Daily Republican., 1880-10-06
uAxCocK VAIN AND WEAK.

The New York Times yesterday had
the report of an interview with Gener-
al Grant by Rev. c. u. Fowler which
that paper said would be Published in
yesterdays Cincinnati tiazstte. Speak
ing OF Hancock the ex-President said !;
"Down to 1864 he seemed like man
ambitious to do his duty as an officer |;
but in 1864, when Mcclellan was nomi.
ted, Hancock received one vote, and
that greatly excited and changed HIM.
He was so delighted that he smiled all
over. II crazed him. Before that we
got Oh we'll; after that he would hardly
speak 10 me. was working to enforce
the laws Of Congress, and he was work
ing for the Presidency. Perhaps hH
thought did not praise him enough;
but, any way, he hardly spoke to me.
It was on my nomin alton that ne was
made Brigadisf Genera, in the regu-
lar army. When I was made General,
Stanton toli me 1t was compliment to
me and that could name the men to
fill the vacancies in the Lieutenant
General ship and Major General-sLip
caused by my promotion.
nominated him for the vacant Ma.
ior- GensrAlship in the regular Army.
He acknowledged 1t manfully. Hswas
very fair corps commander, but was
| never thought Of for any great place.
When the Army Of the Potomac was
hunting for commander II took almost
every body--even came over into the
West for officers, but nobody ever even
suggested Hancock for the place. After
he received that vote in 1864. he had
'the bee in his bonnet and shaped
ever thing 10 gain Democratic and
Southern favor. He has watched, and
planned, and waited, till at last lie has
received the Democratic nomination.
General, do you think he is in SYM
pathy with the South p
"Hs Ia crazy 10 be President. He is
ambitious, vain, and weak. They win
easily control him."
"Do you think, General, that his
celebrated Order No. 40 represents the
directions OF his sympathies ?"
"Wsll, l will give you the true inner
history Of Order No. 40. Congress was
striving to prevent Andrew Johnson
from undoing the reconstruction laws.
Whenever Congress passed Law, John.
son bent his energies to defeat Its en-
forcement and would hnd pretexts to
dodge round it. Then Congress would
pass another law tohedge him. up there.
DO it went on until Congress had taken
from him all control Of the Generals
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 Gov
ernor. When / was made General and
they were determining my powers and
duties, they gave the Gen. by accident,
think, or without seeing all 1t involved
60. ordinate power with these district
commanders, and &s was senior, it
gave me authority. Gen. Sheridan
was sent to the Department Of Louis
lana, covering Louisiana and Texas.
He is very shrewd and very able. He
kept his eyes open, learning rapidly
the men who were not worthy to os.
cupy their places, and discovering COM
pstept and worthy men to put in their
places. The Legislature OF Louisiana
passed q law authorizing the issue Of
81, 900, 600 Of levee bonds, ostensibly
for the lsvee. They conditioned their
sale on their bringing 10 the State not
less than so per cent. Of their face,
The Governor and three Commissioners
were to place the bonds on the market,
but they soon found out that the bondN
would not bring more than 40 per cent.
To avoid the Law they invented the
plan OF borrowing money and using the
bonds as collateral.
They could borrow about "a or 81
per cent. of the faoa Of the bonds. Just
at this juncture, IN prevent these men
from defrauding the State, Gen. Shsri-
dan took Of the heads OF the Governor
and Comm. ssionsrs so quick that they
did not know what allied them, and ap-
pointed good men In their places. For
some reason the removed men we're very
an xious to be reappointed. They empty
ed Reverdy Johnson and another law.
yer to work for them, agreeing to pay
them $250, 900 II they we're reinstated.
This is o great deal Of money 70. fonr
men to pay for positions, unless there
is come special gain in the case. Rev
erdy Johnson came to me, but | was 30
stupid and stubborn that | could not
be induced to reappoint them. He went
to Andrew Johnson and made his case,
and Andrew Johnson sent for me and
asked mo to reinstate those men.
refused to do SO. He said: Rein
state them even II it ia only for one
day. will promise that they will re.
sign thought johnson might not
k now of the motive why they were 80
anxious to be reinstated, and thinking
would do him great service in keep
ing him from a great blundsr, | told
him that one hour would do those men
as we'll as one day, and unfolded
their intent. Bat johnson insisted on
th cir being reinstated. refused and
excused myself. johnson then removed
Gen. Sheridan and appointed Gen. Hau-
cock. He called Hancock to Washing
ton 10 instruct him in defeating the
laws Of Congress concerning rsoonstruc-
ton. As soon as learned that Han
o,ck was in town l called at his hotel
instead Of sending FOR him. wanted
to see him privately in his own room.
7 found him in his room, perhaps be.
fore he had his breakfast.
| said General, you and are sol
officers. We have life
We serve under successive
Administrations without regard to par
ty. II is our duty to enforce the laws
Df Congress. We are not responsible
for the wisdom Of the laws Congress
IL I