The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-05-06
JOHNSON AND GRANT,
Andrew Johnson Trying .s get General
Grant out OF the COuhsry-An In
tefeSting Scrap of History.

"A noticeable article IN the May Atlantic
In cerebration and illustration of the In
tellectual character of Gen. Grant, presents
number of "reminiscences and anecdotes
OF It's hero, that have never before been
In print. This is the most important and
interesting of them all:
Andrew johnson attempted, two years
ago, to drive Grant out of the country
1t had become apparent that the General
OF the army was not a follower of the
President In his reactionary course. Mr..
johnson had sought to compel Grant to
order troops into Maryland Immediately
before state election; hut Grants tact
and skill had defeated his purpose. Then
johnson determined to rid himself of his
powerful subordinate. He foolishly hop
ed to find Sherman more pliable than
Grant, and he knew that if Grant we're
sent out of the country, Sherman would
command the army. Congress was about
to meet, and if necessary to act promptly
for emergencies might arise in which the
use of troops would be all important to
the President schemes. So, Grant, who
from the close of the rebellion, had been
constantly urging the President to take
more decided steps to insure the evacua-
ton Of Mexico by the French troops, was
approached with what it was hoped
would prove tempting bait. The Pres
ident first sounded him in conjunction,
saying he wished Grant to go on diplo-
matte mission to Mexico, in conversation
with the minister to that country. Grant
at once detected the object of the Presi-
dent and declined the mission johnson
however, insiste d, and Grant still declined,
the second time IN writing, although the
President had only addressed him orally.
After this, Grant was summoned to a
cabinet meeting, where his instructions,
already printed, were read aloud by the
Secretary of State, without any reference
to Grants previous refusal He at once,
in presence of the entire cabinet, declared
his unWillingness to leave the country on
such an errand. johnson was reused by
this persistent opposition to his wish, and
abruptly asked the Attorney General
whether there were any reasons why
Grant should not obey-whetler the
General of the Army could not be EN- pIoy-
ed upon diplomatic service. Grant at
once started to his feet and exclaimed:
Mr.. President, [ can answer the ques-
ton without appealing to the Attorney
General. [ am an American citizen, have
been guilty OF no treason or other crime,
and am eligible to any civil office to which
any other American citizen is eligible.
But this is purelycivI duty to which
you would assign me, and [ cannot be
compelled to undertake it. Any legal
military order you give me | will obey !;
but this is civil, not military, and l decline
the duty. No power on earth can force
me to it. The plotters were electrified
and made no answer, and Grant, instead
of resuming his seat, quilted the room.
He was not sent to Mexico. On this oc-
cation lie spoke fuently enough, and
none can fail to perceive the cognency of
his utterance or the terseness of his ex-
preston. Yet he must have been I'M
prepared. He could not have foreseen
the exigency. But the same quality so
suddenly prompted the assaults on Pc
tersburg and Donelson, inspired the Ian
guage and the argument bafhed the
President.