Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-26
THE TESTIMONY OF TREASON,
Filley Unfolds His knowledge of the Con-
troverted Question,
A CONSPIRACY OF STATESMEN
Chapters of Opinion Contributed by
Senator Arkell and Vice-Presi-
denu Hendricks OF Op.
positc Characters.
Fillcy Fires n VolIcy.


ST. Louis, Oct. 25.-ISpecial TO the BEE
The fact came to the knowledge of your
correspondent to-day that Chauncey |. Filley,
a lifelong republican, who has stood high in
the councils of the party-state and national
was possessed of facts, which put in print,
would prove most interesting contribution
To the controversy concerning the relations
of Johnson and Grant. Accordingly Fillcy
was sought and requested TO tell his story
He reluctantly consented and proceeded with
q statement Of which the substance Is here
given:
Fillcy and Montgomery Blair, attorney gen
cral under Lincoln, were most intimate
friends and it was by Blair that Filey was
placed in possession of the details of this
most interesting scrap OF secret and unwrit-
ten history of the nation. johnson and
Blair were close friends. After johnson
was inaugurated president he made Blalrs
house in Washington his home, and Blair
was to q certain extent confidential al
wiser. Before Lincoln was assassinated the
republican party was split, Ben Wade, Sal
mon =. Chase and William II. Seward lead
ing that portion of the party desirous of en-
forcing the most radical measures. When
president, these men sought control of john
son, but soon discovered that Lincon's pol
icy was to be followed out by his successor.
Then they determined TO get rid Ofhim. An
elaborate scheme was planned, the details of
which were all known to johnson. The plot
was to prove johnson unfit through
the excessive use of liquor and
opiates to exercise the functions OF his office,
They collected and manufactured mass or
evidence, beginning with sworn testimony TO
prove johnson drunk when inaugurated and
that he had no idea what the oath OF otiicc
was, or what was tranSplrlng. lnen t'ley
prepared lot OF evidence, setting forth NE NE
day and date of a vast number of acts OF the
mind was impaired, all Of which was to serve
as a basis for the arrest OF johnson.
Blair and the president were perfectly well
aV are of what was going on, and discussed
the progress of the plot. When, however,
the schemers had so far perfected their plans
thai it only remained to decide on the date for
arrest, johnson decided TO send for General
Sherman. The president was afraid OF
Grant, the general OF the army. He thought
Grant aspired to a dictatorship, and in con
versation with Blair, pointed to the fact that
tai as possible. 1t was decided then to send
for Old Tecumseh, which was done, and when
Sherman arrived the surprise of Grant was
great. The president proceeded very cautious
~. lie ulu NOT teli onermitli All tlc IdGts.
He never spoke to him of conspiracy, but
simply said he was going to send Grant TO
Mexico, and desired to have Sherman at
Washington. The rest is told in recent pub
lications. Sherman told the president Grant
would not go to Mexico, and volunteered him
self. johnson let each OF the plotters know
in quiet but unmistakable way that he was
fully posted as to their schemes and they
abandoned the idea of arresting the president,
and their plans took shape later In, the i'm
peachmpnt proceedings. This sending for
General Sherman by the president apprised
Grant that he was suspected and distrusted
by the president, and 1t was not long before
even a pretense of friendship was abandoned
by the president and the head of the army,
and then followed correspondence between
them, portion of which is now finding its
way into print. This, said Filley, is the story
told fifteen years ago by Montgomery Blair.