William A. Crafts, Life of Ulysses S. Grant: His Boyhood, Campaigns, and Services, Military and Civil.

“ [161] man.” His firmness is generally for a good purpose, and subordinate to reason. He does not adhere to an opinion simply because he has expressed it, but only when he is convinced it is right; and when he has adopted a course which he is satisfied is the true one, he is not to be turned aside by opposition or flattery. Self-reliant and independent, by nature and by long training, he is not easily moved by the various advice of various men, but he calmly listens, weighs, and acts upon his own conclusions. He can say “no” to unworthy office-seekers, and keep political schemers at a distance, as he did the cotton speculators, who sought to bribe him when he commanded on the Mississippi.

But with all his firmness and independence, he has always manifested the strictest obedience to law, and submission to legitimate authority. This was illustrated throughout his career during the war, and it has been especially shown in his efforts to carry out the provisions of the reconstruction acts, against the adverse influence of Andrew Johnson, the sneers and opposition of northern Democrats, and the schemes of perverse rebels. Again, in his respect for the tenure of office act, he resisted the machinations of the President and his advisers to disregard the law, and involve him in a violation of it. His obedience to law has always been based upon respect for the source of law,--the will of the people. He conducted the war in accordance with the declared policy of the loyal people, and in his protest against the removal of Stanton and Sheridan, he boldly told Mr. Johnson, “It is more than the loyal people of this country (I mean those who ”