Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-10-05
TO.DAY'S TELEGRAPH NEWS
Grant and Hancock.

lug publishes tuo iVi!oHius opse'1'
cinnati:
The Gazstts will prnt to morrow the report
of an interview between the Rev. U. II. fdw-
Ter, D. D., aud General Grant, which sl7is. some
startling points in connection With the losloe
history of Hsucock's order No. 40. Geoeral
Grant talked freely to Dr. Fowler. and, al!of
the interview, gavo his written consent 10 lis
publication upder certain restriction as to TIM.
The conversation took plac, 10 General Grant
library at Galens on the 2lst OF September
Speaking of Hancock, the ex President SAID !:
down to 1854 be seemed like man AMBITIOUS
TO d. his duty IS an officer. but 10 1864. when
Mcclellan was nominated, Hancock received
one vote, and that greatly excited and changed
him. He was so delighted that he smiled sill
over. 1t c,szsd him. Before that We got Oh
well; after that he would hardly speak to me.
[ was working to enforce the laws OF Congress,
and be was working for the presidency. Per-
hans ho thought did not praise hin enough;
bu. any way be hsrdly spoke to me. 1t Was on
nv nomination that be was made Brgader
general 10 tho regular Amy. When l was made
general, Stanton told ma it was compliment to
me, and that could name the men to I'LL the
vacancies 10 tho lieutenant generalship spd
major generslstip caused by my promotion. l
dominated hln Tor tho vacant major general
shin in the regular army. Ho acknowledged
it m,ufu!ly. Hs was o very fair CORPS c>m-
msuder, but Was never thought ct Tor suy great
p!acs. When the Army Of the Potomac vas
hunting for a commander it took almost every
bo1y-evcn camo over into the West for officers,
but nobody ever even suggested Hancock Tor
the place. After bo received that vote 10 1864
he lad the ben in his bsnuot, aud shaped
everything to gain democratic and Southern
favor. He has watched sud planned. and wait.
ed till at last he has received the democratic
nomination.
'.Do you thuk Gcacrsl that bis celebrated
order No. DO. represents the direction OF bis
sympathies e
"Wel will give you the true inuer history
Of order No. 49, Congress was striving to pre-
vent Andrew Johnson from uodoiog the recon-
strucion laws. Whenever Congress passed a
law Johuson bent his energies to defeat i:s en-
tcrccnert aud would fDd prstexts to dodge
round it. Then Congress would pass another
lew to hedge him up there. So it went on till
Congress had taken from him all control of the
Generals commanding the seven districts of
!he South, except tho poTer to remove them
suL appoint others 10 their places. Thcso com.
maudsrs could remoVa any civil officer OF any
prsde, Judge or Governor. When was made
General ard they were Determining my powers
AID duties. they gave the General by accident,
.hiuk, ur Withsut seeing all it involved. CO.
triioate power with these district commanders
aud as | was senior it gavo me authority. Gen.
Saer!dan vas s.nt to the department. of L2uisl.
ana, clycriog louisiana and Texas. lie is
very shrewd nnd very ablo. He kept bis eyes
open, learning rapidly tho men who were not
worthy TO occupy their places and discovering
cImpatcu. and worthy moo to put in their
places. Tic Legislature Of Louisiana passed O
law authorizing tho issue 100000 OF levao
bor6r, oslcusitly Ter tho tvec. They co1di.
,iors their sal, oa their brinaing to theSate not
less than 50 per CT OF fac1 vslue. Tho Governor
aad three commissioners Wera 10 pIsc, the bonds
On tho market, bat they soon found out that
the har6s would net bring moro than 40 per
cent. 70 avoid tho Law they invented the plan
Of borrowing lrooey and usiDg the bonds as COL
lateral. They could borrsT about 81 or IS per
cout Il he face Of tho boldS. Just OF this
junc;u'e, to prlrtnt these men from defraudng
tho SAFE, General Sheridan took off the
heads Ct lie Governor AID commissioners
50 0lick that they cid not know what eiled
rher:, aud apptia,ed good mru 10 their places.
For some reasoo The removed men we're vary
anxious to be- reappoirted. They employed
ReveGdg Johnson and aouthor lawyer to work
for them. agreeing to pay them $3.50, 900 if they
were reiusated. THIS ia great deal of money
FIR four men to LAY fer positions. unless there
is soue special aim ia the case. ReverdY J0h0.
SOD ,no to ne, but was 81 s upid aod stubborn
that cculd rot DO in6u,ed TO resppoint them
lie wrpt to AudrHT 5ht son ard INSIDE his csse
snd Andrrw ohrsun s:nt for me and asked me
10 ,eiasta!n tAcsa mSn. | refused to do 30.
,fn thoTo ~ ID oplu Tor
oue day. will promise that they will resign.
! thought johnson night not kooW OF The moe
tive why they were 30 aLglous 10 be reinstated,
ard thinking would do him great service 10
| keeping him from great bIuDder, | told tim
| that oCo hour would save those man az we'll as
ono day, end | u1toldad their intent. But John.
| 500 Insisted on their being rsins!sted. l refused
| and excused myself johnson then removed
| Gen. Sheridan ard appointed Gsn. Harc;ck.
| He called Hancock to Washington to issrucs
him in defeating the laws of Congress soncern-
| ing reconstruction. As soon es learned that
Har cock was in town called ct his hotel In.
stead Of sending for him. l wanted 10 see him
| privately in his own room. I found him in his
room rorhaps before he had his breakfast. I
said: General, you AMI / are soldiers-army
| officers. We have life positions. Weserve un-
| der successive administrations without regard to
party. It's our duty to enforce the laws OF
| congress. we hlc uOt ieepOtsiUlo Aoi tAo mie
| dom Of the laws. Congress bears that responsi'
bility. We simply enforce them. He said ::
! w ell am opposed to rigger domination. I
ssid 'Geners!. it is not a question Of Niger
domination. Four millions OF ex slaves without
education or property can hardly dominate
81, OoO. OF 0 of white, with sll the oducstion and
property. II is d question of doipg our sworn
| duty He sxid: Nell am opposed to niger
domins.;on.' saw that my only chance to III
huence him wss BY the remnant of authority
left in my hands Ho WAS determined to please
the democratic party and the South. He went
South and removed the Governor and Commits.
sioners that Gen. Sheridan had appointed.
Instantly telegraphed him not to appoint to Of
fee any spen who had been renewed, sne 10 give
me his reasons by mail for removing tho men
He tol. grsphsd in a long reply, costing the gov
eminent $3.50. bis reasons. 1teleg.,sphed him tht
reasons Were not sufficient; to lend BY mail othel
ressons. Hetg.in telograrhed about tho came
points, only not quite 80 long, costing only $3.50
He teiegraped that if he could rot have freedom
10 act hls usefulness would be destroyed, ant
! that ne would have to ask to b, relieved.
telearsuhed to him to revoke his order. 4
ased Johnson to relieve him as no one elt
&C ld That is the inner history and spirit; 0