of the United States, and was as decidedly
in favor of his re election. WILL again,
give my reasons for this preference.


1t was my conviction, in 1868, that the
election of President, opposed by decided
majorities of both Houses cf Congress,
would ser-e no purpose but to increase
the i'll feeling and disquietude that fol-
lowed like condition of affairs during
Mr.. Johnsou's administration, and, per-
baps, to pave the way for more serious
disorders and uneasiness 1t was also my
conviction that an assured and peaceful
Union was a necessity to the people of
Virginia, and as much so to those of the
other Southen States. Whatever tended,
directly or indirectly, to produce undue
excitement, and thence, possible. revolu-
tion, deprecated as the greateat evil
that could befale this country, agreeing
with Bulwer, that ''a cause, which the
noblest allow to be good, and which, when
successful. all time approves, may seem
to justify the attempt at a revolution yet
recalling now all the ties it dissolves, all
all the blood it commands 20 flow, all the
healthful industry it arrests, all the mad,
men it arms, all the victims that it dupes,
L question whether one man really honest,
pure, and humane, who has once gone
through such an ordeal would ever hazard
it again, unless be was assured that victory
was certain; aye, and the object for which
he fights was not to be wrested from his
hands amidst the uproar of the elements
that the battle has aroused" Then, too.
L had implicit confidence in General
Grants earnest wish TO shave peace" in
his good will, and in his patriotism. This
confidence originated in the terms he gave
at Appomatox Court House to his great
opponent and the battered remnant of
that brave army that had staked its al
upon cause for which it was ''no more
to combat or to bleed and that had SO
long resisted his legions. These terms,
that leach officer and man will be allow
ed to return to his home, not to be dis
turbed by the United States authority so
long as they observe their paroles and the
laws in force where they reside" are with
out precedent in the history of all such
struggles for their liberality, and were as
wise as liberal While they effectually
terminated the contest they protected
those who surrendered from the legal
consequences of waging war against the
government, and probably saved from ex-
oort;n, onI cooraa
of his gallant associates.


The effect of those terms, as stated in
General Grants report of the closing
operation of the war, was "that General
Lees great influence throughout the
South caused his example to be followed,
and to-day, the result is that the armies
lately under bis leadership are at their
homes desiring peace and quiet, and their
arms are in the hands OF our ordnance
officers"


In the closing sentence of this report
he pays to the Southern troops SO lately
in arms against his OWE the following tri-
butte:


Let them" Qhe Eastern and Western
United States armies) ''hope for perpetuai
peace and harmony with that enemy whose
manhood, however mistaken the cause,
drew forth such herculean deeds of valor"
A tribute most grateful to the devoted
mcn composing the Southern armies, and
most honorable to its author.


1t seems to me that since the return Of
peace General Grants aim has been to re-
lieve the Southern people to the extcnt
of his ability, attempting nothing which
the controlling power of the North would
not allow and this was expedient as we'll
as necessary. That he has not accom-
plished all that was hoped for or expected
perhaps, is true; but 1T was simply i'm
possible. Ills favorable and friendly re-
port on the condition of the South, made
as general commanding the; armies of the
United States, that excited the censure of
some members of his own party, is an IL
lustration.


The fact that ''Firginians now rule Vir-
ginia'' is one result of General Grants
sympathy and good. feeling for the State
and people and his active Interference III
their behalf,


Virginia is the only State whose rela-
tions to the general government have been
renewed since he became chief executive
officer of the nation. Without his aid the
people would not have been allowed to
vote separately on the offensive and re-
jected articles of the present Constitution.
The whole would have teen adopted, and
as necessary consequence the State would
to-day be no better off than the worst gov
erned Southern State.


Looking at all this, think I am right
in asserting that General Grant has done
more to heal the wounds of war than any
other one of the great political party to
which he belongs Believing this, l ac-
knowledge it, and am ready and willing
to show my appreciation and gratitude in
any becoming manner.


There is a loud cry Of corruption against
the present administration, but l have
heard like cry so long; it was louder in
the days of jackson, so much louder that
my ears still ring with its echoes, and SO
often-it is always the battle-cry of the
"outs'-tbat do not put full trust in it
or pay much regard to it.


OF the reason you of the North have
for supporting General Grant perhaps [
ought not to speak, yet | will say that if
military successes ever merit civil rewards
then is General Grant entitled to all you
can give.


Executing the important victory at
Gettysburg, be was the leader in almost
every triumph of the Union arms Fort
Donelson, Vicksburg, with vast stores and
upwards of 10000 prisoners, Chattanooga
and Missionary Ridge, and the finale at
Appomatox Court House attest this.
Though the end was reached by fearful
losses, by the wearing but by attrition Of
the Southern armies. vet such losses were