Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-10-29
INTERESTING HISTORY
GEN. GRANT AND PRESIDENT
JOHNSON.

Hon. Chauncey n. Depsw Turns the Pages
Of = vivid Chaptsr--Throwing the
Light ON the treason OF Andrew
Johnson and the Cause Of His
Radical southerns sympathiss. 4
NEW YoRK. October 20. Hon. Chaun.
cey NJ. Depew has furrished to the press
the following open lettsrt to Colonel F. D,
Grants:
.NEw YoRx, October 10, 1885.
"MY DEAR CoLoxEL--In answer to
your request for the particulars Of the
conversation had with your father, and
to which I alluded in speech before the
Chamber of Commerce, the following is
my best recollcctions:
about -four. years ago l sat beside
General Grant at dinner. There were
many courses, slowly served, and the
entertainment lasted several hours. We
discussed many matters suggested by his
travels around the world, and among
other things he said to me that when in
China, Prince Kung, who was Regent,
o,d tho zoo, r,,or dur;nc, ,ha ,o;no.;,r 90
aAe M W. 'AS y "
the emperor, toid MN Oh their contro-
versy with Japan. War was about to be
declared and the Prince thought 1t would
be along and bloody one, and asked Gen
eral Grant II he would act as arbitrator.
The General declined for want Of time,
but principally because he was a private
person and had no power to enforce his
decision. He suggested, however, the
terms OF compromise. When in Japan,
shortly after, the Mikado's Ministers told
their side of the trouble, and revealed
the fact that several Of the European
Governments were actively stirring up
the strife on both sides, hoping to benefit
by the war. The same request was made
to him on the part OF the Japanese Gov
ernment, to act as arbitrator, and in again
declining, he stated the substance OF the
compromise he had advised for China.
The two nations adopted substantially
the terms proposed by General Grant, and
disastrous conflict was averted.
''The conversation drifted into a con-
sideration Of his relation with President
Andrew Johnson, The narrative Of this
period was one OF the most graphic de.
scrlptions TO which ever listened. and 1t
is unfortunate for history and posterity
that II can not be preserved as 1t was
told. II had The local coloring OF con.
versauons with and statements BY the
chief actors. and OF the situations OF the
parties and persons as the events occur
red, Invaluable as portratture and esti-
mate OF the times. ! said In my address
that General Grant performed services to
his country which were unwritten quite
as important as any that were recorded,
and l think this narrative will bear me
out. This is the substance OF the story.
johnson began the day after the as
eeesinasien on Mr. Lincoln 70 loudly pro-
ciaih q. hil Times ana places, Win con-
stant reiteratlon, tne shiDDoletn, treason
- odious anu must pe punished ana the
chleI reneis snaii DC nung.
give enect 10 tnis sentiment. as
soon as ne was lnaugurated ne insisted
upon tne U. .. Courts IN virginia md
ing inducements against all the leading
memoers OF tne Oon1ederacy; lie aiso
waniea tne omcers IN the repei army who
han ieit the regular army 70 JOIN the re-
oeihon, 70 De summary deait with Dy
Gour! martial. lhese movements OF the
rresideht proauced the greatest conster-
natioh tnroughout the couth; Inc Con-
iedera'e leaders appealed 70 Grant 10 pro-
tect tnem on tne parole ne nad given. lie
saw johnson on tne suDlect, only TO be
INFORMED that the PRESIDENT was, by the
Conslilution, Commanoer-in,chie1 OF the
army, ana that anything done 6y the
commanding 1eneral on the battlefield
was dohe SUBJECT 10 MS approval or re-
]ecuon, ana ne relected the terms. Gen.
cral Grant urged that the rebels had sur.
rendered on THESE conditions, disbanded
!heir organizations, submitted universally
10 the situation, ana were carrying outin
good 1alth their part OF the agreements;
snd every consideration OF both honor
ana eApediehcy demanded equal good
iaith on the part OF the government The
other course would nave LED TO an end
less guerrilla warfare, conducted in a
country admirably adapted for 1t. by des-