The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-12
GeneroL Grant aud President
johnson.

The remark Of Mr.. D-pew in his sddress
before the New YORK Chamber Of Com
merce 70 the effect that there Is an unwrit-
ten cha pier OF service which Gen Grabt
performed for the country which Is qolte as
important as any which has Deen written
has naturally excited some curiosity. Mr..
Depew promised u tell what that occasion
and service was at an early day II some
one else did not do it. The Brooklyn Ia
gle is OF the opinion that Mr.. Dope" re'ef-
red TO two incidents which II claims 70
have heard related Of Gen. Grant last ~lu.
ter. 1t remains to be seen II tue Eagle is
correct. Whether or not the surfDisr Is
right, the Incidents related by the J. t2'e
are interesting aud doubtless true. Tie
first /, To the effect that, r ortly alter the
assassination Of Presid nj Lincoln, Pre-i-
dent Johnson called Gen. Grant to PR
yate Interview, In which be disclosed II
him his purpose to arrest the ID neer, oi
the Confederate Government and Congress
and try them in the Fe1sral courts, ana all
of the leading officers of he rebel army
and try them by military commission, de-
airing his purpose TO chang every moth
er's son o. them," and for that purpose be
wished Gen. Grant to use the army. 10
this proposition Gen. Grant replied that he
would never use the army nor permit IL TO
be used for that purpose. President John
son reminded the General tn {. he was the
mnander-in-Chief, and asked what he
(GranD would do If he should issue euch
orders. "Disobey them, replied the Cen
eral, land state my case to Congress.
This proposition was pushed no further.
Soon after that President johnson chang
ed nis tactics. Treason was no longer TO
be made odions by the gallows, but eX-
Confederates were pardoned and taken in-
TO the confidence OF the President. He was
at war with Congress, and had d new plot
which In due time he called upon General
Grant to consider. A. related by the la
gle, the following interview occurred
II mean to order elections in the South
for Congressman, State officers and Legs
latures under the old law"
"You can not do it, said the General.
"The southern States are now under pro-
visoual governments, established by the
laws of Congress"
But interposed the President, chose
laws are unconstitutional. The South will
act under my orders and choose Represen-
tatives and Senators. With them the Dem
ocratic Representatives and Senators from
the North will unit. Together they wild
form the Congress will recognize. Inc
other c ,ngress will then b. rebellion"
To this statement Gen Grant r pli@d
~ will oppose and prevent any such
thing"
"IIow?' was the inquiry.
"By marching enough of the army into
the usurplng Congress to disperse or to ar
rest and imprison all its members was
the reply.
The two men eyed one another from top
to toe, but parted formally and without
further collision OF view.
Soon after President Johnson made
persistent effort to get Gen. Grant to 60 on
some sort of mission to Mexico, but Sis
pecting the design Of Mr.. Johnson, he re-
fused. Shortly after he was required by
the President to 20 to California, but be-
fore going he appraised the officer who was
10 take his place during his absence of the
plot, but nothing more was heard oft
As these stories agrte with the action OF
President johnson at that time and 60 to
confirm statements and reports concerning
his purpose at that time, as told and under
stood among Republican leaders. there Is
every reason 10 believe that they contain
an element of truth. II is well known that
Mr.. Johnson changed his plans and that
about this time he became very much ex-
asperated with Gen. Grant.