The Wilmingtonian., 1885-10-24

The above note bears the date OF October
Goth, 1885, and on the day following, octo-
ber 21st, this same Fred Grant when asked
to produce the letters and documents cor
roborative of President Johnson's disloyal-
ty, made answer 'that he knew of no docu-
ments in existence that were absolutely cor
roborative of the facts of the conversation
that Mr.. Depew had with his father, but he
had no doubt that there were some public
men yet living who are contemporaneous
with the period referred to- and who 'proba-
bly, would verify his fathers accusations"
When Fred Grant wrote the note of the
goth inst, TO G. M. Depew that che could
verify his (Depew's) statements by facts
and documents he (Fred Grant, told will
full and malicious falsehood.
Among the first messages of President
johnson was suggestion to Congress to
recognize the patriotic conduct of Gen. w.
S. Hancock in s,ibordinating, in New Or
leans, the military to the civil government.
II will be recalled that in the early days Of
the reconstruction period there was mark
ed tendency to military despotism. The
Radical Extremists had full sway and there
was not Democratic community even
north Of Mason's and Dixson's lines that
usxuts ssssstsdv-ssrn and tSEd AID
dominated by Federal bayonets. Even in
Delaware our voters passed to the ballot
box between a file of soldiers, and under
crossed bay onets and be it said to the eter-
nal disgrace of Gen. Grant that he encour-
aged this onslaught on the liberties of the
American people.
Nathaniel Smithers of Dover was the bay
onet candidate of the shot gun policy, but
his subsequent political obscurity attests
the disgust with which he has been remem-
bered by bis fellow citizens.
Gen. Grant stated 'because President
johnson proposed that the Southern States
should send representatives to Washington
after the restoration of peace, that he was
conspiring to destroy the government" At
that time the Southern States were as legit-
mately entitled to representation as they
were fifteen years later, aud Gen. Gran
and his minions to this day have been un-
tiring in their efforts to stir up sectional an
imosities.
Only two weeks ago the Philadelphia
Press, a stauneh Grant organ, gave an ex-
tract from comparatively rece mt speech OF
Gen. Grant in which we find these remark
able words:-
"There are fourteen states, and localities
=" in some other states where Republicans
" have not the tight of franchise. This is
"why am Republican"
| Gen. Grant had an avowed hostility to
the South, and his theory was that those
people should be harnessed in 'sack cloth
and ashes for thousand years. The New
York Herald says;-
at is a sad issue that has ben raised it
is one which the country will insist shall
not be avoided, but be settled now and for
ever. On the one hand it involves the 10y
atty and honor OF President of the United
States who has lain ten years in his grave.
On the other hand it involves the honor and
yeracity of soldier was borne to burial
less than three months ago.
We deem it the filal duty Of Col. Grant
forthwith to give to the public the 'docu,
ments, letters and personal recolections' by
which, as he assured Mr. Depew in letter
that we printed yesterday, he has verified
Gen. Grants narrative Of President John
sons revolutionary designs and proposals
The interview with Col. Grant which WI
print this morning is not satisfactory.
Among the disclosures that are to come
we await with special interest sufficient
explanation why the treasonable PROPOSE
tions of President johnson, which Genera
Grant related to Mr.. Depew and which Col
Grant certifies he has letters and documents
to attest, were omitted from the articles o
Impeachment presented against the Pre- 81
dent by the House of Representatives in
1s6s."