The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-05-21
GEN. GRANTS FAITH.
A Southern Version of Grants Plea for
General Lee.

r. s. McCulloch. in a recent issue Of
the New Orleans Times Democrat, sayg
the present is perhaps the lit moment
10 make public the following statement
In the year 1867 the undersigned spent
an evening with the late John w. Car
rett, ESQ, then President of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, who made the
following communication:
After the assassination of MIR. Lin
coin the Cabinet met in the Treasury
Department and passed a resolution to
arrest and try by military commission
the leading men OF the Cnnfederacy, be-
ginning with such aS MessrS. Davis,
General X. +. Lee, and others, and
meaning thereby to strike terror into
| the hearts OF the Southern people; sus-
picion of completely in that crime be-
ing the ground for such intended
trials.
They concluded that to carry their
resolution into effect, General Grant
must give the requisite orders. Tired
of war he was seeking repose on the
banks of the Delaware. He was, there
fore, telegraphed to come Immediately
to Washington, and the railroads were
ordered to bring him without deten-
tion.
Mr.. Garrett was at the moment in
Washington, and was instructed by
MIR. Stanton to go forthwith to Balti-
more, in a single express car, there to
meet General Grant and bring him to
Washington as quickly as possible. He
was also
TOLD BY MR.. STANTON 4.
to inform General Grant of the resolu-
ton passed, which he was expected to
execute, and that the Cabinet would
be in permanent session until his arriv-
al.
When the message was delivered, in
the car, General Grant said:
These gentlemen do not reflect that
such action would be stain upon the
escutcheon of this Nation which could
never be wiped out. The assassination
seems to have unsettled their wits.
Tell me that such men as General Lee
and Mr.. Davis had anything to do with
murder, gentlemen whom L have
known and esteemed for years, and
who are incapable of crime. As well
suspect myself"
The response was: '.Well, General,
the Cabinet are waiting only for you to
give the orders, and you will go into
their meeting as soon as you get there.
l hope when you do that you will speak
TO them just as. you have now done to
me-"
Then came the noble reply: Ishall
go further Mr.. Garrett. l shall tell
them they must first take my sword
| from me. - -
Upon their arrival General Gram
went directly into Cabinet meeting, and
Z 81. 4
After some time the Postmaster. Gener-
Garrett said: II do not wish to pry in-
to that which is confidential or secret;
but you know the message with which
| was charged. When l delivered it
General Grant said he would tell you
| gentlemen that YOU
MUST FIRST TAKE HIS SWORD ;
| from him. :" The answer was: He
has done that very thing, MI. Garrett"
To which the response was: That is
all l wish to know. Please tell Mir.
Stanton he will find me at his house
| when Your meeting is over. He told
ME he desired to see me on railroad
business, and l shall go there and talk
with Mrs. 5. until his return" When
| MIR. Stanton went home he confirmed
what his colleague had said. and gave
Alr. Garrett the information that what
| took place i'll the Cabinet was substan-
italy the equivalent of what had oc-
| Cured and been said in the car.
When this statement was made to
me, in 1867, by Mr.. Garrett, was as
| sociated in Washington College, at
| Lexington, Va. with General. r. E.
Lee, and upon my return from Balti-
| 4 taH 4 to
that it might be news to him. He ad-
nitted that it was, but instantly said:
"I can add to it for you" And then
he told me that one of his kinsmen,
| hearing a rumor that military trials
and executions were contemplated, and
| apprehending trouble, went to Wash
| ington, and was then making inquiry.
| Learning which General Grant sent for.
him, and said: please go to General
Lee from me, and tell him to have no
fears; that the government must re-
spect what the army hassdone. and that
not an officer or private to whom terms
of surrender and parole have been con-
| ceded shall be disturbed"
1t was long hoped by the undersign-
ed that publicity would be given to the
above facts by Mr. Garrett himself.
But now that his death precludes the
possibility of such testimony, they ara
hereby made known as told to me, and
as doubtless they have been also COM
municated by Mr.. Garrett to others, if
never published before.
| THE WORLD HAS ADMIRED
the courteous magnanimity of Grant
when Lee surrendered on the field of
Appomattox, and our people have felt
and appreciated it all. But they do
not generally know, though they should.
that the lives of our leading men were
in great danger, and that they were
then protected by Grant alone.