" I
listened with wonder at the generous modesty which, before
that brilliant company, could remove one of the brightest
laurels from his own brow and place it on the brow of Sheridan.
I had another memorable conversation with Grant, not so pleasant.
It revealed a capacity of intense passion which I do not know
that he ever manifested on any other occasion. He had sent
into the Senate the nomination of William A. Simmons for
the important office of Collector of Boston. This was due
to the influence of General Butler. Mr. Sumner, whose controversy
with the President is well known, was then the senior Senator
from Massachusetts. The nomination had been made, of course,
without consulting him, with whom Grant was not on friendly
terms, and without consulting any of the members of the House
of Representatives except Butler. There was a very earnest
opposition to this nomination. I went up to the White House
to endeavor to induce President Grant to withdraw it, but
he had gone out. I repeated my visit once or twice, but failed
to find the President. The third or fourth time that I went
up, as I was coming away I saw President Grant on the other
side of Pennsylvania Avenue, walking alone on the sidewalk
adjoining Lafayette Square.
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