Mower County transcript., 1885-10-28

The fuel war at st. Paul has ended and
anthracite coal is now quoted at 81 so and
s7.75.
Redfeld, D. T., has decided not to be a
candidate for the capitol
GEN. GRANT AND ANDREW JOHNSON.
Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew, of New York,
has made public statement which is the
sensation of the day and creating great
deal of discussion. The letter states that
about four years ago the writer sat at a
dinner with Gen. Grant, during which the
general related incidents of his trip around
the world and also stated something of his
relations with Andrew johnson during the
stormy period of reconstruction. The fol-
loving is Mr.. Depew's statement of what
Gen. Grant told him:
johnson began the day after the assassi-
nation of Mr.. Lincoln to loudly proclaim,
at all times and places, with constant reit-
Grafton, the shibboleth, Treason is odious,
and must be punished, and the chief rebels
shall be hung" To give effect to this sent
iment, as soon as he was inaugurated he in
sisted upon the United States courts in
Virginia finding indictments. against all
the leading members of the confederacy.
He also wanted the officers in the rebel
army, who had left the regular army to
Join the rebellion, to be summarily dealt
with by court-martial. These movements
of the President produced the greatest con-
sternation throughout the South. The con-
federate leaders appealed to Grant to pro-
tect them on the parole he had given. He
saw johnson on the subject, only to be in
formed that the President was, by the con-
stitution, commander-in-c chief of the army,
and that anything done by the command
ing general on the field was done subject to
his approval or rejection, and he rejected
the terms. Gen. Grant urged that the
rebels had surrendered on these conditions,
disbanded their organizations submitted
universally to the situation, and were car
rying out in good faith their part OF the
agreement, and every consideration or both
honor and expediency demanded equally
The other course would have led to an end
less guerrilla warfare conducted in coun-
try admirably adapted for it by desperate
and hopeless men. Johnson Obstinately
adhered to his view, and assumed the
authority of commander, when Grant fatty
martials one must be called to try Gen.
Grant first; that he would by every means
in his power protect his parole, and appeal
to congress and the country.
In the halt called by this attitude Of Gen:
Grant, a very remarkable change occurred
son. Gen. Grant discovered that the most
frequent and favored visitors to the white
house were the men whom the president
had prescribed. In the generals opinion
Johnson's loyalty was subordinate to, II
not entirely dependent upon, his entire en-
was poor white, had been ]ourneyman
tailor, and, notwithstanding the distin-
guished public positions he had held, he
could not break through the class barrier,
and was treated socially with contempt by
his proud a1istocracy: When they plunged
believed in the power of the government,
and thought that the time had come when
he could defeat his enemies, confscate their
property, humiliate their pride and posi-
bly, destroy them. The absorbing ambition
and passion of his life had been to be re-
ceived and treated as one of them by the
oligarchy. Having failed in that, and suf-
fered insult and indignity in the effort, he
became one of the most vindictive of men.
He saw them fail in their rebellion, de-
feated and impoverished, and now he
wanted to kill them. While he was devils
ance to this last purpose, the leaders of
the old feudalism called upon him. They
admitted their former treatment and justi-
fed it. They said that in all ages and
countries where cast distinctions existed
conditions were always possible which pro
the lower into the noble order. AS presi-
dent of the United States he became, re-
gardless of birth or ancestry, not only a
member of their order, but its leader.
Johnson was wild with delight; ambition
and pride were both satisfied. He became
as anxious to sustain and perpetuate i'll
some form a system which had given the
highest social and political distinction to a
few great families as he had been to destOy
it.
Grant did not have long to wait for the
formulation of his plan; The president
measures of congress were revolutionary
and would destroy the country. The wal
was over, and the republic wanted peace
and that was possible only by a union OF
all sections. The provincial governments
provided for the seeded states were
tional authority, and the states had all
the rights and should possess al the powers
they had before the war. He had per
fected q scheme to accomplish this re-
suit, and with Gen. Grants assistance its
was aSfured St tho He Eehe Tond 4s ty
send to Washington their full quota OF
senators and representatives. He had
assurances from enough members from the
north, who, united with them, would make
| q quorum of one house, at least, ii not
| both. The congress thus formed he would
other northern members did not choose tc
%aetnr 1ney N w1na some hail. Ro the senera
suggestion that this would start the civil
war afresh, the president said: '!They
who do it will be the rebels, but il you
sustain me resistance is impossible" he
appealed to Grant to stand by him in the
crisis, and they would be the saviours OF
of the republic.
After endeavoring for long time in
vain to convince the president Of the folly
| Of such course and it's certain failure, nc
| told him that be would drive the congress
so constituted out of the capitol at the
point of tho bayonet, give possession OF
the building to the senators and representa-
tives from the loyal states, and protect
them. If necessary, he would appeal tc
recently mustered out Of service.
Mr.. johnson asked him if he did not rec
ognize thee powers vested in the president
by the constitution, and if he would refuse
to obey the commander-in-chief.
Gen. Grant said that under such circum
stances he most certainly would. Shortly
afterwards the president sent for Gen
Grant, and said to him that the relations
| Of our government and Mexico were very
delicate, and he wished him to go K
the City Of Mexico at once and on very
important mission. The General knew
| LQ1S was 10 RcL ullu Out VI tuo CcuAuy aH1
put it in the power Of tb tn
to Washington, some officer upon whom h'
could rely. He replied that il the appoint
ment was diplomatic one he declined it
il it was military one he refused to obey
because the general of the army could no
be ordered to a foreign country with whicl
we are at peace. The interview was .
stormy one, but the subject was dropped
One day the general was sent west on
tour of inspection. He knew that Genera
Sherman was to be his successor, and il
him he had absolute confidence. The out
spoken 10y atty OF that great soldier prevent
ed the project ever being renewed 1t is a
this date needless to speculate upon wha
might have happened had Gen. Grant &C
lively assisted or passively obeyed tn
president. No one doubts the courage ant
obstinancy Of Andrew Johnson, and onl,
a man Of equal firmness and determination
could have prevented a most calamitou
and unfortunate strike at the most critica
period OF the reconstruction of the repub
lie. Yours very truly,
CHAUScEY N. DEpEw.
To Col Frederick D. Grant.
This publication has led to great con
troversy and is, for the time, the absorbing