Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-21

peace, ana that WaB poSe20le only oy
union of all sections. The provisions
governments provided for the secede'
States were temporary expsdients Withou
constitutional authority. and the State
had ell the rights and should possess al
the powers they had before the war. 81
he had perfected
A SCHEME
to accomplish this and with Gen. Grant
assistance its success was assured. Hl
would by proclamation direct the rebe
States to send to Washington their ful
quota of Senators and Representatives
He had assurances from enough member
from the North who united with then
would make q quorum of one house
if not both. The Congress then formed
be would recognize, and install at The
Capital. If the other northern members
did not choose to join, they would be
powerless rump meeting in some hall. IL
the Generals suggestion that this would
start the civil war airesb, the President re
piled. They who do il, will be the rebels
but if you sustain me, resistance will be
impossible" he appealed TO Grant tc
stand by him in the crisis, and they would
be sayionrs of the republic.
GRANTS BOLD COURSE.
After endeavoring for long time in
vain, to convince the President OF the folly
of such coursa and its certain failnEe, nc
matter who sustained it, Grant finally told
him that he would drive the Congress &C
constituted ont Of the Capitol at the point
Of the bsyonet, give possession Of the
building to the Senators and Representa-.
tives from the loyal States and protect
them. II necessary, he would appeal to
the country aud the army he had 50 recent.
Iy mustered ont of service. Mr.. johnson
asked him if be did not recognize the pow.
ers vested in the President By the Consti.
tuition, and if he would refuse to obey the
commsnder-in-chitf. General Grant said
that under such circumstances he most
certainly would. Shortly afterwsrd the
President sent for General Grant and said
to him that the relations of our govern
ment with Mexico were very delicate and
he wished him to 90 to the City Of Mexico
at once on very important mission. The
General knew this was
TO GET HIN OUT or THE WAY
and put it in power of the President to call
as his successor to Washington some Of
fcer upon whom he could rely. He re-
piled that if the appointment was diplo-
matte one he declined it. fit was q mill.
tary one he refused to obey because Gen
eral of the army could not be ordered 10
foreign country, with ~hfcn we are al
peace. Tho interview was stormy one,
but the subject was dropped. One
day the General was sent
west on a tour Of inspection.
He knew that Gen. Sherman was to be his
successor and in him he had absolute con-
6dence. The outspoken loyalty Of that
great soldier prevented the project ever
being renewed. 1t is at this dats need
less 10 speculate on what might
have happened had General Grant
assisted or psssiVely obeyed the
President. No one doubts the courage
and o5stinacy of Andrew johnson, aud
only man Of equal irmuess and determ.
instion could have prevented most cslam'
itous and unfortunate strife at the most
critical period Of the reconstruction Of the
republic. Yours very truly,
CHAUYCEY NJ. DEPEw.
To Col. Frederick d. Grant
col. GRANTS REPLY.
New YORK, October 20.
DEAR Mr.. DEPEw:-I am in receipt OF
Jour letter and thank you for your re-
sponse to my request. have read your
account with great interest. 1t is substan-
italy correct, and l have been able to
verify the facts from documents, letters
and personal recollections.
Yours very truly,
F. D. GRANT.
To Hon. CaAUNCEY NJ. DEPEw.