The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-10-29
EVENTS OF THE DAY.
Gen. Grant and Andrew johnson.

Gen. Grant and Andrew johnson.
Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew, Of New York,
sensation Of tho day and creating a great
deal of discussion. The letter states that
about four years ago the writer sat at q
dinner with Gen. Grant, during which the
general related incidents Of his trip around
the world and also stated something Of his
relations with Andrew johnson during the
stormy period of reconstruction. The fol-
lowing is Mr.. Depew's statement Of what
Gen. Grant told him:
johnson began the day after the assassi-
nation OF Mr.. Lincoln to loudly proclaim
at all times and places, with constant reit-
Grafton, the shibboleth, '1reason is odious
and must be punished, and the chief rebels
shall be hung" To give effect to this sent
iment, as soon as he was inaugurated he in
Virginia finding indictments against all
the leading members of the confsderacy
he also wanted the officers in the rebel
army, who had left the regular army to
join the rebellion, to be summarily dealt
with by courtmartial. These movements
throughout the South. The con-
federate leaders appealed to Grant to pro-
tect them on the parole he had given. He
saw johnson on the subject, only to be in
formed that the President was, by the con
stitution, commander-in-chief of the army,
and that any thing done by the command
ing general on the field was done 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 out in good faith their part of the
agreement, and every consideration OF both
honor and expediency demanded equally
good faith on the part of the government.
The other course would have led to an end
less guerrilla warfare conducted in a coun-
try admirably adapted for it by desperate
and hopeless men. johnson o5stinately
adhered to his view, and assumed the
authority of commander, when Grant fatty
told him that if there were to be any court
one must be called to try Gen.
Grant first; that he would by every means
in his power protect his poGple, and appeal
to congress and the country.
In the halt called by this attitude of Gen.
Grant, a very remarkable change occurred
in the views and policy of President John
son. Gen. Grant discovered that the most
frequent and favored visitors to the white
house were the men whom the president
had prescribed. In the generals opinion
J Ohnson's loyalty was subordinate to, If
not entirely dependent upon, his entire en-
nifty to the slave-holding oligarchy. He
was poor white, had been a journeyman
tailor, and, notwithstanding the distin-
guished public positions he had held, he
could not break through the class barrier,
and was treated socially with contempt by
his proud aristocracy:. When they plunged
into rebellion he saw bis opportunity. He
believed in the power of the government,
and thought that the time had come when
he could defeat his enemies, confiscate their
property, humiliate their pride, and posi-
bly, destroy them. The absorbing ambition
and passion of his life had been to be re-
ceived and treated as one of them by the
fered insult and indignity in the effort, he
became one OF the most v1ndictive OF men.
He saw them fail in their rebellion, de-
feated and impoverished, and now he
wanted to kill them. While he was devils
ing means to overcome Gen. Grants resist
the old feudalism called upon him. They
admitted their former. treatment and justi-
fed it. They said that in ail ages and
countries where cast distinctions existed
conditions were always possible which pro-
noted men who had achieved success from
dent of the United States he became, re-
CARELESS Of birth or ancestry, not only u
member Of their order, but its leader.
johnson was:.wild with delight; ambition
and pride were both satisfied. He became
as anxious to sustain and perpetuate in
highest social and political distinction to a
few great families as he had been to destoy
it.
Grant did not have long to wait for the
formulation of his plan. The president
sent for him, and said that the radical
measures OF congress were revolutionary
and would destroy the country. The war
<I>r +ol
aad that was possible only by union of
all sections: The provincial governments
provided for the seeded states were
temporary expedients, without constitu-
tional authority, and the states had all
the rights and should possess all the powers
fected q scheme to accomplish this re-
suit and with Gen. Grants assistance its
success was assured. He would, by
proclamation, direct the rebel states to
send to Washington their full quota of
senators and representatives. He had
assurances from enough members from the
north, who, united with them, would make
quorum of one house, at least, if not
both. The congress thus formed he would
recognize and Install at the capital. If the
other northern members did not choose to
join they would be Row tn ramp ram :
suggestion that this would start the civil
war afresh, the president said: ''They
who do it will be the rebels, but if you
sustain me resistance is impossible" He
appealed to Grant to stand by him in the
crisis, and they would be the saviours OF
of the republic.
After endeavoring for long time in
vain to convince the president OF the folly
of such a course and its certain failure, no
matter who sustained it, Grant finally
told him that he would drive the congress
so constituted out of the capitol at the
- L. -
The building to the senator's and representa-
tives from the loyal states, and protect
them. II necessary, he would appeal to
the country and to the army he had so
recently mustered out of service.
Mr.. johnson asked him if he did not rec
by the constitution, and if he would refuse
to obey the commander-in-chief.
Gen. Grant said that under such circum-
stances he most certainly would. Shortly
afterwards the president sent for Gen.
Grant, and said to him that the relations
OF our government and Mexico were very
delicate, and he wishel him to go to
he City OF Mexico at once and on a very
important Emission. The General knew
this was to get him out Of the country and
put it in the power Of the
to Washington, some officer upon whom he
could rely. He replied that if the appoint
mcnt was diplomatic one he declined it;
if it was military one he refused to obey,
because the general OF the army could not
be ordered to a foreign country with which
we are at peace. The interview was a
stormy one, but the subject was dropped.
tour of inspection. He knew that General
Sherman was to be his successor, and IN
him he had absolute confidence. The out
spoken 10y atty of that great soldier prevent
ed tho project ever being renewed. 1t is at
this date needless to speculate upon what
might have happened had Gen. Grant &C
lively assisted or passivt<> obeyed the
president. No one doubts the courage and
obstinancy Of Andrew johnson, and only
a man Of equal firmness and determination
could have prevented most calamitous
and unfortunate strike At the most critical
period Of the reconstruction of the repub-
lie. Yours very truly,
CHAONCEY NJ. DEPEw.
To Col. Frederick D. Grant.