The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-21
GRANTS SCHEME or ARRESTING MR..
TILDEN.
He was TO he Seized " he Took the Oath OF
once, Whiried Through the Streets ind
Put into Gunboat, and Tried for Treason.
Ti0m Hcrrilic NH Nefrf Wo1if0d Rep0rfo N John
D. Hines in The World

Atorncyship. can explain that by letting you
into the secret OF little bit NJ history which
may astonish YOU as It certainly would Hstonish
the quiet citizens OF New York. You know how
much excitement attended tho decision Of the
Electoral Commission that Mr. Havoc had been
elected President in place Of Mr.. Tiden. The
air was Immediately filled with rumors Of
armed resistance to the decision OF the Conn
mission. IL was openly stated that in all the
Democratic States bodies Of men we're being
marshHllcd aud drilled for revolution. Thrents
wore made hero and at many other points that
Mr.. Ttden would bo inagurated on tho Atm OF
March in spite OF Grant and his army; that the
custom houses would be seized to create rey.
cnuc, and that the Democratic President would
be seated by grand popular uprising. ,
point OF the new revolution. Mr. Tilden would
take the oath on tho steps Of the City Hall, Mt
the hands Of one Of the Democratic Judges.
and simultaneously tho Custom House and tho
Sub-Treasury would be seized. BOASTS were
made that the business men of New York would
make no opposition. but acuuicsce in the situa-
ton from fear Of their homes being given over
to an inccndiary mob
Do you think, General there was any truth
.am afrnid there was only too much truth
in them. Had the series OF great Democratic
mass meetings that were proposed for all the
large cities been hold there IL no telling how
been kinded, and to what extremes they might
have gone | know that President Grant and
suit But Grant though he was anxious, never
| hesitnted about the course he was to pursue,
He had determined to use every soldier and
anything like Democratic rebellion, If 1t had
been anybody but Grant who stood in the way
| Tilden might have been inuugurated and have
gotten possession Of the revenues in spite Of
Congress and the Electoral Commission;
When the rumors ot possible trouble first got
| aGoat the President fcltthr need of having some
one ut this point who would see that the laws OF
the United States were promptly and fearessy
executed. He consulted with his friends and
decided that it was best to have soldier in this
Office somebody who had smclt powder and
would not hc afraid Of n New York mob. / was
sent for To Washington and there consulted
with the President and his Cabinet and his mill
tary advisers IN regard To the situation. Grant
| told me frankly that there might be- trouble
| here ; that he WAS seriously anxious IN view OF
! the great irritation OF the public mind; That III
! there was an attempt at revolution the blame
| might be- laid nj his door. and that be was de-
| tcrmined 20 secure EMANCIPATION OF MrHayes
az az hazards. He then asked me to nccrpt the
| position Of United States District Attorney at
| New York and sisted that twas my duty TODD
| so. He freely admitted the possible rcrils OF
| the position. and that might tw placed So that
| my nerve and Judgment could alone avert trQu-
| must be crushed out on the spot. Under these
| circumstances, and by the advice and solicitation
| of senator Conkiiug | accepted the appoint
| meut. received my Instructions and have had a
very quiet and peaceahe time ever since.
=, " But VET You think there was real daneer2
don't see what the District Attorney had to do
| with it,"
| that. | believe that during tho month that
closed the Administration Ot Grant and opened
| that of Hayes tho country stood on the brink OF
| civil war moro terrible than that which We
passed through. and u would have drenched
| the whole North IN blood. II Mr.. Tilden had
| listened to his moro energetic advisers and in
| sisted ON attempting TO assume the reins Of
| Government we should have had war in these
| streets and / should have heen compelled 10
| take an active mart In H. No doubt there WAS a
plan 20 inauEurate Mr.. Tildcn in this city. but
| his natural umidity and irreeolution would not
| let him assent 10 it,. think he WIS wise in his
| refusal. hut there are many Of his followers who
| viii ALWAYS speak bitterly ~ him because he
| did not carry out the scheme Of revolution
| they had so nicely arranged. You see. they
| have not yet got hold OF tho Custom House
" But General suppose that Mr.. Tiden had
| been inauguratcd at the City Hall-what could
| you have done about 1t. here in Democratic
NV plans were all laid systematically Cyou
| know my od hahlts OF ,systeml ana approved
| by President Grant Wa had quietly taker
| some very effective precautions beforehand.
| You smile. because you Will never realize how
| all the materials for n coup dSidt were lying
| loose around you-whlo good honest citizens
| went to bed unmOved nj night. thinking that all
| the talk of resistance was mere campaign thun-
| der confess that do not want such another
| serious over the prospect Of war We may take
| thnn threats In the air / believe that We were
| iu more danger of biooished then than IN the
| month That preceded The fan Of sumter. | am
| sure that IL there had been another dotnrd ike
| James buchanan IN IN" Presidential chair. re-
| h-llion would have been inevitable But every
! body knew thu; Grant WIS not man 90 be- tri-
| shot than words and mad "a firm reliance on
| i~tl.ery 20 put down mob That was the WAY
! 90 MNNN IiIN nee ana I lifNilif tue FUTURE.
| hut YOU huvn asked whnt intended 20 do In
| riL-H Mr.. IIirn ATTEMPTED TO carry ont his
! coup neiaf. ana had himself inhuEurHted On TIE
| CtN Han steps or elsewhere ia inns city. My
| orders and Intention We're to seiZo him az once
under a warrant charging him with high tr"a-
| sou. 10 convey him secretly and securely on
| board a Government vessel lying n the East
| River. and ship him 10 Fort Adams or some
trial The fr-t thing that amy body Know ol
| ~ Dee would have disappeared and the sudden
| ness Of The blow would have either dishcnrt-
| Du il IA "a
lesson Of respect for the law, or It would have
been the first blow Of terrific conflict be-
tween the law and fs violators.
" DO YOU really believe. General. II would
have been possible 10 arrest Mr.. rilden -
| don't believe i'll know IL. OF course il
could not be done 10y calling out the regulars
| from Governors Island and marching them up
SO quietly and effectively that all the Resistance
would have como too late. Just rs sure rs he
had dared take the oatli OF Office he would have
becd whiriel through these streets and landed
in guuhoat. When be- had got through his
trial for treason he would have been sick ol
playing President. While was in Washington
had long talk with Secretary Robson on
This euhlent-lynu don't know him, do you 2
He's ono Of the best fellows in the worldl-and
we made an the arrangements for the Use II his
boats and men not only 10 secure Iilien but To
oyrrawe the mob boy tho Cunhoais and to shell
them ont II necessary. Roheson II very genial.
but he Is not "a man 10 be riiled with. and We
worked together admirably. Under our plans
any resistance by Mr., rllden would have been
utterly imp'rsitle. As Tor the custom hunse
and Sub Treasury. they wcro prepared Tor re-
sislance aud could have been strengthened by
a sudden reinforcement Of REGULARS 80 M io re-
sist any mob. Regulars ana marines inside the
walls and Il shell or two outside would have
scattered an uitacking party Ike chaH Perhaps
il was this knowledge al whnt the navy could do
in the way Of dispensing mots that kept down
he cyl disposed throng at Washington and
You sce now how near we all were to trouble
and you can understand why | accepted this
position 40 the time. Grant len that he know
m and that would carry out his orders under
any ana ~ eltcunstah ees. ~ was ti'ue tnai