The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-06-26
THE STORY OF 1877
HOW GRANT PROPOSED TO INAU-
GURATE CIVIL WAR IN EVERY
..'iI NORTHERN STATE.
By ArrsStIns TIIdon ShOnld lie Assert HIS Right
10 the Presidency .a

INC new YORK HOftd puOlbnes an Ntlclo Tefer'
red to briefly by telegraph, showing what Grant
planned during the Presidential trout lee IN 1867
and dwhat he may plan again, Is embodied In
an interview with General WoodfOrd U. 8. Attor.
ney Of New York, who Is an intimate friend Of
Grants and accepted that place at the close Of
Grants administration because Of his supposed
ability to carry out the conspiracy, which would
have preclpitated civil war in every county OF
the North. We give the material points Of the
interview with Woodford; 4 Wow
I'm regard to my acceptance OF the DIstrIct.At
torneyship, l can explain that by letting you into
the secret Of little bit OF history which may az
onsh you, as II certainly would attonlsh the quiet
citizens OF New York You know how much ex
oltement attended the decision Of the Electoral
Commission that Mr.. Hayes had been elected
Pre.ident in place OF Mr. Tilden, The air was
Immediately filed with rumots of armed resls
tance to the decision Of the commission It was
openly stated that In all the Democratic States
| bodies Of men were being mATthaled and drilled
| for revolution. Threats were made here and at
many other polsts that Mr., Tilden would be 10
augurated on the 4th Of March in spite Of Grant
and bis army, tnat the custom houses would be
eized 10 creat arevenue, and that he Democratic
President would be seated by grand popular UP.
| rising, I|
New York II was plain, would be the central
point Of the new revolution. Mr.. Tllden would
take the oath on the steps Of The City Hall at the
hands OF one Of the Democratic judges, and sim
ultaneously the Custom House and the Sub Tr as
ury would be seized. Boasts we're made that the
business men Of Nav York would make no Oppo
stion, but quiesce In the situation from fear Of
their homes being given over 10 an inCendiary
mob"
DO you think, General there was any truth In
these rumohF'
II am afraid there was only too much truth in
them. Had the series Of great Democratic mass
meetings that we're proposed for all the large cit
les been held there Is no telling how far the pas.
sions Of the multitude might have been kindled
and to what extremes they might have gone. /
know that President Grant and his advisers were
very much afraid Of the result. But Grant, though
he was anxious, never hestated about the course
he was to pursue. He had determined to use
every soldier aud sailor and gun at his command
to put down anything like a Democratic rebellion
II II would have been anybody but Grant who
stood In the way, Tilden might have been inaUg
urated and have gotten possession Of the revenues
10 spite Of Congress and the Electoral Commis
sion.
"when the rumors OF possible trouble hrSt got
float the President felt the need Of having some
one at this point who would see that the laws Of
the United States were promptly aud iearlessly
executed. He consulted with his friends and de-
cided that 1t was best to have soldier In the Of
Ace-somebOdy who had smelt powder and would
not be afraid Of a New York mob was sent for
i m Waphinoinn and fbora tod vii fha
President aud Cabinet and his military advisers
in regard 10 the situation Grant told me frank
ly tht there might be trouble here; that he was
seriously anxious In view Of the great irritation
OF the public mind that II there was an attempt
at revolution the blame might be laid at his door,
and that he was determined to secure the inaUg
uration OF Mr.. Hayes tal hazards. Herhen ask
ed me TO accept the the POSITION Of United States
District Attorney at New York and insisted that II
was my duty TO do sO He freely admitted the
possible pers OF the position and that might be
| placed 30 that my nerve and jligment could
alOne,aveTt tfOuble-siuce any atlemDt TO inaugu-
rate Mr.. Iilden must be cruSh-d out on the spot
Under these circumstances and by the advice and
| solicitation of Senator COnkling accepted the
appointment, received my instructions, and
| have bad very quiet and peaceable time ever
since"
"Bnt yet you think there was real danger ?
| How could you have helped 1t II It had come l
| huh Wh"N sAAS DAo"ASe AhtoAiS@ AeN w Wv
| with H."
"Ths danger was real---I cen assure you OF that
| / believe that during the month that closed the
AdT lnittratiOn OF Grant and opened that Of Hayes
the country stood on the brink Of a civil war
| more terrible Than that which we passed through,
and II would have drenched the whole Moth IN
| blood. II Mr. Tlden had listened 10 hts more
energetic advisers and Insisted on attempting
assume the reins OF Government we should have
had war in these streets, aud should have bee,
compelled TO take an 6cuVe part In 1t. No doubt
there was plan to inaugurate Mr. Tilden in this
city, but his natural timidity and iTresUlution
would not let him assent to It, think he was
wise In his refusal, but there are many Of his fol
lowers who will always speak bitterly of him be-
cause he did not carry out the scheme OF revOlu-
tion they had so nicely arranged. You see they
| have not yet got hold o. the Custom House plun-
"But, General, suppose that Mr.. Tilden had
| been inaugurated at the City Hall-what could
| you have done about 10, here IN Democratic
| city =
@My plans were all laid Systematically (you
know my old habits nf system) and approved by
President Grant. We had quietly taken some
| very effective precautions beforehand. You
| smile, because you will never realiz9 how near
| you were 10 graUd exclusion, and that all the
materials for q cup ept were lying loose around
| yOu-while good honest ctizens went TO bed un'
moved at night, thinking that allthe talk OF re-
Sisianre was mere campaign thunder. ! confess
that do not want such another experience.
When man like Grant grows serious over the
prospect OF war, we may take II for granted that
| there something more than threats In the air. |
believe that we we're In more danger OF blOOdshed
| than In the month that p eceded she fall Of sum.
ter. am sure that II there had been another do
| taId like James Buchanan in the Presidential
| chair rehelliOn would have BEEN inevitable But
everybody knew that Grant was not q man to be
| trjhed with, but one who would use more grape.
shot than words and had firm reliance on atlll.
| cry to put down mob. That is the way in which
both he and interpreted the future. ls
h.s,a anrnAa vkakV NHufU 4a1 a. l. L..
Caae Mr.. 1ilden attempted to carry out his coup
| detdt and had himself inaugurated on the CIty
Hail steps or elsewhere In this city. My orGers
and intention were to seize him &C once under q
warrant charging him with high treason, TO con
vey him secretly on board Government vessel
| lying in the East river and ship him TO Fort
Adams or some other secure p0int where he @ uld
undergo his trial. The first thing that anybody
knew OF It, he would have disappeared, and the
suddenness Of the blow would have either dis
heartened his followers aud taught them a salu.
tory lesson Of respect for the law or itwOud have
been the frtt blow OF terrific conflict between
| the law and Its vi0letOrs"
ado you really believe General, 1t would have
/ been possible to arrest Mr.. lilden p
r II don't believe it'll know 1t course itcOuld
not be done by calling out the regulars from Gov
ef1or's Iasnd, and marching them up to Gramer-
i cy Park but 1t would have Oeen done no quietly
and effectively that all resistance would have
come too late Just as sure as he had dared take
| the oath Of Office he would have been whirled
through these streets aud landed in gunboaL
When he had got through his trial for treason he
| would have been sick OF playing President. While
| l was In washington had long talk with Sec
retary Rooeson on this suolsct--(you don't know
him do your Hes one of the best fellows In the
wOrld) -and we all made arrangements for the
/ use Of bis boats and men not only TO secuIe Til
| den but to Oyerawe the mob by the gunboats aud
| to shell them out II necessary ROheson Is very
| genial, but he IS not man to be trih-d With aud
| we worked together admirably Uuder our plans
any resistance by Mt 1ilden would have been
/ Sub Treasury they were prepared for resistance
| aud could have been strengthened bv sudien
reinforcement OF regulars 50 as 10 resist any mob
| Regulars aud marines inside the walls and shell
i or Two outside would have scattered an attacking
party like chat. Perhaps Il was this knowledge
ofwhat the army could do In The way OF q sfs.
ing nobs that kept down the evil disposed thFonR
at Washington and New York.
You see how near we all were 10 trouble. and