Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-10-06

General and rs . Politician.
NEW YORK, October 5.-Grant said In
q recent interview: Well. I will give the
true inner history Of Order No. 40.
Congress was striving to prevent Andrew
johnson from undoing the reconstruc-
ton laws. Whenever Congress passed
law, johnson bent his energies to de-
feat Its enforcement. and would and
p~rs.e1ts to dodge around 1t. Then
Congress would pass another law to
hedge him up there. So II went on till
Congress had taken from him all con-
troll Of the Generals commanding 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 Governor. When I was made
General. and they were determining my
powers and duties. they gave the Gen.
erai, by accident I think. or without
seeing all 1t involved, coordinate power
with these district commanders. and %
I was senior 1t gave me authority. Gen.
Sheridan was sent to the Department OF
Louisiana. covering Louisiana and
Texas. He 10 very shrewd and very
able. He kept his eyes open. learning
the men who were not worthy, and
worthy men to put in their places.
The Legislature OF Louisiana passed q
law authorizing the issue OF $1,000. 000
OF levee bonds ostsusibly for the levee.
They conditioned their sale on their
bringing to the State not less than 80
DER cent. Of their face. The Governor
and three commissioners were to place
| the bonds on the market, but they soon
found out that the bonds would not
bring more than 40 per cent. To avoid
the Law they invented the plan OF bor-
rowing money and issuing the bonds as
collateral. They could borrow about "a
or IS per cent. Of the face Of the bonds.
Just at this juncture. to prevent these
men from defrauding the State, General
Sheridan took of the heads OF the Gov.
ernor and commissioners 80 quick that
they did not know what allied them and
appointed good men in their places.
For some reason the removed men were
very anxious to be rsappointed. They
implored Rsverdy johnson and an
other lawyer to work for them. and
agreed to pay them $3.50. 900 IL they
were reinststsd. This IL Q great deal OF
money for four men to pay Tor positions,
unless there 10 some special gain In the
case. Rsverdy johnson came to me.
but ! was 80 stupid and stubborn that
could not be induced to reappoint them
He went to Andrew johnson and made
his case, and Andrew johnson sent fol
me and asked me to reinstate those men,
I refused to do %. He said: 'Rein'
state them. even II II 10 only for one day.
I will promise that they will resign" ]
thought johnson might not know o: thu
motive Why they were 30 anxious to b
reiustated and. thinking I would do hin
q great service in keeping him from
great blundsr. I told him that n houI
would do these men a. well a. n day
and I uufolded their intent. but johnson
insisted on their being reinstated. / re
fused, and excused myself. johnson
then removed General Sheridan and ap
pointed General Hancock. He callet
Hancock to Washington to instruct hin
In defeating the will Of Congress con
corning reconstruction.
A. soou a. / learned that Hancock wa
In town ! called at his hotel instead o
sending for him. / wanted to see hin
privately in his own oom / found hin
in his room, perhaps before he had BIZ
breakfast. said: General. you and
are soldiers. army officers. We have lif'
positions. We serve under successive
Administration, without regard to party
It 10 q duty to enforce the laws o
Congress. We are not responsible foI
the wisdom OF the laws. Congress bear,
that responsibility. We simply enforc,
them" he said: "wsll. I am opposed
to niger domination" said: "Gen'
eral, Il 10 not Q question Of 'niRgel
domination Four millions Of ex-slaves
without education or property. car
hardly dominate three millions Of whites,
with all their education and property,
It 10 q question Of doing U sworr
duty" He said: "wsll. I am opposed
to niger domination" I saw that my
only chance to influence him was BY the
remnant Of authority left in my hands
He was determined to please tho Demo
cratic party and the South. he went
South and removed the Governor ant
Commissioners that General Sheridan
had appointed. ! instantly teleRrsphet
him not to appoint to Office any men who
had been removed, and to give me
his reasons by mail for removing the
men. He telegrsphed In . long reply,
costing the Government $3.50 for hii
reasons. telegrsphed him that th,
reasons were not sufacient-to send BY
mail other reasons. He again t.ls
graphsd about the ssme points. only mo-
quite 20 long. costing only $3.50. Ii
telegraphed that II he could not hav,
freedom to set bis usefulness would b,
destroyed, and that he would have Il
ask to be relieved. I telegraphed hin
to revoke his orders. He asked John
son to relieve him. a none else could
That 10 the minor history and spirit Of
his celebrated order No. 20. This ordsl
resulted in the loss Of many lives. ]
know OF cases and can give them. Hi
statement. that the civil authorities are
supreme. 10 Q truth admitted BY all In
time OF established peace. but ! car
demonstrate that he did not subject th,
military power to the civil. but that b.
used his military power to overthrow
the civil.
Grant. In his interview. said. speaking
OF Hancock: Down to 1864 he seemed
like q man ambitious to do his duty a,
an officer. but in 1864. when Mcclellan
was nominated, Hancock received one
vote and that greatly excited him and
changed him. He was 30 delighted that
he smiled all over. It crazed him. Be,
fore that We got on well. After that be
would hardly speak to me. Twas work.