Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-10-14
GRANT ON HANCOCK.
Interview With the EXPIRES.
ident.
The Inside History of Order Mum.
Der 40.
CINCINNATI, Oct. (,

" IL. Il oNltJ, ~, ~, dIN NlAQl, WDlCn
gives some startling points in connection
with the inside history of Hancock's
Order No. 40 Gen. Grant talked freely
to DR.. Fowler, and after the interview
gave his written consent TO its publics-
uon under certain restrictions as TO time
The conversation took place In Grants
library at Galena on the 2ld of September
Speaking of Hancock, tie ex.President
SAID; Down to 1864 he seemed like a
man ambitious to DO his duty as an oif
Ger. But In 1864,
wHEN MCCLELLAN WAS NOMINATED.
Hancock received one vote, and that
greatly excited and changed him. He
was SO delighted that he smiled all over
II crazed him. BefoIe that we got on
well. After that he would hardly speak
to me. | WAS working to enforce the
laws OF Congress, and he WAS working for
the Presidency. Perhaps lie thought
did not praise him enough; but, any way
he hardly spoke to me. 1t WAS on my
nomination that he WAS made a Brigsdier
in the regular army, when | was made
General. Stall ton told me il WAS
A COMPLIMENT TO ME,
and that could name the men to fill the
vacancies in the Lieulen ant Generalshlp
and Ma rGeneralship, caused by my
promotion. | nominated him for the
vacant Maj .Generslship in the regular
army. He acknowledged 1t maniully.
He was a very fair corps commander, but
was never thought of for any great place.
When the Army OF the Potomac was
hunting tor commander ii took almost
every body, and even came over into the
West for officers, but no one ever even
suggested Hancock for the place. After
HE RECEIVED THAT VOTE IN 1864
he had the bee In his bonnet and shaped
everything to gain Democratic aGd
Southern favor. He has watched, aud
planned, and waited, till at last he has re,
ceived the Democratic nomination"
General, do you think he is in sym.
patty with the South ?"
"He is crazy TO be President. He is am
bilious, vain and weak. They will easily
control him."
"Do you think, General, that his cele.
brated Order No. 40 represents the di.
rection OF his sympathiesY"
"Well, | will give you The true inner
history of Orcer No. 40 Congress was
STRIVING TO PREVENT ANDREW JOHNSON
from undoing the Reconstruction laws.
Whenever Congress passed a law, John.
son bent his energies to defeat its en-
forcement, and would find pretexs to
dodge round it, Then Congress would
pass another law to hedge him up there.
SO it went on till Congress had taken
from him all control of the Generals com.
mandlng the seven districts of the South
except he power to recall them and sp.
point others in their place These com.
manders could remove sny civil officer of
any grade, Judge or Governor. When |
was made General and
THEY WE'RE DETERMINING NY POWERS
and duties, they gave the Generally &C.
cident, think, or without seeing all 1t in.
volved-coordinate power with these dis
trict commanders, and. as | was senior, it
gave me authority. Gen, Sheridan was
sent to the Department of Louisiana and
Texas. He is very shrewd and very keen.
He kept his eyes open, learning rapid y
the men who were not worthy TO occu0y
their places, and discovering competent
and worthy men to put In their places.
The Legislature Of Louisiana passed
law authorizing the issue OF $1,000 900 of
levee bonds, ostenslb y for the levee. They
conditioned their sale on
THEIR BRINGING TO THE STATE
not less than 80 per cent. Of their face.
The Governor aud three C0mmi sioners
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 Invented the plan OF borrow
ing money and using the bonds a. colst-
eral. They could borrow about 81 or 80
per cent. Of the face OF the bonds. Just
al this junCture, to prevent these men
from defrsuding the State, General Sheri.
dan
TOOK OFF THE HEADS CT THE GOVERNOR
and Commissioners so quick that they did
not know what allied them, and appointed
good men IN their place. For some reason,
the removed were very anxious to be re-
appointed. They employed Reyerdy
johnson and another lawyer 70 work for
them, agreeing TO pay them sou OOO II
they were reinstated This 10 q great deal
of money for tour men to pay tor posi-
lions, unless there is some special gain in
the case. Reverdy johnson came lc me,
but | WAS so stupid and stubborn that
could not be induced to reapp0lut them
He then went to Andrew Johnson and
made his case, and
ANDREW JOHNSON SENT FOR NE,
and asked me to reinstsie these men. |
refused to do so. He said: 'Reinstale
them, even If it is only tor one day |
will promise that they will resign |
thought Johnson might not know OF the
motive why they were so anxious to be re.
instated and, thinking | would do him a
great service IN keeping him from great
blunder | told him 'one hour would do
these men IS well AS one day and | un.
folded Their intent. But Johnson insisted