Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-24
BURR'S LIFE OF GRANT.
MORE LIGHT ON THE JOHNSON
EPISODE OF 1896.

| Grants Refusal TO Declare in whose
Favor He Would Use the Army Pic
tured as the Barrier Which Prevented
Revolution-Gen Sherman's Trip to
Washington and Interview with the
Commander.
PHILADELPHIA Oct. 2S.-Col. Frank A.
Burr, OF the Philadelphia Times, has fin
ished his memorial volume of the life of
Gen. Grant. The chapter concerning the
differences between Gen. Grant and
President Johnson is very interesting, and
is in part as follo }:
1t would appear that Gen. Grants interest
in Mexican affairs kept coming back TO
plague him during all the bosterous time OF
/ President Johnson's administration. Gen.
sherman and Admiral Ammen both tell a
| most interesting story. Admiral Ammen
! taxes up the narrative by saying. while
! was still q guest of Gen. Grant at his own
house, Gen. sherman appeared one morning
before breakfast. when Gen. Grant, with a
twinkle inhis eye, asked, What are you doing
[ here, Sherman? Do you know that under
the existing laws your leaving your station
without my authority subjects you to grave
penalhesY
Yes replied Gen. sherman, that is
| very true; but have come on here upon 3
telegram from the President and have called
TO SEQ you TO find out what is in the wind ="
| ! never inquired of either party the status
which seemed TO me TO be explained by subse-
! quent events.
sHERMAN's TRIP.
Gen. Sherman now, in speaking 10 me Of
TINS incident, says: II recall very clearly
! from President Johnston during HIS trouble
| with Congress. did not know what was
! going on. but came 70 Washington as rapidly
| rs possible aud 1nmediately went 10 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 something going on. He SAID there was a
| rid of him. The proposition had been
| made to send him 10 Mexico, but he had de-
| termlned not 10 go. He said be would stand
| court martial first. Gen. Grant urged that
| It was diplomatic mission, and one under
| which he could not be sent under the law. He
| SAID II they wanted to send the army down
| there with him Mt the head, that IT was a very
| different thing; but that he could not be or
| dered by the Secretary of War upon any dip
| plomatic mission whatever.
After this said to him: WELL what do
they want Of me?'' 81 do not know was his
reply.
JOHNsOE's AvOwED OBJECT.
"After this conversation. went over I'M
mediately and called on the President with
| out visiting Secretary stanton, or any other
member of the Cabinet. The President told
me frankly thar they were going to send Lew
| Campbell as Minister to Mexico. accredited
to the JuareZ government, and that it was
| thought best to send Gen. Grant along with
! ululs LudN ulE HlEH HUsitlOu anu MS knONh
| friendship for Mexico, would give this act
| high standing, aud place our Minister in a
commanding position with the government to
| which be was accredited. I asked where
| Juarez was. The answer came that he was
either at El Psso or near Monterey, then
said; 'blr. President, why do you want tosend
| Gen. Grant upon this servceP
well said the President, 'he has a great
| reputation there, as well as here, and will
| properly introduce our representative
II said: Mr.. President, this is a diplomatic
! mission, ana Gen. Grant VIII not go upon It,.
| He will disobey the order If II is issued
SHERMAN SENT TO MEXICO.
''The President seemed very much sur
/ prised, and said he had very great regard for
| Gen. Grant, and would not like to do any
thing that was distasteful to him; yet he
| thought it would be to the interest Of the gov
| eminent If he would 60 down with Mr. Camp
! bell, and present him to the Juarez govern
! ment. The upshot of The matter was that
| was sent to Mexico. Thus was the difficulty,
so far as Gen. Grant was concerned, bridged
! over, and he was kept from an open rupture
| with the executive. My opinion is that they
desired to get rid Of him, and keep him from
being a candidate for the presidency. What
they wanted Of me in case Gen. Grant was
! sent out of the country do not know. The
discussion between President johnson and
myself never got that far"
ALWAYS AT ODDS.
In relation 10 the belIigerent side Of
President Johnson's acts about this time,
/
| him In open rupture with Congress, OF
which Gen. Horace Porter speaks, Mr..
| Burr continues:
Gen. Grants differences with "Andy" john
son were continuous, without IN open con-
| flict, during all his term as President. AS
| the dificulties between Gen. Grant and the
President grew, Gen. Grant was informed
| that an arrangement was being made in
Maryland for the organization Of force to
| support the President in case there was an
! hof md
/ He directed the officer commanding in Wash
| ington at the time to send trusted officer
! idto Maryland TO ascertain the strength of the
! force and what was being done In the way Of
arming and drilling it,
5000 STRONG.
1t was the duty OF the first oficer cent to
only report as to the strength OF the force and
he performed that duty. and his present
| recollection is that the militia force Of the
State did not exceed 5000. After this officer
had reported upon the strength and location
another officer was dispatched, who reported
upon its operations, how 10 was handled, etc.
Both officers are still living who were sent
upoa this duty. Only a day or so after the
report Of the last officer upon this subject
GOV. Thomas Swami, OF Maryland, made
requisitiOn for all the field artillery 10 which
the State was entitled. This requisitioa Gen,
Grant pigeon hOled and remarked TO a friend,
an officer OF high standing and who WAS
sitting near, II have mind 20 write TO the
Governor OF Maryland ana notify him that
tend to keep my eve upon It,"
After moments thought he said: "No,
think had better keep still"
CALLED ON BY JOHNSON.
Only day or two after this President
johnson came over to his office and snent an
hour talking abOut commonplace matters,
but Just before he started 20 90 he turned 10
Gen. Grant and said. General, / am very
anxious to know IN case there should be an
open rupture between myself and Congress
with which side you will be found.n
"That viii depend" said the General, with
some earnestnras, upon which IL the TeyOln-
tonary party"
While all this was transpiring Gen. Grant
was made aware Of the fact that In the city
Of Washington there was an organization OF
5000 veteran soldiers under command Of a
Major General who is still living, and IL one Of
the most conspicuous volunteer officers Of the
late war.
READY FOR THE FIELD.
This ORGANIZATION was we'll Offered and
ready 10 be armed at the declaration OF hos
tilitiee between the President and Congress
Mr.. stanton was the master spirit Of tie or
ganization and its purpose was 70 be ready 10
meet any emergency that might arise. The
President Was Commander -ip-Chief Of the
army, and neither side was able 10
dnd out what Gen. Grant would DO
In An emergency, whether he would
obey Congress or the President. So each side
had its little hostile force prepared for the
clash, and Gen. Grant, fully aware OF this
state Of things. stood between the two like m
impossible barrier, warning both sides 70
keep the peace. lt was wen known that