The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-10-31
GRANT AND JOHNSON.
THE GEN IEISAI. A ND PRES.
IDENT AT ODDS.

How Jo',nson's Scheme for Restoring the
South to Power Was Checked.
Chauncey NJ. Depew has furnished to
the press the following open letter to
Colonel F. d. Grant:
| NEW DIRK, October -, 1885.
My DEAR CoLoNEL-In answer to your
request for the particulars of the con-
versation Lad with your father, and TO
which | alluded in speech before the
Chamber of Commerce, the following is
my 0est recollection:
About four years ago sat beside Ger
eral Graut at dinner. There were many
| courses and slo Wy served, and the en-
tertainmcnt 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 kuEg, who was Regent
and the real ruler during the minority of
the Emperor, told him of their contro-
veisy W eth Japan. War was about to be
declared, ard the Prince said that it
would be long aud bloody one, and
asked General Grant if he would act as
arbitrator. The General declined for
want Of time, but principally because he
was private person and had no power
to enforce his decision. He suggested,
| however, the terms of compromise.
When i'll Japan shortly after, the Mika-
dos ministers told their side Of the trou-
BILE and revealed tie fact that several of
the European governments were actively
stirring up the strife on both sides, hop
ing to benefit by the war. The same re-
quest was made to him on the part of
the japanese Government to act as arbi-
traitor, 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 a disastrous con-
tiict was averted.
The conversation drifted into consid-
Grafton of his relations with President
Andrew Johnson. The narrative of this
period was one Of the most graphic de-
scriptionS to which | ever listened, and it
is unfortunate for history and posterity
that it cannot be preserved as it was told.
1t had the local coloring of conversations
with and statements by the chief actors,
and of the situations Of parties ard per-
sons as the events occurred, invaluable
in a portraiture and estimate of the
times. | said in my address that Gen.
eral Grant performed services to his
country which were unwritten, quite as
| important as any that were recorded,
| and think this narrative will bear me
| out. This is the substance of the story:
Johnson began the Gay after the assas-
sination of Mr.. Lincoln loudly to pro-
claim at all times and places with con-
stant reiteration the shiboleth Treason
is odious and must be punished, and the
chief rebels shall be hung" To give
effect to this sentiment, as soon as he
was inaugurate6 he insisted upon the
United States Courts in Virginia finding
| indictments against all the leading mem
bers of the Coniederacy. lie also wanted
the officers in the rebel army who had
left the regular army to join the rebellion
to be summarily dealt with by court
martial. These movements of the Presi-
dent produced the greatest CONSERVATION
TIN oughout the South. The Confederate
leaders appealed to Grant to protect them
on the parole he had given. lie saw
johnson on the subject, only to be in
formed that the President was, by the
| Constitution, Commander-n-C Chief of the
army, and that anything done by the
Commanding General on the field was
done subject to his approval or rejection,
aud he rejected the terms. General
Grant urged that the rebels had surren-
dered on these conditions, disbanded
their organizations, submitted univels-
ally to the situation, and were carrying
ont in good faith their part of the agree
ment, and every consideration of both
honor and expediency demanded equal
good faith Oh the part of the Govern
ment. The other course would have led
to an endless guerilla warfare conducted
in a country admirably adapted for it by
desperate and hopeless men. johnson
obstinately adhered to his view, and as
sumed the authority of Commander,
when Grant fatty told him if there were
to be any court-martials, one must be
called to try General Grant; that he
would by every means in his power pro-
tect his parole, and appeal to Congress
and the country.
In the halt called by this attitude of
General Grant very remarkable change
occurred in the views and policy of Pres
ident johnson. General Grant discovered
that the most frequent and favored Wis
tors to the White House were the men
whom the President had prescribed. In
the Generals opinion Johnsor's loyalty
was subordinate to, if not entirely de.
pendent upon, his intense hatred of the
slave holding oligarchy. He was poor
white, had been n journeyman tailor,
and notwithstanding the distinguished
public positions he had held, he could
not break through the class barrier, and
was treated socially with contempt by
this proud aristocracy. When they
plunged into rebellion he saw his oppor
tunity. lie believed in the power of the
Government, and thought that the time
, had come when he could defeat his enc
; mics, confscato their property, humili
ate their pride and possibly destroy
them. The absorbing ambition and pas
sion of his life had been to be received
} and treated as one of them by the oil
garchv. Having failed in that and sui
f fered insult aud indignity in the effort
he became one of the most indicative o
| men. He saw them foled in their re
l bellion, defeated and impoverished, ant
7 now he wanted to.kill them.
= While he was devising means to over
| come General Grants resistance to thi
Q last purpose. the leaders of the old feu
9 dalism called upon him. They admitted