Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-21
JoHNsoN's CHANGE or FRONT.

In the halt called by this attitude Of
General Grant, Il very remarkable change
occurred in the views and policy Of Presi-
dent johnson. General Grant discovered
that the most frequent and favored visitors
to the White House We're men whom the
President had prescribed. In the Generals
opinion JOhnson's loyalty was subordinate
if not entirely dependent, upon his entire
enmity to the slaveholding oligarchy. He
was a poor white, had been a journeyman
tailor, and notwithstanding the distin-
gushed public positions he had held he
could not break through the class barrier,
and was treated socially with contempt by
this proud alistocracv. When they plunged
into rebellion he saw his opportunity He
believed in the power of the Government,
and thought that the time had come when
| he could defeat his enemies confscate
their property, humiliate their pride, and
possibly destroy them. The absorbing am
bitiOn and passion of his life had been
to be received and treated as one
Of them by the oliearchy Having
| failed in that, and suffered Insult and in
dignity in the effort, he had become
| one of the most vindictive of men.
| He saw them fail in their rebellion, de-
! teated and impoverished, and now he
| wanted to kill them. While he was de
! viSing means to overcome General Grants
! resistance to this last purpose, the leaders
| of the Old feudalism called upon him.
| They admitted their former treatment, and
| justified it. They said that in all ages and
countries where caste distinctions existed,
! conditions were always possible which pro-
mote men who had achieved success from
| the lower into the noble order. AS Presi-
dent of the United States, he became, re-
| gardless of birth or ancestry, not only
! a member of their order. but its leader.
| johnson was wild with delight. His
ambition and pride were both satisfied He
became as anxious to obtain, and perpetu-
ate in some form, the system which had
| given the highest social and political dis
| tinction to a few great families, as he had
been to destroy it. Grant did not have
long to wait for the formulation Of his plan.
| The President sent for him, and said the rad
icaI measures of Congress were revolution
ary, and would destroy the country. The
war was over, and the republic wanted
peace, and that was possible only by the
union Of all sections. The provisional Gov
ernments provided for the seeded States
We're temporary expedientS without con-
stitutional authority, and the States had
all the rights and should possess all the
powers, that they had before the war. He
had perfected a scheme to accomplish this
result, and with General Grants assistance
its success was assured. He would by
proclamation direct the rebel States 10 send
10 Washington their full quota Of Senators
and Representatives. He had assurances
from enough members from the North,
/ who, united with them, would make a
quorum Of one house at least, if not both,
Congress thus formed he would recognize
it and install il at the Capitol If the other
Northern members did not choose TO join
they would be powerless rump meeting
in some hall. To the Generals suggestion
that this would start the civil war afresh
the President replied They who do il
win be rebels; but if you sustain me, re
sistance will be impossible He appealef
to Grant to stand by him IN the crisis, ans
they would be the sayioTs of the republic
After endeavoring for a long time in yair
to convince the President of the folly o
such a course. and its certain failure. n,
matter who sustained it, Grant finally tol,
him that he would drive the Congress s
constituted out Of the Capitol at the poin
of the bayonet, give possession Of th
building to the Senators and Represents