Ulysses S. Grant Autograph.

Ulysses S. Grant served as president of the United States from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877. On January 29, 1877, (five days before he left office), Grant gave an address to the Senate of the United States regarding a controversial dispute that had arisen over the results of the upcoming presidential election. In the address, Grant argued that the people must put their trust in Congress, stating: “In all periods of history controversies have arisen as to the succession or choice of the chiefs of states, and no party or citizens loving their country and its free institutions can sacrifice too much of mere feeling in preserving through the upright course of law their country from the smallest danger to its peace on such an occasion; and it can not be impressed too firmly in the hearts of all the people that true liberty and real progress can exist only through a cheerful adherence to constitutional law.”