St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-10-24
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
len. sherman's Explanation of the
Trouble Between Gen. Grant and
President Johnson.
armed Forces Kept Ready for Duty
by Both the President and
Congress.
Much Curiosity at the Time as
to Which Cause Grant
Would Champion.
Johnson Informed by Grant in
Very Plain Terms What to
Expect.
The Grant-Johnson Matter.

Grant and those of eX-President johnson is
creating great interest here, where many of
Gen. Grants friends live, and are in a
greater or less degree familiar with Gen.
Grants expressions upon the subject during
his life. Col. Frank \. Burr of the Phila-
dephia Times has just finished his me-
mortal volume Of the life and deeds of Gen.
Grant, and it will shortly be given to the
public. 1t has been written under the pat
Tonage Of Gen. Grants closest friends, and
will contain thorough discussion of his
difference with Andrew johnson. The
chapter of Mr.. Bur's book which deals
with the relations between Johnson. STAN
ton and Grant furnishes the evidence of
many living witnesses of distinction as to
the correctness Of the statements made. I'm
view of the various articles published the
past few days as to the action of Gen.
Grant and johnson after the assassination
ct Lincoln, the part Of Mr.. Burr'S chapter
upon those questions which introduces Gen.
Sherman is most important" After deal
ing with the differences about the arrest OF
the Confederate officers, Mr.. Burr writes:
1t would appear that Gen. Grants interest
in Mexican affairs kept coming back to
plague him during the boisterous times Of
JOhnson'S administration. Gen. Sherman
and Admiral A:mmen both tell an interest
ing story Admiral Ammen takes up the
narrative by saying: ''While l was still
the guest of Gen. Grant at his own home,
Gen. Sherman appeared one morning
before breakfast when Gen. Grant,
with twinkle in his eye, asked,
''What are you doing here, Sherman? Do
you know that under existing laws your
leaving your station without my authority
subjects you 10 grave penatles?"
Yes" replied Sherman, THAT is very
true, but | have come on here upon tele-
gram from the president. have called to
see you to find ont what is in the wind"
l never inquired of either party the
status. which seemed to me to be explained
by subsequent events. Gen. Sherman
now. in speaking to Inc of this incident says:
81 recall very clearly being called to Wash
ington by a telegram from President john
son. during his troubles with congress. My
headquarters were then i'll st. Louis, but
was down in New Mexico among the In
dianS. | did not know what was going on,
but l came to Washington as rapidly as pos
sible and Immediately went to Gen. Grants
house to find out When we were together
] asked him what was up. His reply was
that he did not know, but that there was
something going on. He said there was
disposition in the cabinet to get rid OF him.
The proposition had been made to send him
to Mexico, but he had determined not to go.
He said he would stand a court-martial
first. He then told me that Mr.. Seward
formulated some sort of paper, which had
been read and agreed upon at a recent cabi-
net meeting. He remarked that he had said
at the time that he was in the habit
OF receiving orders from the secretary
of state, whereuDon they had said that that
could be very easily removed that it could
be made to read as an order from the secre-
tary OF war. Gen. Grant then urged that
it was diplomatic mission, and under
which he could not be sent under the law.
He said that if they wanted to send the
army down there with him at the head
that was very different thing, but that he
could not be ordered by the secretary OF
war upon any diplomatic mission whatever.
After this explanation [ said to him:
''Well. what do they want of me?'
81 do not know" was the reply.
After this conversation L went over i'm
mediately and called upon the president
without visiting Secretary Stanton or any
other cabinet officer. The president told
me frankly that they were going to send
Lew Campbell as minister to Mexico, ac-
creditable to the JuareZ government. and
that it was thought best to send Gen. Grant
along with him, that his high position and
known friendship for Mexico would give
this act high standing and place our minis
ter in a commanding position with the gov
emment to which he was accredited.
asked where JuareZ was. The answer
came that he was either at Ell PaSo or neal
Monterey. l then said: Mr.. President,
why do you want to send Gen. Grant upon
this Service?"
''Well," said the president. she has
great reputation there. as well as here,
md will properly introduce our representa-
i've"
l said: ''Mr President, this is a diplo
matte mission and Gen. Grant will not &C
upon it. He will disobey the order if it i:
issued" The president seemed very much
surprised and said that he had very grea
regard for Gen. Grant and would not like
to do anything that was distasteful to him
yet he thought it would be to the interes
of the government if he would go dowI
with Mr.. Campbell and present him to th,
JuareZ government. After some furthe
conversation Ireplied: ''Well, Gen. Han
cock command extends to Ell Paso an(
Gen. Shcrldan's south of that to the gulf
Either of them would escort our miniSte
TO Mexico to his proper destination ant
present him to the government to whicl
he is accredited. but if it would relieve tn
executive of any embarrassment my com
mand includes both of these and l will g
down myself"
Very well, if you will go that will set
tie it." said the president land it will b
just as Well"
He asked me to call on the secretary o
the navy, which l did, and five days late
took the steamer for the gulf. Thus wa
the difficulty, so far as Gen. Grant wa
concerned, bridged over and he was KEEP
from an open rupture with the executive
My opinion is they desired to get rid of hin
and keep him from being the candi
date for the. presidency. Wha
they wanted of me in case Gen
Grant was sent out of the country 1 d,
not know. The discussion between Presi
dent Johnson and myself never got tha
far In relation to the belligerent side @
President Johnsons act about this time
and the organization of force to SuStai
him in an open rupture with congress. Q
which Gen. Horace Porter speaks Nj
Burr continues: Gen. Grants difference
with Andrew Johnson were cOntinuou
without an open conflict during all of hi
term as president All the difficulties bt
tween Gen. Grant and the president grew
Gen. Grant was informed that an arrange
ment was being made in Maryland for a
organization OF force to support the pres
dent IN case there was an open rupture bt
tween himself and congress. He directe
the officer commanding in Washington
the time to send a trusted officer into Mar,
land to ascertain the strength of the fore
and what was being done in the way {
Rrning and drilling it. 1t was the duty
the first officer to only report the strengt
of the force. and he performed that duty
and his present recollection is that IL
militia force of the state did not eXcee
5000. After this officer had reported upo