Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-11-04
UNWRITTEN HISTORY.
Gen. ". 4. Sherman interviewed d
Regard 70 the Grant.J Johnson
Controversy.

as
Views Of Gen. Butler, Gov. Hendricks,
and Other Gentlemen Of
Prominence.
sherman Sheds Light
lst. Louis speciall
The Globe Democrat this morning contains
the following interview with General Sherman
on tho pending controversy. ~ 70 the relst:Ons
Of General Grant with President johnson:
ssssssss sMsss g. e. sssi sisssss: se dssss ss
s0ssss ~ s.s 8ssns spoken q tor the presi-
was 70 set him ont OF the way do not think,
however, that johnson feared any political foo
1t was thought that Seward most dreaded the
power OF Grant and was most anxious to get
ria Of him"
1How Was It you were sent to Mexico instead
of Grant,"
Before replying to this question, General
Sherman rose and retired to room In the rear
Of the library, into which he had frst ushered
the reporter When he returned he hold In his
BOOK, @ An. After the War. i have ave Iii Ii ~ tho doca.
ments here he remarked. and they win be
published IN time. keferrtns to the proof
.In the, year 1895 / was summoned from New
Mexico to Washington. Whom ! arrived at
Washington1 called upon General Grant 1t his
Of my being ordered to Washington. He ex-
planned that President johnson wanted TO SOC
me, but that he did not know the why or where-
fore he supposed however % that that II s had some s.s
escort the newly appointed NJ mister, Hon. Lew
Campbell. Of Ohio, to the court Of Juarez, the
Ia o' o. Ike
supported by corps Of French troops. COM
manded by Marshal Bazaine. Gen Grant de-
MED the right OF the President to order him
n fr,en IN nv
troops He stated to me that he would dsobcy
tho order and take the consequences
ceived me with great cordial.ty, and said that
he was very glad had come. He stated that
Gen. Grant was about TO leave for Mexico on
Of nna that ne
the army In Gen. Grants absence. then
informed the President that Gen. Grant
would not sn. 60 He He, Seemed seemed ANA amazed !,
was generally understood that Gen. Grant coar
! sidered the occupation Of Mexico by tfe.cn
troops and the establishment Of an emp tnefe
with an Austrian prince ~ its head - nossne ~
| republican America. The Presit<n! auued tnae
| the administration had en.need Win sne
french sovems1s ios IA Sesue the country Oa M
free for that NJ CsmSbe sns w.s .c 3.
eompanisd com p 5Snid emphasise the act '' q the e
tJnitsd Nates. ! then reiterated that Gen.
Sraas sould not go, and that he president
j
af1nt 1t thas time. I then suggested that Gen.
Hancock or Gen. Sheridan could perfqrm the
same oifice. and that. II neither OF them was
answered. II you will go. that win answer per-
fectly:' Accordingly the following order was
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON,
TO the Hon. Edwin NJ Stanton. Secretary Of
-sIR-Gen. U. S. Grant having found 1t incon-
venient to assume the duties specified in my
letter to you Of the 2eth inst, You will please
relieve him and assign them in all respects TO
armies Of the United States BY the way Of
directing Gen. Sherman in the performance Of
his duties. you will furnish him with copy oR
sRsc. %, ssl Gen q .se a,a :as n e
ens.ry oa s. sep z shs s.
ffsa e 1es LSsnssssns e 4. cssss.
w'tscst delay. Very rsspsca,slly yenIs
In r.u.ne. Of tha3 naET ossr xsns soMsso ]" v.,.
Crus in the unilsd statAs ship susqnehanns
We then crntsed TO Matamoras where the Min-
aster was an Communication with friends Of
At New Orleans. however, I received the fol-
lowing dispatch f.om secretary stanton:
WASHINGTON, Dec. u. 1896
Il Seuant General ShermSn, New Orleans:
Your teien.ram Of yesterday has been submit
ted to tho hesisiSsapt You are authorized 10
proceed to st. Louis NJ JDpr convenience. Your
performance Of the special Nsnd deiicste duties
President, the Cabinet, and thfs department
Have you the instructions to Grant,st which
You received copy?"
Yes. ! have copies Of them somewhere. but
they arc on file in the state Department At
Washington Some time subsequent 10 my re-
turn-I do not remember the date--Mr. Stanton
office bill, and General Grant was appointed
by President johnson to be Secretary OF War
ad interim. He exercised the functions Of that
some Proceedings in the Senate, MT stanton
was renstated as Secretary Of War. This caused
trouble between Gen Grant snd the President.
rel was the beginning Of the trqqh2A M ,ff John
s8h." Who NEs Regularly tried BY the Senate and
acquitted. After that Mr.. Stanton resigned
and Gen. Schofeld was appointed Secretary OF
War, and he remained in that office to the end
OF the johnson administration.
mo, j never understood Gen. Grant to ex-
press any fear that Mr.. johnson contemplated
any violence. Mr.. johnson firmly believed that
the Constitution and laws then existing were
all sufficient for the reconstruction OF the
Southern States Congress thought otherwise,
President. Grant was N danger OF being made
Gen Sht rman again returned to the rear of
his library, and this time he emerged carrying
large file OF Gen. Grants letters These let
ters from Gen. Grant cover the period In Ques-
ton. They are all OF . friendly and coniiden-
WnIC0
could 20 to show that Grant ever apprehended
any national danger. When Stanton was re-
stored to Office johnson accused Grant of hav-
ing surrendered his office without sufficient re-
sistance That was the cause OF thu quarrel
1t was fight between the President and Con-
gross, and Grant was not Wiling that they
should wage IL over bis shoulders. Stanton be-
ing backed by Congress- Grant retired. John
son was hostile to Stanton. and he did not want
him in his cabinet Grant concluded that the
best way out Of the difficulty was to let the
President. Congress. and Stanton hight it out
among themselves.
Il think the papers are making too much Of
this controversy. II fs simply an effort to re-
kindle the embcrs Of . fire which has long
since died ont. ] do not believe Mr.. Chauncey
memory . statement made by Gen Grant ct .
dinner table. He Ia very honorable gentleman,
but he. no doubt, thought there was something
In this matter. But there was nothing moro In
Mr.. Johnsons attitude than the ordinary
political differences which will exist between
repeat again, there Was no violence intend
ed. Everybody was sick and tired Of war. Mo-
body thought of fighting, except on paper.
After Stanton was removed. wanted President
johnson 70 nominate Gen. jacob D. Cox ~
SecretAry OF War, and his confirmation by tho
senate would have settled the whole contro-
veTsy. Mr.. Reverdy JOhnson coincided with me
in this particular. brt the President wo0ld 6Rht
1t out in his own way.
~As have already stated Mr. johnson was
tuition and the laws he could successfully ro-
construct the South Mr.. Lincoln think was
OF the same opinion. Congress-. however.
wanted 10 provide the machinery and dictate
the terms upon which the States that had 80
ceded should be received back into the Union
Gen. schofield's Reminiscences.