That also was arrested by a direct appeal to Grant.
General Andrews, one of our best officers, afterwards professor
at West Point, was dropped from the office of Marshal, and
one of the adherents of Butler put in his place.
The indignation of the better class of Republicans was aroused.
Before the appointment of Simmons, Mr. Boutwell had been elected
Senator, and Mr. Richardson had succeeded him as Secretary
of the Treasury. Mr. Boutwell was a favorite with the President.
Mr. Sumner, then the senior Senator, was on the most unfriendly
relations with the President, and had opposed his reelection
to the best of his ability. It was not considered likely,
under the custom then universally prevailing and indeed prevailing
ever since, that President Grant would ever have made such
an appointment without the entire approval of the Senator
from the State interested, with whom he was on most friendly
terms and who had served in his Cabinet as Secretary of the
Treasury. Governor Boutwell was consulted about it, and gave
it his approval, although it is understood that afterward,
in obedience to the indignant feeling of the people, which
was deeply excited, he voted against the confirmation of Simmons
in the Senate.
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