National Republican., 1883-10-24

generals | could name did. HatterlnB MN
into the belief that he should be president,
and putting myself in limo as supporter |
would have baskod in tho sunshine OF his
favor Stanton had an insane ambition to bo-
como president TO attain that end he would
have brought tho country to the verge OF ruin
that IL might be built up again under his
magnificent administrations
"Ono little incident showing tho pctty
moanncss of the man comes IN mind. Tho
governor of Massachusetts, wrote ino that two
regiments of two years men from his state
wGro about to bo mustered out, but that IL
would mount them and attach them to the
army of the Cumberland they would ro-on-
list for tho war. A day or two later re-
ccived letter from Gov Curtin making u
similar proposition with regard TO two Penn
sylvauia regiments. and Gov Yates wrote
me concerning an Illinois regiment to the
same effect. ! forwarded tho letters
to the war department aud recommended that
arrangements DO made to secure these rcEi-
ments, as | greatly needed cavalry. Back
came the response from Washington by wire:
by what authority do you enter into corrc-
spondcncc with tho governors of states on sub
iccts relating to the enlistment of troops p
81 made brief and courteous reply
couchcd, however, in language plain enough
to bo understood, explaining that the extent
of my correspondence was in acknowledging
the receipt of the letters addressed to mo by
the governors enumerated. | heard nothing
moro about tho matter, but being anxious to
secure tno regiments | wrote to President Lin
coin on tho subject and directed Gen. Rousseau
and Col. Sandcrson, who were in Washington on
leave of absence, TO call on tho secretary of
war and the president and urge the impor-
tance of tho matter. The gentlemen called
on Stanton, rs requested, and Gen. Rousseau
stated his errand.
az will not send Rosocrans another Cd
d-n man or horse, Cd d-n him.
Rousseau hared up and made sharp re-
tort aud quit the room with Sanderson, Tho
latter told me aftorward that Rousseau could
with difficulty bo restrained from going back
and choking the secretary. After leaving the
war department Rousseau and Sanderson
waited on President Lincoln and laid
the matter before him, Mt tho same
time telling him what Stanton had
done and said, and denouncing tho follow rs
n brute. Lincoln was very angry and
said some harsh things about Stanton. The
three repaired Immediately to the war de-
partment Stanton received them obsequi-
ously, and agreed with the president that the
plan proposed by the governors was good
one, and that ought to have tho men, but
he said that horses could not be obtained.
Tho suggestion was made that the men be
mounted on mules. Stanton at once agreed
TO that, but when the men heard they were
TO be mounted on mules they refused to re-
enlist.
when Stanton finally determined to re-
lievo mo of the command Of the army of the
Cumberland he found it necessary to defend
the act. Aboutthat time stories began TO be
sent out from Washington that l was u
drunkard aud slave to the vice of opium
eating. These base calumnies could not have
been sent out from Washington through the
Associated Press Mt that timo without stan
tons knowledge. Horace Greeley and others
have assured me that such was the case l
have reason to believe know who concocted
the nasty lies, and l am satisfied
from evidence that came to me that
Stanton inspired the assaults on my reputa-
tion. Whitelaw Reid gave mo u hint
of tho name of the man who did the dirty
work. He occupied position in the war
department at that time, and his brother was
prominently identified with the Chicago
Tribune
at was after these attacks that the propo-
siton WAS made to you to 60 on the prosi-
Dental ticket with President Lincoln, was it
not2"
ooh, yes; that was in 1864"
"Who made you the proposition, and under
what circumstances was it madeP
"Gen. Garfield telegraphed me from the
national republican convention in Baltimore,
asking me if would allow my name to 30 on
the ticket with Lincoln. and, if so, to answer
at once. l was at st. Louis in command of
| the department of Missouri. / sent for Chiof
Justice Drake and Tom Ewing, to whom
showed the telegram. -...
You will accept, of course said Drake.
"That is what want to consult you about,
replied. / was not at all favorably disposed
to the proposition, but both gentlemen urged
me to send favorable reply"
What did you do fnally?"
al sent reply to Gen. Garfield in tho fol-
lowing language, as near as can recollect it:
Nothing but the conviction that 1t is n high
public duty could induce me to become u candi-
date for political office. In this / have nc
grounds upon which to base such conviction
The convention must discharge its high aud re
sponsiblo duties in view OF the eXigencieS of the
nation, according TO its Judgment and conscience
leaving me to the exercise of the same when
know It's decision. The nomination of any man
acceptable to the loyal people OF the country will
satisfy me.
"What came of it?"
Garfield never received tho dispatch. AT
least, he said he never got it. know it left
st. Louis all right, because | waited until the
Acknowledgements of its receipt at PittSburg
came. | have no reason to doubt that Gar
field told the truth about not receiving my
reply. | do not think it ever reached his
hands | think it was intercepted before it
got to him by somebody who had authority
to do So"
"What do you mean? Who had such au-
thority?"
"Only two men, Lincoln and Stanton. /
have learned that when Garfield called at the
telegraph office in Baltimore to ask if there
was II message for him the clerk at the W in,
dow said yes, and started back to look for it
Presently another clerk camo forward and
said that no message had been received.
stanton felt that my elevation meant his
downfall, and | have not the slightest doubt
that he intercepted that telegram in the des-
perato hope that it might be tho means OF
getting mo out of the way"
'Do you care to say anything about the
Garfield letters and about Garfield himselfY
asked the interviewer
Tho general was silent n moment. Then
he settled back in his chair, and looking VI
with u smile, inquired:
"Do you know how Garfield came to be
made my chief Of statf!"
NO"
"Thore was nothing grand, or heroic, OF
splendid about it" said the general. 81 was
looking about for man to take that place
when one day Garfield came along. He had
a brigadier generals commission and brought
letters from Salmon p. Chase, who was O
very good friend of mine and fol-
whom | entertained warm regard
| asked Thomas, McCook, and Crltten.
den, my corps commanders, what they
thought of Garfield for the place. They
seemed to think he would do as they had
heard ho had good education, and supposed
from that that he could attend to tho literary
part of the duties in creditable manner
while they could see for themselves that he
had good address. i watched him closely
for several days that / might form q judg.
mcnt as to his lucidity of comprehension
facility of expression, and general fitness for