The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-03-29
Washington Sketches.
lS69-lS79.

Washington Sketches.
lse9-ls79.
GLEANINGS FROM THE NOTE BOOKS AND
SCRAP BOOKS OF A ESPECIAL CORRESPOND
ENT."
INTRODUCTORY.
The subtitle indicates the character of these
sketches. No attempt will be made to write a
political history or to give a connected and con-
tinuous story of events at the National Capital
From the abundant material at hand, in the
form of daily letters and dispatches, memoran-
da, and contemporary publications, such bits of
personal gossip and other matter will be CLEAN
ed as seems most likely to interest the general
reader CAP
FEBRUARY TO MAY 1869. ANDY JOHNSON on
GEN. GRANT. FORNEY AND THE SOUTH
SENATOR SPRAGUE. THE CABINET. AN
APRIL DAY AND A NONDESERIPT. THE
ALABAMA CLAIMS. 'NEwSPAP ER ROW"
THE CAPITAL DESERTED. OFFICE SEEKER
GEN. LEES VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT.
My first visit to the National Capital was on
the 22nd of February 1863. The City Council
of Baltimore had appointed a committee to
tender the Inequalities of the Monumental City
to President johnson at the expiration of his
term Of office, and as the representative Of the
Baltimore Gazette | accompanied the commit
tee on their mission. The party included the
Mayor of Baltimore and other civic officials
Arriving at the White House atI II A. NJ. the
delegation were shown into the East Room,
and in few minutes President johnson enter
ed, accompanied by Representative Phelps Of
Maryland. After the usual ntroQuctiOns MAY
or Banks and Mr.. Owens, chairman of the
committee on invitation, made brief speeches.
the latter reading the resolutions adopted bv
the City Council and presenting a beautifully
engro>sed copy Of the same to the President
These were cut and dried affairs. however
From a journalistic point of view the expect
ed remarks from the President W ere the centre
Of interest. Those familiar with current his
tory hardly need be told that at this time there
was no love lost between President johnson
and General Grant; and after the President
had made the customary Acknowledgement and
proclaimed, as he seldom failed Ito do. his de-
yotion to the Constitution, he dontra,ted hi,
own career with that of the General Of the
army. as follows:
Civil hOnors and the honors of peace are
more dazzling to me than all THE carnage and
bloodshed of the battlefield 9 Z My a.
rcer is not stained With blood; lhy path is not
paved with the craniumS of mN Kindred: the
bridges | have crossed were not made with the
nuilated bodies Of my countrymen. My garb
is of peaceful nature. This is the doctrine
asserted in the Senate when the rebellion be-
gan. ! am proud. gratted that in the begin
ming in the middle and in the end. no blood OF
a countryman is attached to my Skirts |
would to-day rather wear on my face the fur
rows and wrinkles of great responsibilities and
on my garb the dust of the field. than the gid
ed epauIette and the dazzling sword as the in
sigma of blood and sacrifice"
These words were delivered with intense
feeling and their animus i. plain. 1t is worthy
of note that the correspondent of the Baltimore
sun W. W. Wordcn, one of the Presidents
secretaries, but who was not present on his
occasion, furnished a report of the speech in
which no mention was made of these very
pointed illusions to Gen. Grant. The writer
was the only person who took notes of he
speech is delivered, and can yoUch for the H.
curacy Of the language quoted H.dted, the
President was apparently rs anxious to b. cor
recty reported "A. was TO report him correct
ly. With hole book in hand had stationed
myself directly behind the Baltimore spokes-
mcn, who stood face TO face with the President.
When he began to speak they, with mistaken
courtesy. and much to my embarrassment.
stepped aside, leaving me in front and within
a few feet of the President. But business is
business, and us the President With due dclib-
GRAFTON rounded out his sentences. my flying
pencil noted them down.
The President accepted the invitation As a
matter of course, and on the 18th of March fol-
lowing came to Baltimore. where lie was roval-
~ entertained. The programme included a pro-
ccSson, public reception and banquet. In reply
TO the toast of - our Guest the cX-President
said:
II am retiring from the most exalted position
in the gift of a free people and I'D coming among
them TO help bear the burdens | could not lift
from their shoulders feel moro honored than
to be inau@urated President over the ruins of It
violated Constitution. Yes, my deliverance has
been the greatest case OF emancipation since the
rebellion began. l stand here tonight freed
man, and | would rather be freedman than be
President and be a slave"
The eX-Pre>idcnt was then on the way to his
home in Tennessee, to return to Washington
later in private capacity, and still later IS Il
United States Senator.
A letter written under date of April. 1869,
during Il second visit to Washington, furnishes
the following items of personal and political
gossip:
John w. Forney, "editor Of two papers, both
daily"-the Washington Chronicle and Philade-
phia Pressis travelling with a Southern excur
sion party and furnishing his two papers with
editorial correspondence. Writing from Rich
mond. Virginia, lie says: ''Thc South is no
place for Northern merchants" at the present
time, as ''the people will not buy from North
ern merchants or store Keepers As for other
classes of emigrants professional men, and
farmers, he tells them they must expect TO be
o,tracised socially for some time to come He
adds, however, that 'No Northern man need
be under the slightest apprehension of personal
danger in Virginia He is as safe as lie would
be in New England New York, or Pennsyya-
MIA Those who considered these statements
too favorable TO the South charged that Mr.
Forncy was engaged in Southern land s9ecula-
tons. ON the other hand Mr.. Medill, of the
Chicago Tribune, who made an Extended tour
III me South at tins time testified that The call
for Northern labor. skill and capital is loud and
apparently sincere; = and that the people declar-
ed that "Northern men will not be prescribed or
Ostracised." But it was Il long while after these
letters We're written before pehce and order
rcigned in the South
Senator Sprague, of Rhode Island was some
what conspicuous at thi, time. not only bv kick
ing over the party traces but by war of word.
with Senator Abbott, of North CAROLINA which
threatened to result in boodsbed! The Senator
from Rhode Island armed himself. and his
friends asserted that he meant business but
mutual apologies ayerted what might have a
street encounter or duel. Another matter is
thus referred to: 'PeOpe are beginning to ask
what the BroWn-lves-SpraSue-An Anthony quarrel
is about. 1t has burdened the press to the ey-
tent OF many columns. 1t has occupied the time
OF the Senate, and Is on record i'll the Congress
sonal Globe and yet no one seems to know