The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1885-12-03
GRANTS DEFEAT OF LONESOME

The December number Of the NORTH
American ReVielg contains q paper by
Ex-secretary Boutwell,. on ''JohnsOn'i
Plot and Motives" This interesting
article makes JohnsOn's general POSI-
ton very clear, and probably estab-
fishes e about g. it will 60 into his-
tory. Mr. Boutwell, gives, also, q
vivid account Of General Grants Tela-
ton to the matter, and of his firm
conduct, which had so much to do
with defeating the johnson policy and
plot. SIR. Boutwell, says:
Upon my arrival in Washington to
attend the session Of Congress which
began December 3, 1856, received a
letter from Mr. Stanton, asking me 10
call at the War Department at the
earliest moment possible. | called
without delay. He directed me to his
private room, where he soon Joined
me-
without preface he said: II am
more concerned for the fate OF my
country than I was at any time dur
ing the war His exact words fur
Their can not recall, but he gave me
o understand that the President had
'ssued orders TO officers Of the army of
(which neither he nor General Grant
had knOWleJge, aud that there was
danger that General Grant would be
sent away from Washington.
At the request Of Mr.. Stanton, /
wrote At his dietatiOn the substance
OF what afterward became the second
section Of the Army Appropriation
Act, approved March 2, 1867.
In that section IL was provided that
the headquarters Of the General Of
the Army should be az the City Of
Washington, and that be should not
be detailed for service elsewhere eX-
eet,t II his own request or by the
previous approval Of the Senate; that
All orders aud instructions relating Ia
military operations issued by the
President or Secretary Of War should
be issued through the General Of the
Army, or in case OF his disability,
through the officer next IN command F;
and, finally, that all orders issued in
any other manner should be- null and
void. and that the officer Issuing such
orders, and all OH Gers who might
obey them, knowing that they had
been issued in any other manner,
should be alike guilty Of misde-
meaBor.
After the election Of General Grant |
to the Presidency, he gave me an ac-
count Of his interviews with Presi-
dent johnson, 10 reference Ia the pro- |
jet Of sending the general 10 Mexico /
in the autumn OF 1855. IL was. in /
l. 4 -. n
the President said, Il may have Occas-
ion TO ask you to go To Mexico
said, in reply, L am so situated that
Il will not be convenient for me
% leave Not many days after
this conversation the President
sent for me TO come to his office.
Upon my arrival i found Mr..
Seward and the President. Mr.. Sew
ard opened his portfolio, and read
long letter addressed to me, and con
tanning instructions for my guidance
10 Mexico. When Mr.. Seward had
said TO the President
You know / told you il would not be
for me TO go to Mexico
The President then began TO argue
with me and 10 urge. / as steadily
resisted his arguments. The Presi-
dent grew warm and finally, rising
from his chair and striking his table
with his fist, ne said, Il would like to
know If there is an officer Of the army
who will not obey my Orders!' /
rose, took my hat and in my hand,
and said, ] am an officer Of the army,
but I am q citizen also. The service
TOu ask me to perform Is 8 civil ser
vice, and, as q citizen, j may accept il
" decline il, and decline IL. l then
eft the ROOM"
The distinction thus made 10y Gen
.ral Grant left to the President
TO assign him TO duty as a
lOldier in any point within the United
States that the President might select
and hence the sOlicitude OF Mr.. STAN
on for the passage Of the section in
he Army Bill Of the % Of March,
1857