The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-07-03

we're very much sfrsid OF the result But
irant, though he was anxious, never hesi-
,ated about the course he wss 10 pursue. He
had determined to use every soldier, and
sailor, and gun at his command 10 put down
anything like Democratic rebellion. II 1t
had been any body but Grant who stood IN
the way Tilden might have been inaugura-
ted and have gotten possession of the reve-
nue. in spite OF Congress and Electoral Com
mission.
"When the rumors of possible trouble
first got sfoat the President felt the need Of
having some lone at this poin, who would
see that the laws Of the United States were
and fearlessly executed. He
consulted with his friends and decided that
it was better to have a soldier in this office
somebody who had smelt powder and
would not be afraid of a New York mob.
l WAS sent for to Washington, and there
consulted with the President and Cabinet
and his military 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 grest irri-
tstion Of the public mind that if there
was an attempt at revolution the blame
might be laid at his door, and that he was
determined to secure the Inauguration Of
Mr.. Hayes at all hazards. He then asked
me to accept the position OF United States
District Attorney at New York, and insisted
that it was my duty to do so. He freely
admitted the possible perils of the positson,
and that l might be placed SO that my
nerve and Judgment could alone avert trou-
bic, since any attempt TO insugurate Mr..
Tilden must be crushed out on the spot.
Under these circumstances, and by the
advice and solicitation Of Senator Corkling,
| accepted the appointment, received my
instructions and have had very quiet and
peaceable time ever since"
"But yet you think there was real dan
ger? How could you have helped it if it
had come? | don't see what the district
attorney had to do with il"
"The danger was resl-I can assure YOU
OF that. believe that during the month
that closed the administration OF Grant, and
opened that of Hayes the country stood on
the brink of a war more terrible than that
which we passed through, and it would have
drenched the whole North in blood. If Mr..
Tilden has listened to his more energetic
advisers, and insisted on attempting to as
sumo the reius of government, we should
have had war in these streets, and should
have been compelled to take an active part
in it. No doubt there was plan TO inau-
gurate Mr.. Tiiden in this city, but his nat
ural timidity and irresolutiOn would not
let him assent to it. think he Was wise
in his refusal, but there are many OF his
follower, who will alwsys speak bitterly of
him because he did not carry out the
scheme OF revolution they Rad 50 nicely ar
IL
hold of the custom house plunder."
"But, General, suppose that Mr.. Tilden
had been inaugurated at the City Hall
what could you have done about il, here in
Democratic city"
MY plans were all laid systematically
(you know my old habits of system) and
approved By President Grant. We had
quietly taken some very effective precau-
tions beforehand. You smile, because you
will never realize how near you were to a
grand explosion, ard that all the IN Materials
for coup d'etat were lying loose around
you-while good honest citizens went to bed
unmoved at night, thinking that all the
talk Of resistance was mere campaign thun-
der. | confess that do not want such an
other experience. When man like Grant
grows serious over the prospect Of war, We
may take it for granted that there some
thirg more than threats in the air be-
lieve that We were in more danger Of blood
shed then than in the month that preceded
the fall of Sumter. | am sure that II there
had been another dot,rd like Buchanan in
the presidential chair rebellion would have
been inevitable. But everybody knew that
Grant was not a man TO be triiled with, but
one who would use more grspeshot than
words, and had firm reliance on artillery
TO put down a mob. That was the way in
which both he and interpreted the fu-
ture.
But you have asked what intended to
do in case Mr.. Tilden attempted TO carry
out his coup d'etat and had himself inau-
gursted on the City Hall Steps. My or
ders and intention were to seize him at
once under a warrant charging him with
high treason, to convey him secretly and
securely on board a Government vessel ly-
ing in the East River, and ship him to
Fort Adams or some other secure point
where he could undergo his trial The
first thing that any body knew Of it. he
would have disappeared, and the sudden
ness of the blow would have either dis
heartened his followers and taught them
salutary lesson of respect for the law, or it
would have been the first blow of terrific
conflict between the law and its violators." !"
"Did you really believe, General, it
would have been possible TO arrest Mr..
Tilden2'
IL don't, believe it-I know it. OF course
it could not be done by calling out the reg
ulars from Governors Island and march
ing them up to Gramercy Park, but il
sr,,1I h,,-,
lively that all resistance would have come
too late. just as sure "a he had dared take
the oath Of office he would have been whirl-
cd through these streets and landed in
gunboat. When lie had got through with
his trial for treason he would have been
sick of playing President. While | was in
Washington | had long talk with Secretary
Robson on this subject, (you don know
him, do you? He's one of the best fellows in
the world and We mode all the arrangements
for the u-e of his boats ard men, not ONLY
to secure Tildep, but to Overawe the mob
by gunbosts, and to -hell them out If necas
sary. Robson is very gepIal, but he il not
nj an to be tritled with, and we worked to-
gether admirably. Under our plans aDy
by Mr.. TIlden would have been
utterly impossible "a for the Custom
House and Sub-Treasury, they We're pre-
pared Tor resistance, and could have been
by sudden reinforcement of
regulars 80 "a TO resist any mob. Regulars
and marines inside the walls and a shell ar
two outside would have scattered an at
tackiDg parry like chat. PERHAPS it wss
This knowledge of what the navy could
10 in the way OF disper-ing mobs that kept
down the evil disposed thrOug at Washing
.on and New York.
"Nou see now how near We all were IN
trouble, and you can understand why &C 1
'ep'ed this position at the time. Grant felt |
hat he knew me, and that | would carry
,ui his orders under any and all circum-
tanoes. Il was atime that might call for
harp aud sudden work on the Atlantic
Ine, and Grant, like q prudent General.
made his preparatigGs accordingly. TroopI
we're quietly brought from the West ard
'outh and mas-ed al Washington. Fort Nc
henry, and in our hsrbor, and YOU will re-
member that complaint Was made in Dem
cratic nawspaI er. about this m after and
bout the gunboats al Washington and
'ew York. Republican newspapers lauph.
at 1t, OF course, and most people did not
now what 10 believe. II they had known
ow close the truth w.s their fear- might
ave brought about the catastrophe. In
hat event the navg could have attended to
ne Atlantic cities, but a rising a; the East ,
'ould have been even wore in reality
nan in the anticipation. Thank God.
ilden va. coward, and the whole tLiug
lew over"
"But, General, how is it that you were |
lady to crnsh out the Democratic party 6
nier Grant. .1minia-ra,iop al -, |