Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-06
GRANTS GRIM SECRET.
Strange Story of Conspiracy to Ex-
cite Revolution,
From the Va York BerdIt.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 3.-''Y es, think
l understand what Gen. Grant referred to
In speaking to Mr.. Depew of the immi-
hence of a second revolution in this ma
tiOn," said an old ex-secret service officer
at the Continental hotel tonight. sit Is
a secret that has been well kept, though
it lowered for months over the Washing
ton government. After LincOln's assas-
sination It would have divided the North
on new and terrible lines. 1t would have
brought England into the trouble beyond
a doubt, because Of Canadian complica-
tions. 1t would have been fatal to our
government, and would have resulted in
indiscriminate butchery."
TIE PLOT.
''What Is this secTetp'
cit relates 10 the assassination plOt,'
was the reply. That conspiracy was
matched before Lincoln was inaugurated
the second time. II contemplated the alb
ductlon Of Lincoln for the benefit Of an
other man. l refer to Vice President
johnson. He was to be made the great
man Of the war. Lincoln was to be got
out of the way. Johnson was "a Southern
man; the struggle was then an admittedly
hopeless one tor the South, but il was de-
sirabIe TO have "A man who could be de-
pended on for satisfaction, AS Lincoln, with
Stanton behind him, could not be ex-
pected to be lenient. Remember, do not
say that johnson was a party TO the
conspiracy, but | ask you to read Gen.
Buffers arraignment Of johnson during
the impeachment trial. Read 1t carefully
between the lines. and see what 1t means.
| tell you only this, that the list of men
priyy to the abduction of Lincoln would,
If printed tomorrow, convulse this nation
to Its centre. have seen myself a note
from johnson to John Wilkes Booth ask
ing him to meet him at the KirkwOod
house. Don't draw any interences;
merely mean that they were on intimate
terms"
SCOPE OF THE CONSPIRACY.
''When and where was the conspiracy
organized?V was asked.
cit was the outgrOwth of Stewards di-
rect interpretation in the case of Beal, the
man convicted Of the plot 10 libeFate the
prisoners at JOhnston's island, in San-
dusky Bay. Lincoln was appealed TO and
promised that Beal should not die. Sew
ard personally interfered, and finally
secured BeaPs execution. A meeting
was held at st. GATHERINGS, Can, a few
weeks afterward. The plot was Matched
there. 1t was born OF personal malice
more than Southern sympathy. The Beal
case, aud IL alone, accounts for the attack
on Secretary Seward. But this mali
ciOus scheme Of small cabal of
Vindictive men grew into q widely
ramfed conspiracy. Most dread
full of all, 1t became known among
large circles in Washington. There were
plenty OF men in the capitol on March 4
VINO went there to hear different man
from Lincoln make theinaugural address.
IL ~ terrible even now 10 think how rotten
the heart Of the political centre of this
milton then was. The surrender at APP
pOmattox was crushing blow. 1t came
sooner than was expected. LncOln's
death had been resolved upon and the date
fixed. But only comparative few knew
that this change had been made in the
scheme.
DID LEE KNOW OF IT?
81 have often wondered if Gen. Lee had
not obtained an inkling of the terrible
crime in contemplation and fastened the
capitulatiOn. He never would have
sanctioned dsstRrdly act. After the
shooting the abject fear manifested by
some people in Washington who had not
been attacked Is remembered yet. Too
many people were hanged or not enough.
The most experienced men in the service
were put on the case. But one by one they
were withdrawn. | was detailed for
special duty, but STUCK to the con-
spracy. ! found / was Swallowed by
other people. l have always suspected
there was conference one very dark night
between Stanton, Wade and Grant that re-
ferred to the secret information obtained
about the conspiracy. l was not present
though ! WAS in the house when II Oc-
CURED. The archives of the House Ju-
dietary Committee contain, or did con.
tain, some of the most startling testimony
Imaginable. Gen. Butler and George s
Boutwell, knew all that Gen. Grant knew
II either man would tell what he knows
though 1t is not all the story, we might
have the revelation yet. What have
merely limited at shows how wise Gen
Grant was TO keep this awful secret sc
long, and how indiscreet he would have
been TO confide il TO anybody"