CHAPTER XVI.

GRANT IN POLITICS.

POLITICAL QUESTIONS OF THE DAY-WHAT THEY ARE-GRANT'S PUBLIC CONDUCT IN THEM-HIS VIEWS ON THE GREAT ISSUES-ON CONGRESS AND THE PUBLIC-HIS ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITIES-VIEWS OF THE FATHERS ON THE PRESIDENCY- ·CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT.

IT

T has been said of Grant, first, that he is ignorant of politics; second, that he has no politics; and third, that he has no opinions. This could not be said with truth of any man in the United States, much less of an intelligent, educated man, who had fought for the Government through the whole of the last war. Every man has influences about him, social, religious, commercial, and political, which incline him to one or the other side of the great questions which concern the community in which he lives. Grant, therefore, has politics, and he knows something of political matters. The questions are, What are the politics on which he has opinions? and what are his opinions upon them? There is no uncertainty upon these in regard to any of the great issues before the country. Let us analyze the subject. What questions of politics do we mean? Those of Europe or America? Those of the old Federal and Democratic

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parties? Those of the Whigs and Democrats? Or those of the Unionists and Rebels? A moment's thought will show any intelligent man that, in regard to the party politics of this country, old things have passed away, and all things have become new. The war made a revolution, and the results of that revolution are accomplished facts. No revolution in Europe made such fundamental changes as the abolition of American slavery. Slavery entered into the social and political life of fifteen States. It was related in politics and commerce to all the others. It was imbedded in the American Constitution. Its abolition has torn it out of the Constitution, out of society, and out of commerce. That is the first great fact of the revolution; but it is by no means all. The slaves became free; became, by that fact also, constituent elements of political society. With or without suffrage, the fact remains that they are a part of the free population, which is the basis of representation and of popular government. Nor was this all. The war, maintained for the defense of slavery, left an immense debt, which the nation owes both to the citizens of our own country, and to the citizens of other countries. Contingent on that fact is the obligation to pay that debt justly, and to raise taxes to meet the interest. To do this, there is the further obligation to raise those taxes as justly and expend them as frugally as is consistent with the necessities. and the honor of the country. Lastly, there remains the great ruins left by the war. The country was united in territory and population, but disunited politically. These being immutable facts, which no

state of politics could change, there arose from them certain political issues. These issues can not be avoided, and they can not be put aside for any old party divisions. The questions are mainly these: 1. That of accepting and faithfully recognizing the result of the war; 2. That of reconstruction; 3. That of the faithful payment of the principal and interest of the public debt; and 4. That of an economical and rigid administration of the public finances. These are the great questions of the day. Our foreign policy is settled. No American will permit foreign interference on this continent such as was attempted by France. No honest American wishes to interfere in the affairs of other nations. No American will permit any wanton insult to the flag or people of the American republic. Such are the questions of domestic and foreign policy, which are important at this time; and on which of these questions do the opponents of General Grant suppose him ignorant? The great issue of the war was to conquer the rebels, and into that Grant went with his heart and soul. But some persons who had well and fairly fought for the war, with the whole Democratic organization, thought it was entirely right to conquer rebels in the field, but was not right to conquer them politically; and on that arises the political conflict of the day. Is there the least doubt about Grant's position upon that subject? Has he not bowed to and faithfully obeyed all the acts of Congress on reconstruction? Did he not sustain Sheridan? Did he not sustain Stanton? Does he not sustain the Tenure of Office Act? If there be an

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honest man in this country, who is noted for his obedience to law, and who strictly and consistently adheres to the policy of Congress, it is Ulysses S. Grant. He does not follow that policy so much because it is or is not, in his opinion, the best policy, but on the higher and better ground that it is the ACT AND POLICY OF THE LAW-MAKING POWER. This is the great issue of the day. Shall we have a government of the people or of the President? Again: Grant's whole conduct since the peace proves that he is utterly opposed to the restoration of the rebels to power, except in such way as Congress, in its generosity, may provide.

Again as Grant has not himself been suspected of any want of integrity, so he does not suspect the American people and Government of being any worse than himself. He is for the integrity of the Government, in the payment of all its obligations.

Lastly. Since the return of peace he has been untiring in his attempt to reduce the expenses of the army, and to introduce a rigid economy into all its Departments. The few days of his services as Secretary of War ad interim were signalized by the reduction of many expenditures, and his views on that subject have been fully proved by his conduct.

It is unnecessary to go into farther inquiries into his political opinions. If a public man be not honest in his character, it will be in vain to estimate his future conduct by his past opinions. He has a right to change them, and the vows written on the sand will be washed away by the first waves of interest and ambition.

From what is known to the public, and what I have recorded in this book, I infer and assert that on the great questions now before the people, Grant holds these views:

1. That he accepts all the results of the war, and is opposed to the restoration of rebels to power, unless by act of Congress.

2. That he is in favor of executing all the laws of Congress, and will consider all laws Constitutional till declared otherwise by the Supreme Court.

3. That he will conform to the Tenure of Office Act as long as it is in existence.

4. That he is in favor of the reconstruction of the States on the plan of Congress.

5. That he is in favor of maintaining the honor, credit, and faith of the Government.

6. That he is in favor of the most rigid economy

in all departments.

These principles substantially cover the whole ground of our political conflict. In fact, from April, 1861, to the present time, there have been but two parties and two issues before the country. The one either directly aided or sympathized with the rebels, and constantly has endeavored to restore them to power. The other endeavored to destroy their power in war, and prevent its restoration in peace; and between these two there is no middle ground. General Grant has consistently opposed the rebels, and maintained the Government from first to last. He will take no backward steps; he will support the Congress and the Government of the United States. If this be not politics, what is? What politics had