Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-19
The JOhnson-arant oontrovorsy.

has placed himself in SO awkward pre-
dicament, and thing therefore to be
lamented. But concealment is out OF
the question, and notifying as it may
be, the thing wears an aspect of the lu-
dicrous. That is a redeeming feature;
and il is no harm that Grant should be-
GIN to below about it for the public
amusement We like rich things occa-
sionally, as a sort of spice in life; and
so we "guess " do our readers. Here is
one. A Washington special of the llth
to the Louisville Courier says:
How the mighty has fallen The
scene in the House of Representatives
was solemn, impressive and notifying.
The anxiously expected letter from the
President of the United States to Gen.
Ulysses Grant was received soon after
the morning hour had commenced, and
was Immediately opened and read.
Every member was in his seat, and the
immense galleries were packed.
The silence was complete, as all
leaned eagerly forward to catch every
word. Gen. Butler had approached the
Clerks desk, and stood Immediately in
front. During the whole reading, and
up to the close of the Presidents letter,
a pin could almost have been heard drop
in the Hall. Occasionally Washburn,
of Illinois, would look around as if en-
deavorng to read upon the countenances
of members the impression being made
by the dispassionate and close reasoning
of the President The Chief Magistrate
of the leading nation of the earth con
victing the commanding General of her
armies of duplicity and falsehood. The
irresistible force of the Presidents logic
went home to every heart, however much
some of the leaders of the Radical faction
attempted to conceal it.
When the letter of Secretary Welles
was concluded, Mr.. Washburn again
looked about him, and by commenting
succeeded in starting laugh. At the
conclusion of McCulloch's letter he
again attempted the same thing, but evil
IDENTIFY laboring under the weight of in
tense excitement By the time Secre-
tary Browning's was read through Mr..
Washburn had settled down in his seat
and could only stare around without
even the ability to smile. The reading
of Postmaster General Randalrs and
Secretary Stewards testimony quieted
Mr.. Washburn, whose features had
become distorted with anxiety aud alarm
for his hero, and every Radical mouth
was hushed
1t was some moments before breath
seemed to be drawn, and no one, per-
haps, exhibited more plainly the effect OF
| the mortifying exposures than Speaker
Colfax himself, whose physiognomy
| during the reading seemed painted with
some of the brightest tints of crimson.
Tonight everybody is discussing the
| Presidents letter, and the Radicals are
using every device to break its force.
They say the people would never believe
Johnson as against Grant, if hundred
Cabinet officers should testify in his be.
half.
On the other hand, the Conservatives,
many of whom have been General
Grant best friends, express the deep
est regret at his mortifying position, and
feel that the national honor has been
tarnished.
General Grants rejoinder to-day does
not reach the points in issue. An ex-
member of Congress from Illinois, who
is now here, and who has been friend
and companion of Grants from boyhood,
had long interview with the General a
few evenings since, and learned from him
that he blames his pretended political
| friends for all embarrassments. He said
that he had endeavored to keep out of
their meshes, but that they had entrapped
him before he knew it aud involved him
in its present difficulties. If, said the
General, IL can only manage to get out
of this scrape, promise they don't catch
me again" During the recital Of the
manner in which he had been over
reached by politicians the General ex-
hibited deep feeling, and left the i'm
preston in the mind of his friend that
he would wash his hands of Radicalism.
As Gen. Sherman's name has been
brought into the controversy between the
President and Gen. Grant, it may not be
amiss to state that the President is in
receipt of letter from Gen. Sherman,
which is understood 10 have this para.
graph in it: "If Stanton won't resign,
and there is no other way of getting rid
| of him, ulterior measures should be re-
sorted to" This letter, together with one
other of very important character, may
reach the public eye if the unfortunate
controversy is pressed any further.