Ulysses S. Grant: “With the navy holding the river, the investment of Vicksburg was complete.”

The compulsory support of the free school and the disfranchisement of all who can not read and write the English language, after a fixed probation, would meet my hearty approval.

I do not present these views now as a recommendation for a renewal of the subject of annexation, but I do refer to it to vindicate my previous action in regard to it.

Under the present system there seems to be no provided remedy for contesting the election in any one State.

The attention of Congress can not be too earnestly called to the necessity of throwing some greater safeguard over the method of choosing and declaring the election of a President.