The clerk read as follows: Executive Mansion, March 4, 1885. To the Senate of the United States. - I nominate Ulysses S. Grant, formerly commanding the armies of the United States, to be general on the retired list of the army, with the full pay of such rank. CHESTER A. Arthur. The president pro tem. of the senate then announced that the nomination would be considered in open session. "The question now is, Will the senate advise and consent to this appointment? All senators in favor will say aye. [A storm of ayes.] All opposed, no. [Dead silence.] The ayes have it unanimously." We cannot better close this chapter than by quoting the editorial comments of the Chicago Inter Ocean of March 5, under the head of "Rally on the Centre." The forty-eighth congress, that halted for a time in the path of the rising tide of popular feeling in favor of justice to General Grant, turned in its last hours and ran with the waves. With the world listening in indignation and pity, with the people all over the United States bending in sympathy toward the old commander and demanding as with one voice that justice be done him, congress put quick hand to the work, and it was done as it ought to have been done months ago, in a whirl of enthusiasm. Practically the passage of the Edmunds bill may not be of much benefit to a man marked for the grave, but it will be like incense burned in his sick room to remember that the vote was as it was, and that the applause in the senate chamber over the announcement of the result was echoed round the world. It was most fitting that a democratic house should take action as it did yesterday, and give the last of the line of republican presidents the opportunity to approve a measure so near to the hearts of the people. In this case there was no mistaking the trend of popular sentiment, and there are times when the most foolhardy of partisans realize that the people must rule. Recorded Adjutant General. PRESIDENTbles Inited States AMERICA, Cu Corall who shall see these presents greting Gus Bathy of paral irust, and confidence in the p valor fidelity, and Ihave nominated, and by and with the advice and consent abilities of of the Senate do appoint him General on the Retired List on the service of the United States: to rank as such from the third day of March sigburnshundred and eighty five. He is therefore carefully and diligently March discharge the duty. General by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging And Ide strictly charge, and require all Officers and Soldiers under his command to be obedie ent to his orders as General And he is to observe and follow such orders, and dis rections from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States of American or the General, or other superior Officers sit, over him according to the rules, and discipline of Man For Commision to continue in fores during the pleasure of the President of the United Seater for the time being CIVES under my hand, as the bay of Washings on this sixth day of Marc's with your of our loved one thousand og he hundred and cistity five and wrther 109tter youu of the Bondependenes of the Perited Sandal FAC-SIMILE OF GENERAL GRANT'S COMMISSION. In the vote of March 4, on the Grant bill, the people had their way, and the members of the house scampered into line to give expression to an emphasized popular demand. It was to the forty-eighth congress the last grand rally on the center-on the old flag and the old commander. And it will never be forgotten. CHAPTER XL. PAINFUL ACCIDENT, DISTRESSING SICKNESS AND DEATH. Throughout all his military life from Mexico to Appomattox General Grant was almost wholly exempt from every form of sickness, though it will be remembered he suffered for several months from a painful accident at New Orleans received just previous to his Chattanooga-Knoxville Campaign. His arduous duties as chief magistrate of the nation were borne without any visible strain upon his iron constitution. As a sojourner in all climes, and subject to the nameless exposures and irregularities of travel, he was exempt from every ill. It seemed as if nothing could harm his close-knit physique, and that he bore a charmed life. When on Christmas morning, 1883, it was announced that he had slipped and fallen upon the icy pavements in New York City the evening previous, very little heed was paid to the matter; though it was added that he was lame from the effects of it, the public saw in it only a trivial accident, worthy of any attention at all, only because the injury was sustained by one in whom the public felt a keen and abiding interest. But it proved a most distressing calamity. From it may be dated the long and excruciatingly painful prostration which called out such a phenomenal volume of condolence. Not that the cancer which fastened upon his throat can be set down as directly caused by that fall. The mys |