Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-26
GRANT AND JOHNSON.
An Exciting Meeting in Ibconstruotion
Days.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.--sen. Rolfe s.
Saunders, OF Tennessee, a vUy prominent
politician, speaking to-day o Mr.. Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew's startling stoy that Grant
saved the country from a econd civil
strife, said "Grant hated Johnson worse
than any man alive. Now Ii should be
remembered that at the time Grant re-
lated his version OF the affair 10 Depew he
was different man from wha he became
later. After his Affections ind misfor-
tunes he grew peuitent, but when he
talked with Depew he was tut of vindic-
tive hatred Of johnson. In 1871 l was
sitting in eX-President Johnsm's library
with him. in Greenyille, Tent. He was
talking Of his experiences as President,
and remarked; 'pll snow you some uu-
written history He reached up to the
book shelves and took down very large
volume, larger than the ordinary ledger
OF a business house. There Wefe a num-
Der of these volumes ranged alongside
each other. He laid before me the one he
mad taken down, and opened it 1t place
which was marked by torn Iiece of a
newspaper. 1t was detailed record of
what had occurred at a memorable
Cabinet meeting. These volumes con-
tained the minutes Of all the Cabinet
meetings Of JohnsOn's administration.
The proceedings were set forth ID a clear
hand, l read the record OF the meeting
to which he had called my atteltion. 1t
contained the expressions of the opinions
OF the Cabinet members concerning
Grants course with regard to .he Secre-
taryship of War. He had, ~ is well
known, consented to take that POSITION for
The purpose of aiding the administration
to get Stanton out. In that very meet
ing he was accused by the President and
his Cabinet ministers of treachery and
dcuble-dealing. Gideon Welles employed
the strongest language in denOuncing
Grants conduct, and neverread such an
excoriatlon as the President gave Grant.
In language as forcible as Johnson could
emplOy-and he knew how to use vigOr-
GUS English-he denounced Grant for his
deception and tTeachery. He charged him
with having played the spy upon the
administration and the Cabinet. After
having. read the denuuciation, l asked
MIR. johnson where Grant was at the
time. He replied with great earnestness:
c. him, as close to me as you are,
and during the delivery Of my remarks l
shook my finger right in his isce.'
"He" Grant ),continued Gen. Saunders,
''nelther looked up nor replied, 30 Presi-
dent Johnson told me. Now, it is plain
to be seen that Grant was moved by vim
dictiVe spite in telling what be did. It's
absurd. Mr.. johnson was not socially
tabOOed. 1t is true there were people
who didn't like him, but he was Governor
Of the State, United States Senator, ETC.,
and had as high a social position as any
body. Again, there were very few South
ern men here in Washington at the time
Grant refers to. / was elected to Con-
gress from the Memphis district in 1860,
and came on here, but never got my seat.
know that very few of the leaders OF
southern sentiment and opinion were
here about thSb time. johnson never did
say, either, that traitors should be hung.
He SAID treason should be made OdiOus
and traitors punished"