He, like them, was born in Virginia, was reared in Virginia, was appointed to the army from Virginia; but in the hour of peril to the Government he remembered that he was a citizen and soldier of the United States, and had sworn to uphold the Constitution.

How well he maintained his faith to his country is written in the history of great battles and great victories! The grade of General of the Army, originally provided for Washington in 1799, was revived for the avowed purpose of honoring General Grant.
As originally reported, the Act was to be exhausted with one appointment; but his provision was struck out and the grade was left open for General Sherman.

It was then abolished, leaving to Sheridan the command of the Army as Lieutenant-General (after the retirement of General Sherman), and to his successor with the rank of Major-General, -- thus ultimately establishing the command as it had existed before the war.

The Act under which General Grant received his highest rank authorized the President "whenever he shall deem it expedient, to appoint a General of the Army of the United States." This Act passed July 25, 1866, and General Grant was immediately promoted.

A year and a half later, when General Grant had broken all personal relations with President Johnson, there is little doubt that the latter would have interposed his discretion and failed to "deem it expedient to appoint a General of the Army of the United States." Fortunately his disposition at the time was friendly to General Grant, and led him to do with gladness what the loyal people so unanimously desired for the first soldier of the Nation.
The Forty-first Congress was the second to organize under the new law -- March 4th 1869.( 1) In the House James G.Blaine of Maine was elected Speaker, receiving 135 votes to 57 cast for Michael C.Kerr of Indiana.
Of the two hundred and forty-three representatives on the roll, only ninety-eight had served in the preceding Congress.