The Wilmingtonian., 1885-10-31

ity, has not been proved Mr.. Depew and
Colonel Grant owe it to themselves, if, as
they assert, they have documents to confirm
it, to produce these at once.
Meantime it is useful to remember that &
President cannot make or even prepare a
revolution without the knowledge of his
Cabinet. The Cabinet Of Mr.. johnson cou-
tanned Mr.. Seward, Mr.. .McCulloch, Mr..
Stanton, and Mr.. Welles, no one of whom
would have for moment counteuanced an
act Of usurpation in the President. With
out the counter signature of the Secretary
Of Stale no Presidential proclamation would
be valid. Without the consent and knowl-
edge Of the Secretary of War no movements
Of troops could be made. 1t is absurd to
suppose that Seward, Stanton, Weles, or
McCulloch would have stood by or helped
on an act Of treason.
Mr. johnson, man full of faults of tenn
per, was yet devotee of the constitution.
He opposed the reconstruction measures be-
cause he IN common with great many other
good citizens at the North, believed them in
violation of the constitution. He is now ac-
cused of a design to subvert the constitu-
tion. One may fairly ask that documentary
proof be produced before credit is given to
so improbable an accusation.
Mr.. johnson was impeached by the House
Of Representatives, the leaders in this mcye-
ment being as astute, determined, and in
decd at that time INSCRIPTIONS men as
could be found; men living at the capital in
timately associating with every man who
would have known of Mr.. Juhnson's alleged
intentions. The nearest hint of such a de-
sign would have been enough for them.
They would have forced the testimony of
those who knew it, aud would not have
scrupled to compel Mr.. johnson himself to
purge or convict himself before the Senate.
1t is incredible that they should have been
kept in Ignorance if Mr.. johnson harbored
such designs"
The following letter shows both the incon-
sistency and the falsity Of Gen. Grants
charges. Gen. Grant not only betrayed the
confidence which the President reposed 10
him as Secretary Of War ad interim but he
also added to his original sin, the sin of def
amation Of character. Mr.. w. W. Pasko of
37S Cumberland street N. Y. writes:-
"Tbs letter Of MIR. Chauncy NJ. Depew,
published in this mornings papers, ought
not to go out without contradiction. The
egecvices of Andrew johnson to the Republic
r1oSsS great to be destroyed after this
: -...-...s .- -,-4T
Mr. Depew relates, with his customary ex-
actuess, what he was told by General Grant
but submit that charges Of such nature
should be sulstantated more fui, tnau by
the mere memory ofa single man, wht new
ef felt kindly Jiapoaea to johnson, ard BE-
tween whom ana Aim there Lad on,, been a
question Of unsettled veIacitS
General Grant was virtually placed dur
ing Johnson's whole term in position of
opposition to him. He had the greatest
military reputation of the war and was sed-
ulously courted by the Republicans, who
saw that it would be highly advisable to
have him on their side Grant and john
son never concealed their dislike of each
other, aud if any such communications were
ever made to Grant as he alleged, it would
not have failed TO be communicated to the
party in opposition to the administration.
We can conceive of the use that would have
been made of such story by Wade, by
Sumner or by Greeley Every imaginary
contumely was heaped upon President John
son during his term of office by the stump
speakers and newspapers of the Republican
party, and the fact that they did not use
this calumuy is almost conclusive evidence
that the communications were not made.
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's RECORD.
The time when this must have been done
was in the summer of 1865, yet it was dur
ing that summer that he excluded traitors
from the benefit Of his pardons of procama-
tion, and during that summer he laid down
his plan of reconstruction preparatory 10
the admission Of the insurgent States into
the Union with all the rights and privll-
e5es Of the other States.
This theory was contained in his chart of
instructions to the provisional governors
whom lie appointed, aud was approved by
the people Of both parties in the North iu
their party platforms in the Fall Of that
year. President johnson and Secretary
Seward, after the elections Of 1865, suggest
ed to the people OF the Southern States
conformity with some additional require
ments which We're proposed, such as abol-
ishing slavery by their State conventions,
the ratification Of the amendment to the