I am looking for the specific declaration by President Grand regading
christmas.  He declared it a secular holliday and noted "good will
toward men"

I would like the exact text

Not an answer, but that law declaring Christmas a federal holiday was
apparently signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on June 26, 1870. 
Perhaps this date will assist another researcher in locating whatever
statements (if any) President Grant made in connection with the
declaration.  Good luck!

I was not able to find the complete quote (only sources that used the
"good will" line); however, if it's true that Grant called the holiday
secular, it's fascinating that he'd use a line right out the Bible to
describe it:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men." (Luke 2:14, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%202:14;&version=9;
)

Kriswrite

Hello pkarutz-ga,

I haven?t been able to find statement made by Grant, but the text of
the bill that made Christmas a federal holiday can be found at the
following link:


Kids in the House
Office of the Clerk - U.S. Capitol
http://clerkkids.house.gov/laws/inspectLaw/inspect_TextAll.html
?Act Of Congress

June 28, 1870

An Act making the first Day of January, the twenty-fifth Day of
December, the fourth Day of July, and Thanksgiving Day, Holidays,
within the District of Columbia.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the following days, to
wit: The first day of January, commonly called New Year's day, the
fourth day of July, the twenty-fifth day of December, commonly called
Christmas day, and any day appointed or recommended by the President
of the United States as a day of public fast or thanksgiving, shall be
holidays within the District of Columbia, and shall, for all purposes
of presenting for payment or acceptance of the maturity and protest,
and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks
and promissory notes or other negotiable or commercial paper, be
treated and considered as is the first day of the week, commonly
called Sunday, and all notes, drafts, checks, or other commercial or
negotiable paper falling due or maturing on either of said holidays
shall be deemed as having matured on the day previous.

APPROVED, June 28, 1870?



Googlenut

It is important to note that "secular" does NOT mean "without
religion", as opposed to what many back water fundamentalist churches
would have you believe (that secularism is "evil" (rolling eyes)). You
can be "secular" and still reference religion.

Joe