dra_ exposition. If
not in some way counterbalanced it would necessarily be considered
authoritative, and in a certain sense accredited by the Administration.

It was the President's desire to neutralize the effect of Mr. Schurz's
representations, which led to the report of General Grant, the chief
points of which have been already quoted. The Commander of the Army
was necessarily in close relations with the Executive Department,
and was recognized by the President as possessing an extraordinary
popularity in the Northern States. During the months that had passed
since the war closed General Grant had been received, wherever he
had been induced to visit, with a display of enthusiasm never surpassed
in our country. The people looked upon him simply as the illustrious
soldier who had led the armies of the Union to victory. They
attributed to him no political views except those of undying loyalty
to his country, and they sought no party advantage from the use of
his name. He had indeed made no partisan expressions, either during
the war or since its close, on any subject whatever, except the
necessity of maintaining the Union--and this was a partisan question
only in consequence of the evil course pursued by the Democratic party
during the closing years of the war.

On the civil and political aspects of the situation General Grant had
not deemed it necessary to mature his views. He desired above all
things the speedy restoration of the Southern States to the Union as
the legitimate result of the victories in the field. But so far as
action or even the exertion of any positive influence was involved, he
confined himself strictly to his duties as Commander of the United-States
Army. President Johnson saw an opportunity for turning the
_prestige_ of General Grant to the benefit of his Administration.
Towards the close of November the general was starting South on a tour
of military inspection "to see what changes were necessary in the
disposition of the forces, and to ascertain how they could be reduced
and expenses curtailed." The President requested him "to learn during
his tour, as far as possible, the feelings and intentions of the
citizens of the Southern States towards the National Government,"--a
request with which the general complied in a perfunctory manner,
giving merely the impressions formed in the rapid journey of a few
days. He left Washington on the 27th of November and passed through
Virginia "wit