CHAPTER XXI.

GENERAL GRANT IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

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HE Republican National Convention met at Chicago on the 20th day of May, 1868. On the second day after the adoption of the platform, General John A. Logan arose and said :—

"In the name of the loyal citizens, soldiers and sailors of this great republic, the United States of America; in the name of loyalty, of liberty, of humanity, of justice; in the name of the National Union Republican party, I nominate as candidate for the chief magistrate of this nation, Ulysses S. Grant." The States were called, and 650 votes were cast for Grant not one against him. On the fifth ballot Schuyler Colfax was nominated for the second place on the ticket. The platform on which Grant and Colfax were placed was comparatively short. It was almost entirely devoted to issues arising from the war and reconstruction, and the course of President Johnson, the impeachment proceedings against whom were just drawing to a close. Some of Grant's intimate friends advised him not to accept the nomination, because

of his inexperience in civil affairs. But to all such he replied: "All you say is plain to me. I am aware of the difficulties awaiting any man who takes that position with its present complications. I have no ambition for the place. My profession is suited to my tastes and habits. I have arrived at its height, and been honored with a position to continue for life, with a generous compensation, and satisfactory to the highest aspirations of a soldier. It will be the greatest sacrifice I ever made to give this up for the turmoil of the presidential office. But if the people ask it, I must yield. For some years, the people of America have trusted their sons and brothers and fathers to me, and every step taken with them, in the period from Belmont to Appomattox, has been tracked in the best blood of this country. If now they need me to finish the work, I must accept the duty, if in doing so I lay down the realization of my most ambitious hopes."

In his letter of acceptance, dated at Washington, May 29, 1868, Grant wrote to the Committee: "In formally accepting the nomination of the National Union Republican Convention of the twenty-first of May inst., it seems proper that some statement of views beyond the mere acceptance of the nomination should be expressed. proceedings of the convention were marked with wisdom, moderation and patriotism, and, I believe,

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express the feelings of the great mass of those who sustained the country through its recent trials. I indorse the resolutions.

"If elected to the office of President of the United States, it will be my endeavor to administer all the laws in good faith, with economy, and with the view of giving peace, quiet and protection everywhere. In times like the present, it is impossible, or at least eminently improper, to lay down a policy to be adhered to, right or wrong, through an administration of four years. New political issues, not foreseen, are constantly arising; the views of the public on old ones are constantly changing, and a purely administrative officer should be left free to execute the will of the people. I always have respected that will, and always shall. Peace, and universal prosperity with economy of administration,

its sequence

will lighten the burden of taxation, while it constantly reduces the national debt. Let us have peace."

Six weeks later the Democratic Convention nominated Horatio Seymour, and filled out its ticket with the name of Gen. Frank P. Blair. So small had been General Grant's interest in party politics hitherto, that his name had often been associated with the Democratic candidacy.

Upon November 3d, General Grant was elected President, having received the electoral votes of

twenty-six states. New York, New Jersey and Oregon were the only northern states to vote for Seymour; Grant carried six of the former slave states, and Mississippi, Virginia and Texas did not vote at all. Grant would not inform the public whom he proposed to invite to places in the cabinet, as he did not desire to be importuned to change his selections. They were as follows:

Secretary of State, E. B. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Secretary of the Treasury, A. T. STEWART, of New

York.

Secretary of War, JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, of Illinois. Secretary of the Navy, A. E. BORIE, of Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Interior, J. D. Cox, of Ohio.

Postmaster-General, J. A. J. CRESSWELL, of Maryland. Attorney-General, E. R. HOAR, of Massachusetts.

They were at once confirmed, but the following day it was discovered that Mr. Stewart's appointment was illegal, under a law preventing the holding of the office by a man engaged in trade or commerce. The President asked Congress to exempt the great dry-goods merchant from the operation of the statute. Mr. Sumner objected to hasty action, and three days later the President withdrew his request. Mr. Stewart resigned, and George S. Boutwell, of Massachusetts, was appointed to succeed him. As Mr. Washburne resigned at the same time, to accept the French mission, his place was filled by Hamilton Fish, of New York. General Schofield was succeeded in

the war department by General John A. Rawlins, who died in less than six months, and whose place was filled by General W. W. Belknap. Mr. Borie stayed in the navy department but four months, when he was succeeded by George M. Robeson.

The first of President Grant's proclamations was issued May 19, 1869, and directed that Congress having passed a law declaring eight hours a day's work for all laborers, mechanics and workmen in the employ of the Government, no reduction should be made in the wages paid by the Government by the day to the laboring men in its employ on account of such reduction of the hours of labor.

In a message to Congress on the subject of public education, he wrote: "The adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution completes the greatest civil change and constitutes the most important event that has ever occurred since the nation came into life. The change will be beneficial in proportion to the heed that is given to the urgent recommendations of the Father of his Country,' to 'promote, as a matter of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.' If these recommendations were important then, with a population of but a few millions, how much more important now!

e

"I therefore call upon Congress to take all the