The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-21
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
THE ARrsrocRAoY OF JOHNSON
Compared with the PAtriotl,m of General
Grant-The Country on tho Verge of
"tho Commune" Saved BY the Dead
Hero-PagoS of Uawritton History.

New YoRE, Oct. 2O.-Hon. Chauncey NJ
: Depew has furnished the press an open
letter to Col. T. D. Grant, in which he
. says:
In answer to your request for particu'
lars Of the conversation 1 had with your
father, and to which alluded in speech
before the Chamber OF Commerce, the fol-
lowing is my best recollection:
About four yeais ago sat beside Gen.
Grant at dinner. There were many
courses, slowly served, and the entertain.
ment lasted several hours. We discussed
many matters suggested by his travels
around the world, ard among other things
he said to me, that when in China Prince
Kung, who was regent and real ruler dur
ing the minority Of the Emperor, told him
OF their controversy with Japan. War
was about to be declared, aud the Prince
thought it would be H long and bloody
one, and asked General Graut If he would
act as arbitrator. The General declined
for want Of tine, but principally because
ne was a private person and had no power
to enforce his decision. He suggested,
however, terms OF compromise. When in
Japan shortly afterwards the ministers
told their side oil the trouble, and revealed
the fact that several European govern
ments were actively stirring up the strife,
hoping to benefit by the war, the same
request was made to him on the part oil
Japan tC act as arbitrator, and in again de-
ciniug, he stated the substance OF the
compromise he had advised for China,
The two nations adopted substantially the
terms proposed by General Grant, and a
disastrous conflict was averted. T.
RELATIONS WITH ANDREW JOHNSON.
The conversation drifted into consid-
Grafton OF his relations with President
Andrew johnson.
The narrative OF this period was one Of
the most graphic descriptions to which I
ever listened, and it is unfortunate for
history and posterity that it cannot be
preserved as told. IL had the local color
ing OF conversation with and statements
by the chief ACTOR, and Of the situa.
tions Of parties and persons as the
events occurred, valuable as portrai-
ture aud esteemed OF the times. /
said in my address that General Grant
performed services to his country which
were uuwritten quite as important
as any that werc recorded, and think
this narrative will bear me out. This Is
the substance OF the story. johnson be.
gan, the day alter the assassination OF Mr..
Lincoln, to loudly proclaim at all times
and places, with constant reiteration, the
shibboleth that treason IL odious and must
be punished, and the chief rebels shall be
hung. To give effect to this sentiment, as
soon as he was inGuHurated he insisted
upon the United States Courts in Virginia
finding indictments against all the lead.
ing members of the Confederacy. He also
wanted the officers in the rebel army
who had ltf; tho regular army TO Join the
rebellion to be summarily dealt with by
court martial. These movements OF the
President produced the greatest conster.
nation in the South. The Confederate
leaders appealed TO General Grant TO pro-
tect them on the parole he had given.
He saw johnson on the subject, only to
be informed that the President was, by
the Constitution, Commander in Chief OF
the army, and that everything done by
the commanding general on the field was
done subject TO his approval or rejection,
and he ri jected the terms. III
GRANTS MAoNANIMIrY.
General Grant urged that tho rebels bad
surrendered on these conditions, disband-
ed their organization, submitted uniyer-
sally to the situation and were carrying
out in good faith their part Of the agree
ment, and every consideration OF both
honor and expediency demanded equal
good faith on the part OF the government.
The other course would have led to an
endless guerilla warfare conducted in q
country adopted for it by the desperate
men. johnson adhered 10 his view and
assumed the authority OF commander
when General Grant fatty told him that
II there were TO be any court martials It
must be called to try General Grant first
that he would by every measure in his
power protect his parole and appeal TO
Congress and the country. In the halt
called by this attitude OF Grant a very re-
markabie change occurred in the views Of
President johnson.
General 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, If
not entirely dependent upon his intense
hatred OF the slave-holding .oligarchy.
He was poor white; had been jour
neyman tailor, and notwithstanding the
public positions he had held he could
not break through the class barrier, and
was treated socially with contempt by
this proud aristocracy. q,
| JoHysoE's ANIaosITY.
When they plunged into rebellion 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 prop
eriy, humiliate their pride and possibly
destroy them. The absorbing ambition
and passion OF his lie had been TO be re-
Ceived 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
vindictiYe OF men. He saw them foiled In
their rebellion, defeated and impovrished,
and now he wanted TO kill them. While
he was devisiug means to overcome Gem
eral Grants resistance to this last purpose
the leaders OF the old feudalsm called
upon him. They admitted their former
treatment Of him and justified 1t. They
said in all ages and countries
where caste distinctions existed, CON
ditions were always possible which
promoted men who had achieved success
from the lower into the noble order. AS
President OF the UnitediStates he became,
regardless OF birth or ancestry, not only q
member Of their order but its leader.
johnson was wild with delight; ambition
and pride were satisfied. He became as
anxious to sustain. and perpetuate in come
form, o system which had given the high
eat social and political distinction to
few greet families, as he had been to
destroy 1t. :.3
IoHNsoN's INCONSISTENCY. ..'