The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-10-06
GEN. GRANT.
why Ne Wouid Have Accepted the
xomIaaiion for President.
vhas ne says In Regard 90 Haaeoek's
EIeetkoa.
rss True Iaaer History OF Order No.
Forty.

u ~
a Hancock says: He is crazy 10 be
mesident. He is ambitious, vain and
xeak. He gave an authentic version Of
order No. 40, and told that it hung
only on the fact that he was opposed to
..nigger domination, Us he termed it.
In speaking Of the Chicago convention
Grant said: There are three reasons
why would have accepted the nomina-
ton, first, ON account of the character
Of the men who urged 1t. l esteem
their respect and confidence more than
the nomination.; second, / believe /
could have broken up the solid south.
Many lifelong democrats in the south
had given the strongest assurances Of
their cordial support, believing that l
would deliver them from the evils of
the solid south; third; there is another
partial reason, 1 believe that could
have induced, from my knowledge Of
our consulates, the enactment Of GER
tain laws touching our commerce that
would have given us control OF much
desired commerce, for instance, in
Mexico. will give the true inner his
tory OF order No. 40: Congress was
striving 10 prevent Andrew johnson
from undoing the reconstruction laws.
Whenever congress passed law John
sou bent his energies TO defeat its en-
forcement and would find protexts to
dodge around. Then congress would
pass another law to hedge him up there.
So 1t went ON till 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 COVER
nor. When l was made general and
they were determining my powers and
duties, they gave the general, by acci-
dent think or without seeing all in
yolved, coordinate power with these
district commanders, and as l was
senior it gave me the authority. Gen.
Sheridan was sent to the department of
louisiana, covering Louisiana and
Texas. He is very shrewd and very
able. He kept his eyes open, learning
rapidly the men who were not worthy
and worthy men to put In their places.
The Legislature of Louisiana passed a
law authorizing the issue of 81, 600, 900
Of levee bonds, ostensibly for the levee,
they conditioned their sale on their
bringing 10 the state not less than so
per cent of their face.
The governor and thee commission
ers were TO place the bonds on the
market, but they soon found that the
bonds would not bring more than 40
per cent. To avoid the law they in
vented the plan Of borrowing money
and using the bond as collateral. They
could borrow about 81 or 35 per cent.
Of the face Of the bonds. Just at this
juncture, to prevent these men from
defrauding the state, Gen. Sheridan
took of the heads Of the governor and
commissioners SO quick that they did
not know what allied them, and ap-
pointed good men in their places. For
some reason the removed men were
very anxious to be reappointed. They
employed Reverdy johnson and another
lawyer to work for them, to whom they
agreed to pay $3.50. 900 il they were re-
instated. This is great deal Of mon
ey for four men to pay for positions,
unless there is some special gains in the
case. Reverdy johnson came to me,
but l was SO stupid and stubborn l
could not be induced to reapp0int them.
lie went to Andrew johnson and made
case, and Andrew johnson sent for me
and asked me to reinstate these men; /
refused to do SO. He said: "Reinstate
them, even IL it is only for one day; 1
Will promise that they will resign" /
thought johnson might not know of
the motive why they were so anxious to
DO reinstated, and thinking would do
MIN great service in keeping him from
agreat blunder, told him that one
"Saaa ao tuOoC Aicu Do Wcl 10 Ouc
day; and l unfolded their intent, but
Johnson insisted on their being REIN
STATED. refused, and excused myself.
johnson then removed Gen. Sheridan
anu appointed Gen. Hancock. He
eaiied Hancock to Washington to in
s'ruct him in defeating the will Of con-
eress concerning the reconstruction.
As soon as l learned that Hancock was
intown, called at his hotel, instead Of
sending for him. wanted to see him
privately in his own room. found
MIN In his room, perhaps before he had
his breakfast. said:
General, you and 1 are soldiers.
army officers. We have life positions.
We served under successive admins
rations without regard to party. It is
our duty to enforce the laws of con-
sress. We are not responsible for the
wisdom Of the laws; congress bears
.aat responsibility; we simply enforce
them.n
lie said: "well, l am opposed to
Niger domination
said: General, IL is not n question
.! niger domination or the domination
=, three millions Of whites, with all the
euucation md nropartv 70