The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-10-07
-GRANT-..H ANCOCK.
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT 1SrERvIEw
WITH THE Ex.rREslDsSr.


dent Again-The Inside History Of Or
der No. 4o-His Views About Han
| eoek-PresidentJ ohnson-what
the Louisiana Rebels offered
for one Days Power.
Latter from Rev. III. Fowler DID.
GALRSA, FL, September 2l.-I have jus
returned from a protracsed call upon Gen
Grant. l went with Brother Cramb
Grants pastor. When We were intro
duced into his library wefound him at hi
desk. writing. He rose, and calling ny
name, said, ~ have notseen you since w
met at the Chautauqua Sunday School As
sembly." He was very free andfull Of talk
He talked about the political situation
canyassing the country aud the men will
great freedom. When l said to him, %
suppose everybody tells you that ht
wanted to see you on the track" he said
eyes, many, butnot everybody. 1fevery,
body had wanted to see me on the track
would have been there" l said, 81 an
sorry for the country that yon are moi
there; no. for your comfort or fame, but
for the country" He said, "Not for my
comfort: l am glad to be released from the
care. There are three reasons why
would have accepted the nomination:
.tFirst-On account OF the character Of
the men who urged 1t. esteem their re-
spect and confidence more than the nom.
"second-I believe I could have broken
up the Solid South. Many life long Dem
ocrats in the South had given the strong
est assurances OF their cordial support,
believing that could deliver them from
The evils OF Solid South. Florida, is a
Republican State, II they had fair chance,
The Republicans are so distributed that
they can secure . fair count, except in the
northwest corner OF the State, where the
negroes are chiefly centered, and where the
society Is like Georgia-is really part OF
Georgia. While I would have received
probably but 200 or 800 more votes from
the State than Garfield will receive, those
few are go located as TO secure fair count
in that northwest corner. These are sub
stantial reasons. .fa
.Thiid-There is another partial reason.
| believe that l could have induced, from
my knowledge OF our consulates, the en-
actinent OF certain laws touching our com.
merce-lhat would have given US control
Of much desirable commerce-fo instance,
In Mexico-instead OF dealing with people
who use only slave labor, and receive lit
lie or nothing but sterling in exchange"
He next discussed Hancock with great
minuteness. He said: ~ have known
him for forty years. He is weak, vain
man. He is the most selfish man know.
He could never endure to have anyone
else receive any credit. Though be re-
ceiyed all the mention from his superiors
he deserved, and often more, he was al;
ways displeased that he was not praised
more, and that anyone else was mentioned
at all. He Is the most selfish man ! know.
he was o very good corps commander.
He was ambitious, and had courage aud q
fine presence; but Is vain, selfish, weak,
and easily fattered. He cannot bear TO
hear anyone else praised, but can take any
amount OF hattery. l
stDown to 1854 he seemed like q man
ambitious to do his duty as an officer. But
in 1854, when Mcclellan was nominated,
Hancock received one vote, and that
greatly excited and changed him. Hewas
50 delighted that he smiled all over. You
could not even sit behind him without
seeing him smile. he smiled all over. Il
crazed him. Before that we got on well.
After that he would hardly speak to me.
I was working To enforce the laws OF Con-
press, and be was working for the Presi-
dency. Perhaps he thought ! did not
praise him enough, utany way be hardly
spoke to me. 1t was on my nomination
that he was made Brigadier General 10
tie regular army. When was made
General, Stanton told me 1t was q complt'
ment to me, and that ] could name
the men to fill the vacancies
in Lieutenant Generalship and Major
Geueralship caused by my promotion. |
nominated him for the vacant Major Gen.
eralship in the regular army. He acknowl.
edged It maniully. He was very fair
corps commander, but was never thought
OF for any great place. When the Army
OF the Potomac was hunting for com.
mander, II took almost everybody-eyen
came over into the West for ottices-but
no one ever even suggested Hancock for
the place. After he received that vote In
1854 he had the bee in his bonnet and
shaped everything to gain Democratic and
Southern favor. He has watched, and
planned, and waited, till at last he has re!
ceived the Democratic nomination"
general, do you think he Is insympa-
thy with the South y ,.....a
"He is crazy to be President. Heis am
bilious, vain aud weak. They will easily
control him." y
HDo you think, General, tbat his cele-
brated Order No. 40 represents the diree;
ton OF his sympathies?"
"Well, / will give you the true inner his
tory Of Order No. 49, Congress was try
ing to prevent Andrew Johnson from un-
doing the reconstruction laws Whenever
Congress passed law johnson bent his
energies TO defeat Its enforcement, and
would find pre,exts to dodge around 1t.
Then Congress would pass another law TO
hedge him upihere. So 1t went on I'LL
Congress had taken from him all control oil
the Generals commanding the seven dis
tricts OF the South, except the power to re-
call them and appoint others in their
places. These commanders could remove
any civil officer Of any grand, Judge OF
Governor. When was made General,
and they were determining my powers
and duties, they gave the General, by ae'
cidsnt, I think, OF without seeing all II In
yolyed, coordinate power with these dis
trict commanders, and as Twas senior II
gave me authority.
General Sheridan was sent to the De.
partment OF Louisiana, covering Lousiena