Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-10-22
UNWRITTEN HISTORY.
Controversy Between Andrew Johnson
and Gen. Grant and the United
States Congress.
Tho Soutl,'s Fricnd-How Peace WAS
Maintained Between China and
Japan--A Celebrated Letter.


I NEw YoRE, oct 2l-Hon. Chauncey
4 NJ. Depew has furnished 10 the press the
following open letter;
! TO col, L. u. Grant
4 My DEAR CnLoNEr--ln answer TO your
request for the particulars OF the CONVEX
sation had with your father, aud to
which lalluded In Il speech before the
chamberof commerce, the following Is my
/ best recollection,
About four years ago | sat beside Gen.
Grant at dinner There were many
courses slowly served and the cntertain-
mcnt lasted several hours. We discussed
many matters suggested 10y his travels
around the world, and among other
T things he said to me that when in China
I Prince Kune, who was regent
and the real ruler during the minority
I of the emperor, told him of their con-
troversy with Japan. War was about TO
/ be declared and the prince thought it
would be n long and bloody one, and
asked Cen Grant II he would nc. as ar
/ bitrator. Tho general declined for
want of time, but principal
lly because he was private
person and had no power to enforce his
decision. lie suggested, however, the
terms of the compromise. When in ia
pan shortly after, the mikado's minis
tiers told their side of the trouble and
created the fact that several of the Eu-
ropean governments were actively
stirring up the strife on both
sides, hoping TO benefit bv the
war The same request was made to
him on the part Of the Japencsc govern
ment to act as arbitrator, and in again
declining ho stated the substance of the
compromise he had advised for China.
The two nations adopted substantially
the terms proposed 10y Gen. Grant, aud u
disastrous conflict was ayerted.
The conversation driftcd into the con-
Sidcmtiou of his relations with President
Andrew Johnson. The narrative of this
period was one of the most graphic de-
Scriptious to which ever listened.
1T is unfortunate for history aud
oosterity that 70 cannot be pre-
served rs 1t was told. 1t had the local
colorlng of conversation with thc state
mcnts by the chief actors and of the sltu-
) alton of parties and persons As the events
occurred, invaluable as portrahurc and
, estimate of the times.
/ said in my address that Gen. Grant
performed services to his country which
were mwrittcn quite as important as
any that were recorded, and ! think
this narrative viii bear me out. This is
: the substance of the story Johnson be-
gan the day after the assassination OF
Mr. Lincoln loudly To proclaim at all
times and places with constant reiteratiun
the shibboleth, "uouson Is udiOus and
: must hc punished" and "the chief rebels
shall be hung" To give effect to this seu-
timent rs soon as he was inaugurated,
q he insisted upon United States courts gin
Virginia finding indictments against all
, the leading members Of the Confcdcracy
lie also wanted the officers in the rebel
Il army who had left the regular army to
ioiu the rebellion TO be sHmmarily dealt
n with by court-martial. These move
mcnts of the president produced the
greatest Consideration throughout
the South The Confederate lead
crs appealed to Grant to pro
a tuct them on the parole he had given
He saw johnson on the subject only 10
be informed that the president was by
N the constitution commandments o
Il the army and that anything done by tho
II commanding general ON the field was dont
subject to his approval or rejection, anc
h he rejected the terms. Gen. Grant ur9ct
h that the rebels had surrendered on
n these conditions, disbanded theil
u organization. submitted universally to th'
situation and were carrying out in gooC
faith their part Of the agreements, anC
A every consideration of both honor an,
q expedicncy demanded equal good faith OF
the part of the government The utne
course would have led to an endless
guerrilla warfare conducted in a country
admirably adapted for it 10y desperate nu(
hopeless men. Johnson obstinatcly adj
hered to his view and Gran
aauy told him that if thcr
were to be any courtS-mario
one must be called to try Gen Gran
first, that he would by every means IN hi
power protect the parole and ap
peal to congress aud the country
In the halt called by this attitude Of Gen
Grant remarkable change occurrc,
in tic views and policy o
President Johnson Gen. Gran
discovered that the host frequen
and favored visitors to the whit
house were the men WHOM
the president had prescribed
In the generals opinion Johnson's loyalt
was subordinate TO, If not cntircl
dependent upon, his intense hatrc,
OF the slaye-holding oligarchy. llc wa
poor white, had been "A Journey
man tailor, and Notwithstanding IN
distinguished public position h
had held, he could not brea
through the glass barrier and WA
treated socially with contempt by tn
proud arlstocracy When they plunge
into rebellion he say his opportunity III
believed in the power OF the government
and thought that the time had come Whel
he could defeat his enemies, conhscat
their property, humlitate their pride an
possibly destroy them. The absorhn
. ambition and passion OF his life Ina
3 been to be received and treated as one
them by the uligarchy but having taile
- in that and suffered insult and indigntie
in the effort he became one OF Oh
z most vindictiye OF men, lie saw thcr
a foiled in their rebellion, delicate,
, and impoverished, and nov he wantc
\ to kill them While he was deylSin
At means to overcome the general
! resistance to this task or purpose, tn
!, leaders OF the feudalism called upon hin
Il They admitted their former treatment {