Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-10-14
Grants Views.


Gen. Grant, in his interview with Rev
Mr.. Fowler, said
1--WE must elect Garfield; he is a rrra,
| man he has but few intellectual peers in
public life; he is every way WORTHY
"What If Hancock should be electedp-
Then the North would submit auietl,
and watch closely. As soon a. things began
to go wrong every Northern Legislature
would be convened and compel their repre-.
natives to resign or resist the sold South. :
The Chicago Inter OCEAN speaking Of the
| interview with Mr.. Fowler in which Gen
Grant smoked-oui Hanco k. publishe,
another interview with Gen Grant, in which
Gen. g. says: II said. substantially. up to
64 that | didn't suppose Hancock had
thought of the presidency, but at the demo.
cratic convention Of that year he got votes
not one vote. as DIR. Fowler has it. which
makes me imply that he go, the support OF
but one delegate, and from that time he had
presidential bee in his bonnet When /
met him afterward his smile was 40 broad
that you could almost see it when his back
was turned. do not k.o~ that | said he
thought did not praise him enough. though
possibly that may be the fact. Hancock is
a man who likes to hear himself praised
and sometimes complained that he was no,
complimented highly enough
Reporter-liow about his promotions?
Gen. Grant, stated tn Dr. Fowler tina,
Hancock was promoted to be a Briga1ier
and Major General in the regular army on
my recommendation. recommended him
and Sheridan at the same time. Hancock
appointment was made a, once. but Shcri-
dams was delayed for some time One o!
Hancock's promotions was made after the
war, and | think il was after the Chicago
Convention tina; he was made a Brigadier-
General. When | recommended him for
Major General he had been very cold toward
me, and had not spoken TO me for q long
time. | never knew what was the matter
unless he thought | had no, consulted him
in making his assignments TO duty When
promoted, however, he wrote a manly letter
to me, in which he said substantially tina, he
believed he was entirely indebted to me for
IT, though he had been mistaken. lie was
made Major General when | was made a
General.
DIR. Fowler does no, get hold Of the point.
about Order No. 40 correctly. BY various
reconstruction acts Congress. for oonsis,cu-
oys sake, suppose, stripped me of all au-
tholty over district commanders IN their
civil duties except in the matter of appoint
ment and removal of civil officers in the re
constructed states. As was senior. nv
authority was superior 10 the Others DR.
Fowler quotes me as saving that the Louis
lana legislature passed law authorizing
the issue Of s1.eO.Do0 of leyec bonds.
This | NAV have said, but II did il was a
mistake. the amount being si.DO0.O 600. In
regard 10 the statement also that the Louis
lana Commissioners agreed 10 pay Reverdy
Johnson and other lawyers S2j0.oo0.
stated what understood. and not a. fac,
with my own personal knowledge.
The next paragraph of DR. Fowler, re-
port Is wide Of the mark | am made to
say. lie (Johnson) called Hancock TO
W Washington TO instruct him in defeating the
laws Of Congress" |. Of course. do no,
know why Johnson called Hancock; could
only surmise. knew Hancock came.
"A mistake also occurs" said General
Grant, in the following paragraph. wherein
! am made To say that "he tHancockl went
South and removed the Government Com
missioner tina; General Sheridan had ap-
pointed" INSTANTLY tclegraphcd not to ap-
point to Office any mau who had been re-
moved, and give his rsason by mail for re-
moving the men
When Hancock went South published
an order prohibiting him from appointing
any body to office who had been removed by
his predecessor. This, suppose. he did
not Ike. but my object was TO prevent, the
possibility Of men being put in place Who
had arranged for the negotia,ian Of these
bonds, even for one hour | had intended
to tell Hancock all about it a. had John
son, but seeing during NV interview with
him. that he vas not disposed to listen to
my advice, ] did no, tell him After he had
been doTn South some time he made pretty
clear sweep of the officers who had been
appointed by General Sheridan.
then telegraphed 10 him 10 suspend
his orders Of removal and report 10 me by
mail (,here was an order explaining, If | re-
member arlght,l prohibiting the use OF the
telegraph when the mail could be employed.
He replied in very long despatch. costing
Il remember correctly, about $3.50 | in
formed him tina; | va. no, satisfied. but II
he had any further reason to communicate
10 do so b, mail. lie again replied by ,ele-
graph. but gave nothing new, saving simply
that his usefulness would he DESTROYED If he
va. iloa !eit fet ~ aSl, anu tbit II ne VAS
not left free 10 &C; he should ask to be re-
lieyed. ordered him TO revoke his order
making the removals, and TO make no more.
lie then asked TO be relieved and relieved
him ! always regarded his mere decla-
ration IN Order No. 40, tina, the military
should be subordinate TO the civil power, as
something that everybody accepted and no
body disputed. As officers, We were sworn
to obey our superiors. Congress vas our
superior. AID had made the laws. and these
laws mad. the military subordinate. We
were acting under them, bu, his order made
| the laws subordinate to his own opinion.
A gentleman who has recently read all the
official correspondence and telegram. on file
at Washington between Gen. Gran, and
Gen. Hancock relative to New Orleans mat
tiers, says that Gen. Grants statement i.
sustained by the record, so far as il is mat
ter Of record, in every particular. The tel
egrams to which Gen. Grant refers as having
been 80 extensive, which Hancock sent in
reply to simple inquiry of Gen. Grant, are
on file a, the War Department, and the tel
| egraphic COS, marks on them agree exactly
with Gen. Grants memory of this little de-
tail.