The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-10-09
GRANT AssA1Ls HANCOCK.


GRANT ASSAILS HANCOCK.
F,on nc ysw rsst riaes
CINCINNATI, Oct A--The Gazette viii print
o.morrow the report Of an interview between
the Rev. G. II. Fowler, d. D., and General
Grant. Gen. Grant talked freely 10 Or. Fow-
Ter, and after the interview gave his written
consent TO its publication, under certain re-
strictions as to time. The conversation took
place in Gen. Grants library, at Galena, on
2lst Of September, Speaking of Hancock,
the exPresideut said:
"Down to 1864 he seemed like man AM
bilious to do bis duty as an officer; bat in
1864, when Mcclellan was nominated, Han.
cock received one vote, aud that greatly ex.
cited aud changed him. He was so delighted
that be smiled all over. Ii erazed him. Be
fore that we got on we'll; after that he would
hardly speak TO me. was working to en-
force the laws Of Congress, and he was work.
ing for the Presidency. Perhaps he thought
! did not praise him enough; but, anyway, he
hardly spoke to me. II Was on my nomina-
ton that he was made Brigadier General
in the regular army. When was made Gen
eral, Stanton told me il was a compliment 10
me, and that could name the men to Gil the
vacancies in the Lieutenant. Generalship and
nominated him for the the vacant Major
Generalship in the regular army. He nc.
knowledged II manfully. 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 il
took almost everybody, 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 everything to gain
Democratic and Southern favor. He has
watched, and planned, and waited, till at last
he has received the Democratic nomination.
General, do you think be is in sympathy
with the SouthY''
,'He is crazy to be President. He Is ambi.
tious, vain, and weak. They will easily con
troll him.
"Do you think, General, that his eelebra.
ted Order No. 40 represents the direction OF
his sympathiesyi
well, will give you the true, inner his
tory OF Order No. 40. Congress was striving
to prevent Andrew johnson from undoing the
Reconstruction laws. Whenever Congress
passed law, johnson bent his energies to
defeat It's enforcement, aud would find pre-.
text to dodge round it. Then Congress would
pass another law to hedge him up there. So
it went on til 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. Whea was made General aud they
were determining my powers and duties, they
gave the General, by accident think, or with.
ont seeing all it involved, coordinate power
with these district commanders, and as / was
senior, il gave me 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 to occupy their places, and discover
ing competent and worthy men to put in their
places. The Legislature Of Louisiana passed
law authorizing the issue Of S7,0O0000 Of
levee bonds, osiensble for the levee They
conditioned their sale on their bringing to the
State not less than 50 per cent. of their face.
The Governor and three Commissioners we're
to place the bonds on the market, but they
soon found out that the bonds would not
bring more than 30 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 IS per cent.
Of the face Of the bonds. Just at this juno.
ture, to prevent these men from deiraading
the State, Gen. Sheridan took of the heads
Of the Governor and Commissioner so quick
that they did not know what allied them, aud
appointed good men in their places. For
some reason the removed men we're very anx.
ioas 70 be reappointed. They employed Rev.
erdy johnson and Others to work for them,
agreeing to pay them S260,0O0 il they were
relnstaled. This is great deal Of money
tor four men TO pay for positions unless there
IS some special gain in the case. Reserdy
johnson came to me, but was so stupid and
stubborn that could not be induced to reap.
point them. Hewent to Andrew johnson and
made his case, and Andrew johnson sent for
me and asked me to reinstaie those men. |
refused to do so. He said. ''Reinstate them
even II il is only for one day. | will promise
that they will resign thought. johnson
might not know Of the motive why they were
so anxious to be reinstated, aud thinking
would do him great service in keeping him
from great blunder. told him that one
hour would do those men as well as one day,
and unfolded their intent. But Johnsonin.
sisted on their being reinstnted. | refused
and excused myself. Johnson then removed
Gen. Sheridan and appointed Gen. Hancock.
He called Hancock to Washington to instruct
him in defeating the laws Of Congress concern.
ing reconstruction. As soon as | learned
that Hancock was in town called at his hotel
instead OF sending for him. wanted to see
him privately iD his own room. | found him
in his room, perhaps before be had his break
fast said; General, you and are sol.
diers-army officers. We have life positions.
We serve under successive administrations
rau AID IN IL l.. N..k.s
enforce the laws OF Congress We are not
responsible for the wisdom Of the laws; Con
gress bears that responsibility We simply
enforce them. lie said: "Well, | am Cd.
posed to niger domination. said: sGea.
eral, tits not aquestion of niger domination.
-Four millions OF ex.slaves, without education
or property, can hardly dominate 30, 000, 900
OF whites with all the education aud property.
II is question Of doing our sworn duty He
SAID, iMeil, m opposed TO nigger DONNA.
ton | saw that my only chance 10 influence
him was by the remnant Of authority left in
my hands. lie was determined 10 please The
Democratic party and the South. He went
South, and removed the Governor and Com.
missloners that Gen. Sheridan had appointed.
instantly telegraphed him not to appoint To
Office any men who had been removed, and
49, 49, etN ANee7Nhhf W tiAiif ANmVNluE
the men. lie telegraphed, in long reply,
costing the Government $3.50, his reasons.
telegTaphed him that the reasons were not
sufficient; TO send by mail other reasons. He
again ielegraphed about the same points, on
y not quite so long, costing only $780, He
lelegraphed that ifhe could not have freedom
to act, his usefulness would be destroyed, and
that he would have to ask TO be relieved.
telegraphed him 10 revoke his order. He
asked johnson 10 relieve him, as no one else
could, That is the inner history and spirit Of
his celebrated Order No. 49, This order re
suited in the loss Of many lives. know Of
cases, and can give them. His statement
that the civil authorities are supreme is truth
admitted by all in time Of established peace,
but can demonstrate that he did not subject
the military power 10 the civil, but that he
used his military power To overthrow the
civil
In speaking Of the Chicago Convention,
Gen. Grant said There are three reasons
why ! would have accepted the nomination
flrsi, on account Of the character Of The men