The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-29
( TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM
NO. 81

noble order AS President of the United
States he became, regardless Of birth OF
ancestry, not only a member of their order,
but its leader. johnson was wild with
delight. Ambition and pride were both
satisfied. lie became as anxious to sus-
tain and perpetuate in some form system
which had given the highest social and po-
litical distinction to a few great fami-
lies as he had been to destroy it. Grant
did not have long to wait for the formu-
lation 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 was over
and the republic wanted peace, and that
was possible only by the union of all sec
tions The provisional governments pro-
vided for the seeded States were tempo
rary expedients, without constitutional
authority, and the States had all the
rights, and should possess all the powers
they had before the war. He had per-
fected scheme to accomplish this result,
and, with General Grants assistance, its
success was assured. He could only by
proclamation direct the rebel states to
send to Washington their full quota of
| senators and representatives. He had as
suranees 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 Capt.
| toll. If the other northern members did not
choose to join, they would be a pewerless
rump meeting in some hall. To the Gen
erals suggestion that this would start
civil war afresh, the President replied
'sThey who do it will DO 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 sayiours OF
the republic. After endeavoring for q
long time in vain to convince the Presi
dent of the folly Of such course and Its
certain failure, no matter who sustained
it, Grant finally told him he would drive
the Congress so constituted out of the Cap
itol at the point of the bayonet; give pos,
session of the building to the senators and
representatives from the loyal states, and
protect them. If necessary, he would
appeal to the country and to the army he
had SO recently mustered cut of service.
johnson asked him if he did not recognize
the powers vested in the President by the
Constitution, and if he would refuse to
obey the Commander in Chief? General
Grant said that under such circumstances
he most certainly would. Shortly after
ward the president sent for General Grant
and said to him that the relations of our
Government with Mexico were very deli
cate, and then wished him to go to the
City of Mexico at once on a very impor-
tant mission. The General knew this was
to get him out of the way and put it in the
power Of the President TO call, as his sue
cessor, to Washington some officer upon
whom he could rely. He replied that if
the appointment was a dipl omatic one he
declined it; if it was military one he
refused to obey, because the General of
the Army could not be ordered to aforeign
country with which we are at peace. The
was stormy one, but the sub
ject was dropped. One day the General
was sent West on a tour Of inspection.
He knew General Sherman was to be his
and in him he had absolute con-
idence. The outspoken loyalty of that
great soldier prevented the project from
ever being renewed.
1t is at this date needless to speculate
upon what might have happened had Gen
sral Grant actively assisted OF passively
obeyed the President. No one doubts the
aud obstiuacy of Andrew john
son, and only a man Of equal firmness and
could have prevented
most calamitous and unfortunate strife at
! most critical period of the reconstruct
lion of the republic.
Yours very truly,
CHAUNcEY NJ. DEEPEN.
To Colonel Fred. d. Grant.
NEW YORK, October 2O.-Dear Mr..
Depew 1 am i'll receipt of your letter,
Ind thank you for your response to my
request. l have read your account with
great interest. It is substantially correct,
md have been able to verify the facts
rom documents, letters, and personal
.ecollections.
Yours very truly.
F. d. GRANT.
Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew.