y and knowledge of the business. I recommended his appointment.
The President hesitated, but he finally nominated him to the Senate,
and the nomination was confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL GRANT UPON MY RESIGNATION OF THE OFFICE OF
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

WASHINGTON,
_March_ 17, 1873.

SIR:
Having been elected to the Senate of the United States by the
Legislature of Massachusetts, I tender my resignation of the office of
Secretary of the Treasury.

In severing my official relations with you it is a great satisfaction
to me that on all occasions you have given me full confidence and
support in the discharge of my public duties.

In these four years my earlier acquaintance with you has ripened into
earnest personal friendship, which, I am confident, will remain
unbroken. I am
Yours very truly,
GEO. S. BOUTWELL.
TO THE PRESIDENT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, _March_ 17, 1873.

HON. GEO. S. BOUTWELL,
_Dear Sir:_--
In accepting your resignation of the office of Secretary of the
Treasury, an office which you have filled for four years with such
satisfaction to the country, allow me to express the regret I feel at
severing official relations which have been at all times so agreeable
to me, and,--as I am assured by your letter of resignation,--to you
also. Your administration of the important trust confided to you
four years since, has been so admirably conducted as to give the
greatest satisfaction to me because as I read public judgment and
opinion it has been satisfactory to the country. The policy pursued in
the office of Secretary of the Treasury by your successor I hope may
be as successful as yours has been, and that no departure from it
will be made except such as experience and change of circumstances
may make necessary.

Among your new official associates I trust you will find the same warm
friends and co-workers that you leave in the Executive branch of the
government.

You take with you my most sincere well wishes for your success as a
legislator and as a citizen, and the assurance of my desire to continue
the warm personal relations that have existed between us during the
whole of our official connection.
Very truly yours,
U. S. GRANT.

XXXVIII
GENERAL GRANT AS A STATESMAN*

General Grant's father was a Whig and an admirer and supporter of Mr.
Clay. The public policy of Mr. Clay embraced three great measures:
First, a national bank, or a fiscal agency as an ai