The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-20
GRANTS GRIM SECRET.
THE SENS ATIONAL STORY OF An E-A-SE'
CRET SERVICE OFFICER ABOUT AN AL
LEGED CONSPIRACY TO EXCITE y
REVOLUTION, BY THE ASSASSINA.
TION OF president LINCOLN.
Snccial to the New York Herald.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 3.-''1es. l
understand what Gen. Grant refer
red to in speaking to Mr.. Depew Of
the imnsinence OF q second revolution
in the nation" said an old ex-secret
service officer at the Continental llo
tel tonight. 1T is a secret that has
been well kept, though it lowered for
months over tie Washington Govern,
ment. After Lincolns assassination
It would have divided the North on
new and terrible lines. 1t would have
brought England into the trouble be-
vond doubt. because of Canadian
complications. It would ba7e been
fatal to our Government and would
have resulted in indiscriminate butch
cry
What is this secret?'
"It relates to the assassination
plot" was the reply. THAT conspir
acy was batched before Lincoln was
inauenrated the second time. It con-
templated the abduction Of Lincoln
| for The benefit of another man. re
| fer to Vice-President Johnson. lie
was to be made the great man OF the
war. Lincoln was to be got out Of
the way. johnson was Southern
man; the struggle was then an ad-
mitted!y hopeless one for the South;
but it was desirable to have a man
who could be depended on for salts
| faction, as Lincoln, with Stanton be
hind, could not be expected to be
lenient. Remember, l 20 not say
that johnson was party to the con,
spiracy, but I ask you to read Gen
Buffers arraignment of Johnso dur
ing the impeachment trial. Read it
, carefully between the lines. and see
what it means. tell you only this
that the list OF men pEivy to the at
duction OF Lioco!n would, if printe>
to morrow, convulse this nation t
l its centre I have seen myself a not
, from johnson to John Wilkes Boot!
q asking him to meet him at the Kirk
! wood House. Don't draw any infe.
ences !; I merely mean that they wer
o on intimate terms
e "When ard where was the conspl
n acy organized p was asked
4 1T was the outgrowth Of Seward
= direct interposition in the case
= Beal, the man convicted Of the plt
@ to liberate the prisoners at Johnson
1, I,Islard SanduskF Bay lincoln vi
81 apSsasedzfe aRa nFass,issa -EffsEstF Fsa.'
~ should not die. Seward personal
~ interfered Ind finally secured Bea
'e execution. A meeting was held
N St. Catharines, Canada, few wee.
afterward. The plot was hatcbt
there. It was born of personal ms
~ ice more than Southern sympath
u The Beal case, and it alone, accoun
for the attack on Secretary Sewar
- But this malicious scheme OF smf
cabal of vindictive men grew into
widely rauifed conspiracy. Mo
: dreadful of all, it became know
IN among large circles in Washlngtc
There were plenty OF them IN t
he Capitol on March 4 who went the
"a. to hear q different man from Lince
w. make the inaugural address. 1t
terrible even now to think how +
ren the heart of the political cen
Of of this nation was. The surrent
ial at Apppomattoz was a crush'
blow. It came sooner than was
ale pected. Lincoln's death had been
": solved upon and the date fixed. +
'n' only q comparatively few knew t
this change had been made II
,gs. scheme. :. ~
,ss Il have often wondered if &
Lee had not obtained an inkline
iot the terrible crime in contemplat
anu FASTENED the capitulation.
never would have sanctioned a {
,Aty tardlv act. After the shooting,
vbo abiect fear manifested by some
~ nle in Washington who had not b ;
OF attacked is remembered yet. !
many people were hanged or
, is enough. The most experienced !
in the service were put on the c
;.to But one by one they were withdra
WV I was detailed for special duty
stuck to the conspiracy. L toun
Iere was shadowed by other people
of have always suspected there wi wi
and conference one very dark hight
-. tween Stanton, Wade and Grant
''o"' referred to the secret information
'des- toined about the conspiracy.
JUS not present, though l was IN
pris- honse when it occurred. The
,oith chives of the House judiciary
w , mittea contain, OF did contain s
'oio' Of the most startling testimony
nder aeinable. Gen. Butler and Ge
vive S Boutwell, knew ali that Gen: u
that knew. If either man would tell :,
with he knows, though it is not all
"''A story. we might have the revela
vet. What / have merely hlnte'
was Shows how wise Gen. Grant wa
eran keep this awful secret SO long
cars how indiscreet he would have oee
c1 - 4o opvboIy