I will stand by him." So it happened that attempts to secure pure and unselfish administration got little help from him, and that designing and crafty men whose political aims were wholly personal and selfish got his ear and largely influenced his appointments to office.
Hamilton Fish, the Secretary of State, always retained his influence with President Grant.

He was a wise, able and thoroughly honest man.

But as was fit, and indeed necessary, he kept himself to the great interests which belonged to his Department, and took little share, so far as the public knew, in other questions.
General Cox, of Ohio, was an able, brave and upright man.
He resigned from President Grant's Cabinet, alleging as his reason that he was not supported in the fight with corruption.
Judge Hoar strenuously insisted that the Judges of the newly created Circuit Courts of the United States should be made up of the best lawyers, without Senatorial dictation.

President Grant acted in accordance with his advice.

The constitution of the Circuit Courts gave great satisfaction to the public.
But leading and influential Senators, whose advice had been rejected, and who were compelled by the high character of the persons nominated to submit, and did not venture upon a controversy with the President, were intensely angry with the Attorney-General.