Indeed it had been earnestly desired by them.

Many of those who were looking forward to General Grant's nomination as the Republican candidate for the Presidency in 1868, had been restless lest he might become too much identified with the President, and thus be held in some degree accountable for his policy.

General Grant's report on the condition of the South in 1865 had displeased Republicans as much as it had pleased the President.

He had created still further uneasiness in Republican ranks by accompanying the President in 1866 on his famous journey to Chicago, when he "swung around the circle." His acceptance of the War Office in 1867 as the successor to Mr.Stanton was naturally interpreted by many as a signal mark of confidence in the President.
It was said by General Grant's nearest friends that in his position as the Commander of the Army he was bound in courtesy to comply with the President's requests; but others maintained that as these requests all lay outside his official duties, and were in fact political in their nature, he might decline to respond to them if he chose.

It was in fact known to a few persons that General Grant had declined (though requested by the President) to accompany Minister Lewis D.Campbell to Mexico and hold an interview with the officials of the Juarez Government, in the autumn of 1866.