St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-10-21
A Little Unwritten History in Reference
to Things Accomplished by
Gen. Grant.
How His Advice While Abroad Averted
Bloody Conflict Between China
and Japan.
President Johnson's Little Scheme
Nipped in the Bud by His
Determination.
The Presidents Demands Met by
Grants Threats of Calling
Out the Army.
UnNVritteIl History.

following open letter to Col. F. ID. Grant:
New York, Oct. 20, 1SS5.-My Dear Colonel:
In answer to your request for the particulars
of the conversation had with your father,
and to which alluded in a speech before the
chamber of commerce, the following is my
best recollections: About four years ago 1
sat beside Gen. Grant at dinner, There were
many courses, slowly served, and the enter
tainment lasted several hours, We discussed
many matters suggested by his travels
around the world, and among other things he
said to me that when in China Prince Kung,
who was regent and the real ruler during the
minority OF the emperor, told him their con-
troversy with Japan. War was about to be
declared, and the prince thought it would be a
long and bloody one, aud asked Gen. Grant if he
would act as arbitrator. The general de-
clined for want of time, but principally be-
cause he was private person and had no
power to force his decision. He suggested,
however, the terms of compromise. When
in Japan shortly after, the mikado's minister
told their side of the trouble and evaded the
fact that several of the European govern
ments were actively stirring up the strife On
both sides, hoping to be benefited by the
war. The same request was made to him ON
the part of the Japanese government to act
as arbitrator, and, in again declining, he
stated the substance of the compromise ne
had advised for China. The two nations
adopted substantially the terms proposed by
Gen. Grant, and
A DISASTROUS CONFLICT
was averted. The conversation drifted into
consideration of his relations with Presi-
dent Andrew Johnson. The narrative of this
period was one of the most graphic descrip-
tions to which l ever listened, and it is un-
fortunate for history and posterity that it
cannot be presented as it was told. 1t had
the local coloring of conversations with
and statements by the chief actors, and of the
situations of parties and persons as the
no irx-o
and estimate Of the times. said IN my ad-
dress that Gen. Grant performed services to
his country, which were unwritten, quite as
important as any that were recorded, and I
think this narrative will bear me out. This is
the substance of the story: Johnson began
the day after the assassination of Lincoln,
to loudly proclaim at all times and places,
with constant reiteratiOn, the Shibboleth
Treason is OdiOuS and must be punished, and
the chief rebels shall be hung To give
effect to this sentiment, as soon as he was in
augurated he insisted 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 Re-
bellion. summarily dealt with by court-mar-
tial These movements of the president pro-
duced the
GREATEST CONSERVATION
throughout the South. The Confederate
the parole he had given. He saw Johnson
on the subject, only to be informed that the
president was, by the constitution, COM
mander-ln-chief Of the army, and that any
thing by the commanding general in the
field was done subject to mis- approval or re-
lection. Gen. Grant urged that the rebels
had surrendered on these conditions, dis
banded their organizations, submitted uni
yerSally to the situation and were carrying
out in good faith their part of the agreement,
and every consideration of both hon.
or and expediency demanded equal
good faith on the part of the
government The other course would have
led to an endless guerrilla warfare, conducted
in a country admirably adapted for it, by
desperate and hopeless men. Johnson OBJ
Stinately adhered to his view and assumed the
authority of commander when Grant fatty
told him that if there were to be any courts
martial, 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, very re-
markable change occurred in the views and
policy of President Johnson. Gen. Grant
discovered that the most frequent and fav-
ored visitors to the White house were the
men whom the president had prescribed. In
the generals opinion
JoHNsON'S LOYALTY
was subordinate to if not entirely dependent
oligarchy. He was a poor white, had been
journeyman tailor, and Notwithstanding the
distinguished positions he had held he could
not break through the class barrier, and was
treated socially with contempt by the proud
aristocraey. When they plunged into re-
belliOn he saw his opportunity. He believed
in the power of the government, and thought
that the time had come when he could defeat
his enemies, confscate their property, hui
initiate their pride. and possibly destroy
them. The absorbing ambition and passion
of his life had been to be received
and treated as one of them by the oligarchy.
Having failed in that, and suffered insult and
indignity in the effort, he became one Of the
most vindictive OF men. He saw them foiled
in their rebellion defeated and impoverished,
and now he wanted to kill them. While he
was uevising means to overcome Gen. Grants
resistance to his last purpose, leaders of the
old feudalism called upon him. They admit
ted their former treatment of him and justi-
fled it. They said that in all ages and coun-
tries, where caste distinctions existed, condi-
tions were always possible which promoted
men who had
ACHIEVED SUCCESS
from lower into the nobler order. As presi-
dent of the United States he became, regard
less of birth or ancestry, not only member
of its order but its leader. Johnson was
wild with delight. Ambition and pride had both
been satisfied. He became as anxious to sus-
tain and perpetuate in some form a system
which had given the highest social and pOliti-
cal distinction to the few great families as he
had been to destroy them. Grant did not
have long to wait for the formulation of his
plan. The president sent for him and said
the radical measures of congress were revo-
lutionary and would destroy the government.
The war was over and the republic in peace
and that was possible only by the union
of all sections. The provisional governments
provided for the seeded states were tempo
rary eXpedients, without constitutional au-
thOrity, and the states had all their rights and
should possess all powers they had before
the war. He had perfected scheme to ac-
complish this result, and with Grants assist
ance its success was assured. He would by
proclamation direct rebel states to send to
Washington their full quota of senators and
representatives. He had assurances from
with them to
MAKE QUORUM
of one house at least, if not BOTH Congress
thus formed he could recognize and install at
the capitol. To the generals suggestion that
this would start the civil war afresh, the
president replied: ''They who do it will be the
rebels: but if you sustain me resistance is
impossible. He appealed to Grant to stand
by him in the crisis and they would be the
saviors of the republic. After endeavoring
for long time in vain to convince the presi-
dent of the folly of such course and its GER
tain failure, no matter who sustained it,
Grant finally told him that he would drive
congress- so constituted out of the capitol at
the point of the bayonet, give possession of
the building to the senators and representa-
tives from the loyal states and protect them.
If necessary, he would appeal to the country
and to the army he had so recently mustered
out of service. Mr.. johnson asked him if he
did not recognize the powers vested in the
president by the constitution, and if he
would refuse to obey the commander-in-
chief. Grant said that under such circum-
stances he most certainly would. Shortly
afterwards the president sent for Gen. Grant
and said that the relations of our government
with Mexico were