The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-10-15


report Of an interview between Rev. e.
II. Fowler, d. d., and General Grant,
which gives some startling points IN con-
nection with the inside history OF Han
cocks Order No. 40. Grant talked freely
with DR.. Fowler, and, after the interview,
gave him written consent to Its publica-
ton under certain restrictions a. to time.
The conversation took place In Grants IL
brary ut Galena, on the 2lst Of Septem-
Der. Speaking Of Hancock the eI-Presi-
dent said: Down to 1864 he seemed like
man ambitious to do bis duty AZ an officer,
but In 1894, when Mcclellan was nominal
cd, Hancock received one vote, and that
greatly excited and changed him. It 50
delighted him that he smiled all over. 1t
crazed him. Before that we got on we'll.
After that he would hardly speak to me. l
was working to enforce the laws OF Con-
gress, and he was working for the Presi-
dency. Perhaps he thought / did not
praise him enough, but anyway he hardly
spoke to me. 1t was on my nomination
that he was made Major-General in the
regular army. When l was made General
Stanton told me that it was compliment
to me, that could name men to fill the va
canoies In the Lieutenant Generalship and
Major. Generalship CAUSED by my promo
ton. I nominated him for the vacant Ma
jor-G eneralship in the regular army. de
acknowledged Il manfully.j He was. very
fair corps commander, but was never
thought OF for any great place. When the
Army of the Potomac was hunting for a
commander it took almost everybody; it
even came over into the West for officers,
but no ono even suggested Hancock for
the place. After be received that vote in
1884 he had the bee in bis bonnet, and
has shaped everything to get Democratic
and Southern favor. He has watched and
planned and waited until at last he has re-
osived tho Democratic nomination. es
General, do you think he is, in sympathy
with the South?
EPIToNR or HANCocK's CHARACTER.
He Ia crazy to DO President. He is am
bilious, vain and weak. They will easily
control him.
Do you think, General, that his cole
brated Order No. 40 represents the direc-
ton Of his sympathIss:
Well, will give you the true inner his
tory Of Order No. 40. Congress was stri-
wing to prevent Andrew johnson from I'M
doing the reconstruction laws. Whenever
Congress passed Law johnson bent his en-
erRies odsfeat Its enforcement, and would
find pretexts to dodge around it. Then
Congress would pass another Law to hedge
him up there. 30 1t went on till Congress
had taken from him all control Of the Gen.
erals commanding the seven districts Of
the South, except the power to remove
them and appoint others in their places.
These commanders could remove any
civil officer Of any grade, Judge or Govern
or. When was made General and they
were determining my powers and duties
they gave tho General, by accident, think,
or without seeing what 1t involved. 90 ordi-
nate power with these district commanders.
Sheridan was sent to tho department OF
Louisiana and Texas. He was shrswd and
very able. He kept his eyes open, learn
ing rapidly tho men Who we're net able to
occupy their places. Tho Legislature OF
Louisiana passsd . law authorizing tho is
sue Of 81, 600, 900 Of lsves bonds. ostensibly
for lsvee. They conditioned their sale
on their bringing to the State not less than
90 per cent Of their face. The Governor
and tho Commissioners vent to place the
bonds on market, but they soon found out
that the bonds would not bring more than
40 per cent.
To avoid the Law, they invented a plan
Of borrowing money and using the bonds
Is collateral They could borrow abe mt "a
or 85 per cent. Of the face Of tho bonds.
Just at this juncture, to prevent those men
from defrauding tho State, Gen. Sheridan |
took off the heads of the Governor and the |
Commissioners 90 quick that they did net |
know what allied them, and appointed good |
men In their places. For Soma reason the |
removed men we're very anxious to be re-
appointed. They employed Revsrdy Jshn-
son and another lawyer TO work for them
agreeing to pay than $3.50, 900 IL they were
rsinstated. This is q great deal Of money
for four men to pay for positions, unless
thers 10 soms special gain In the case.
Reverdy Johnson cane to me, but l was so
stupid and stubborn that could not be in
duoed 70 rsappoint them. He went to An
drew johnson and made his case, and An
drew johnson sent for me, and asked me
TO reinstats those men. / refused to do 30.
Ne said "Reinstate them, even II 1t only
for one day. I will promise that they will
resign" l. thought johnson might not
know Of tho motive why they we're 50 anx-
ious to be reinstated, and, thinking
would do him great service in keeping
him from great blunder, told him that
one hour would do those men as we'll rs
One day, and I unfolded their intent, but
johnson insisted on their being reinstated.
I refused and excused myself. johnson
then removed General Sheridan and ap-
pointed General Hancock. He csllsd Hap-
cock to Washington to instruct him 10 d.
fsating tho laws Of Congress on reconstruct
ion. As soon as learned that Hancock
was In town. called at bis hotel, instead
Of sending for him. I wanted to see him
privately In his own room. found him
in his room, perhaps, before no had his
breakfast. i said l" General you and are
soldiers, army officers. - We have life 20
sitions. We servo under successive ad-
ministrations without regard to party. It
Ii our duty. TO, enforce tho laws Of Con-
gross. Wesre not rssponsib,s FOR tbs viz
dom OF the laws Congress bears that re-
sponsibility We simply, enforce tbsu."
OPPOSED TO NIGER DOMINATION.
He said: d" We'll, an opposed to mig
ger dominatiop.n D. ass-s<..g l.
said /" General, 1t In not question Of
Niger domination, Four millisns Of slaves
without sducstion or property can hardly
dominate thirty millions Of whites With all
tho educstion and property IT is sues-
ton Of doing onr sworn duty" /
He safd. Wall I'm nnnossd In riocar |