Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-24
GEN. SHERMAN SPEAKS.

He Deprecates the Revival Of the Grant.
johnson Controversy. and Declares
His Belief that the President Never
Intended Violence.
ST. LOUIS, October 24.-The Globe Democra,
to-day contains a long interview with Gen.
Sherman in regard to the Grant-Johnson mat
ter. The general starts out by saying: AZ do
not wish to say anything in regard to this con.
troversy now, but have all the documents
pertaining to 1t in my possession. and I assure
you 1t has not been forgotten. think the
papers are getting badly mixed up over it, and
the more testimony given the more confused it
becomes"
The general gives long account of how and
Campbell instead Of Gen. Grant, which is SUBJ
stantially the same as given in the Associated
Press dispatches nom Philadelphia, and which
rect. He then proceeds as follows II never
understood Gen. Grant to express any fear that
Mr: Johnson contemplated any violence. Mr..
Johnson firmly believed that the constitution
and the laws then existing were all-suficient
for the reconstruction OF the southern states.
Congress thought otherwise, and in the quarrel
between that body and the President, Grant
was In danger ofbeing made scapegoat."
General sherman here produced large
bundle OF letters from General Grant and con-
question. They are all of a friendly and conf
dental nature, but there is nothing in them
Which would 60 to show that Grant
was restored to office Mr.. johnson accused
Grant of having surrendered his Office without
It was fight between the President and Con.
gress, and General Grant was not willing they
should wage it over his shoulders. Mr. stanton
Mr. Johnson was hostile to Mr.. Stanton and he
did not want him in his cabinet. Gen. Grant
concluded that the best way out of the difficulty
ton fight it out among themselves. l think the
papers are making too much Of this contro-
versy. 1t Is simply an effort to rekindle the
do not believe Mr. Chauncey Depew intended
to do more than to repeat from memory the
statement made by Gen. Grant at the dinner
no doubt thought there was something in this
matter. But there was nothing more in Mr..
Johnson's attitude than ordinary political diff
ferences which will exist between men Of differ
ent parties. repeat again that there was no vio-
lence intended. Everybody was sick and tired
of Ns Nh ian S Ha. s snesgt
wanted President johnson to nominate Gen.
Jacob Ja D. Cox . as Secretary Of War, and
have settled the Whole ' Controversy s Mr..
Reverdy johnson conceded with me in this
particular, but President johnson would fight
stated. Mr.. johnson was impressed with the
belief that with the constitution and laws he
could successfully reconstruct the south; Mr..
Congress. however, wanted to provide the
which the states that had seeded might
gress and the President General Grant had
very unhappy time Of 1t for about year.
Then when the question was asked, Who will
be President Johnson's successor? the answer
invariably was Gen. Grant OF course there
was the desire on the part Of some to crush Gen.
Grant, as there was after the Mexican war to
kill Gen. Scott, which they did, and Gen. Tay-
lor, which they did not When Gen. Grant
was elected President in 1868 these things
ceased to be talked about, but they are being
stirred up again now. All the correspondence
and documents relating to that controversy
have been saved, however, and they will yet be
made Dublic.n