The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-10-30
RELATED BY GEN. GRANT.

Dcpcw has furnished to the press the fol
lowing open letter to Col. f. D. Grant;
In answer to your request for the par
ticulars OF the conversation had with
your father, and to which | allud.
ed in a speech before the cham Der OF
m the following is my best rccoI'
lection: About four years ago / SIT be-
side Gen. Grant ut dinG9r. There were
many courses, slowly served, and the enter
tainmen lasted several hours. He said to
me that when in China Prince hung, who
WAS regent and the real ruler during the
minority OF the emperor, tod nm OF
their controversy with Japan. war was
about to bedeclarcd, and the prince thought
it would be q lOTg and bloody one, ana
asked Gen. Grantif he would act as arbltra-
tor. The general declined for want OItImH,
but principally because he was Il private
person and had no power to enforce his de-
cisiOn. He suggested, however, the terms
of cOmDr0mise. When in Japan shortly
after. the mikadO's ministers told theIr slde
OF the trouble, and revealed the fact that
several OF the European governments were
actively stirring up the strife on both sides,
hoping to be benefited by the war. The
same request vas made TO him on the part oil
the japanese government to act as
arbitrator, and in again declining he
stated the substance Of the com
promiso he had advised for China.
The two nations adopted substantially
the terms proposed hv Gen. Grant, and a
disastroUs conflict was averted. The con-
versatioN driited intoa consideration OF
his relations witt President Andrew john
son. The narrative Ofthis period was one
of the most graphic descriptions to which |
ever hstpaCd, and it is unfortunate for his
tory aud pOsterity that it cannot lie pre-
served as it was told. 1t had the local
ColOring Of conversations with and state
meRts by the chief actors, and Of the sltua-
tions of parties and persons as the
events occurred, invaluable as a pOr-
t~raiture and estimate Of the times.
] said in my address that Gen.
Grant performed services to his country
which were unwritten, quite as important
as any that were recorded, and | think
this narrative will bear me out. This is the
substance OF the st DRY: Johnson began the
day after the assassination OF Lincoln, to
loudly proclaim at all times and places,
with constant reiteratiOn, the shiDbo leth:
Treason is odious and must be punished,
and the chief rebels shall be hung"
To give effect to this sentiment, as
soon as he was inaugurated he insisted
upon the United States courts in Virginia
finding indictments against all the leading
members of the confederaCy. He also want
ed the officers in the rebel army who had
left the regular army to join the rebellion,
to be summarily dealt with by court mar
tial. These movements of the president
produced the greatest CONSERVATION
throughout the south, The confederate
leaders appealed to Grant to protect
them I'M the parole he had given.
He saw johnson on the subject, only to be
informed that the president was, by the
constitution, commandment in. chief OF the
army, and that anything by the command
ing general in the field was subject to his
approval or rejection, and he rejected the
terms. Gen. Grant urged that the rebels
had surrendered on these conditions,
disbanded their organizations, submitted
universally to the situation, and were car
rying ont in coed faith their part Of
the agreement, and every consideration
OF both honor and expediency demand
,ed equal good faith on the part of the
government. The other course would have
ied to m endless guerilla warfare. John
son obstinately adhered TO his view, and
assumed the authority OF commander,
when Grant fatty told hifa that, il there
were to be any court martials, one must be
called to try Gen. Grant first; that he would
by every means in his power protect his
parole and appeal to congress and thccoun-
try. In the halt called by this attitude of
Gen. Grant, a very remarkable change oc-
CURED IN the views and polhy OF Presi.
dent Johnson. Gen. Grant discoy cred
that the most frequent and favored
visitors Co the White House were the men
whom the president had prescribed. in
the generals opinion Johnson's loyalty
was subordinate to, if not entirely depend
ont upon his intense hatred OF the slave
holding oligarchy. He was a poor white,
had been Il tailor and notwith-
standing the distinguished public positions
he had held, he could not break through
the class barriers, and was treated
socially with contempt by the proud arts
tocracy. When they plunged into rebellion
he saw his opportunity. He believed in
the power OF the government, and thought
that the tirno had come when he could
defeat his enemies, confiscate their proper
ty. humiIiate their pride. and possibly de
Etroy them. The absorbing ambition and
passion OF his lite had been to be received
and treated as one OF them by the oligarchy.
Having faded iR that, and
SUFFERED INSULT AND NDIaNITY
in the effort, he became one oil the most
vindictive Of met. He saw them foiled in
their rebellion, defeated and impoverished,
and now he wanted TO kill them. While he
WA d~eyising means to overcome Gen.
Grant $ resistance to the last purpose.
leaders Of old feudalism called upon him.
They admitted their former treat
ment OF him and justified it.
Ihcy said thai as president OF the United
States be became, regardless Of birth or
ancestry, not only a member OF their order,
but as a leader. johnson was wild with
delight. Ambition ant pride had both
been satisfied. He became as anxious to
sustain ard perp situate IN some form a
system which had svea the highest social
and political distinction TO a few great
families as he had been to destroy it.
Grant did not have long to wait for the
formulation Of a plan. The presi-
dent sent for him and said the radical
measures Of congress we're revolutionary
and would destroy the country. The war
was over and the republic at peace, and it
WIS possible to maintain it only by q union
oil all SECTIONS. The provisional govern
ments provided for the seeded states. were
temporary expedients, without constitu-
tional authority and the states had all
their rights and saeuld possess all the