The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-10-29
ANDY JoHNsoNs TREASON.
Gen. Grant Reveals How He Frustrated
Two Monstrous Attempts.


Channcey NJ. Depew gives the de
tails of conversation he had a few
months ago with Gen. Grant, il
which he revealed some unwritter
history proving the venality anC
treachely of Andrew johnson. The
things told constitute the rankes
high treason, and although the fact;
were known to Grant, Sherman auo
all the leading men Of that day, they
never said q word either on the i'm
peachment trial or anywhere else
Gen. Grants attitude in the affair
is of the loftiest patriotism and
fidelity, and by strong will and stern
loyalty to right he frustrated Two
attempts at monstrous wrongs. So
monstrous were the attempts that
there was a general agreement that
the world should never know them,
and even after Mr.. Depew's letter,
Gen. Sherman, protesting that he
knew all the facts, refuses to open
his mouth. Now, we are not the
apologist of Andrew Johnson, but
this affair is filmy on its face. This
momentous secret, the divulging Of
which might have created a revolu-
ton, was revealed at last over a
winecup after a most gossipy and
garrulou5 fashion. Grant sealed
his lips twenty years and then
gabbed it out to bibulous friend.
We have no doubt that there were
some things happening then that
were never told that would give
some color TO this statement, and
we haye fullest confidence in An
drew Johnson's rascality, but we
cannot believe this yarn in all its
immensity. If Grant and Sherman
knew the facts as stated and then
declined to tell them and have the
traitor punished, they we're as gull
ty as he was.
The reader may not have seen
Depew's letter. Mr.. Depew sat
next plate to Gen. Grant at dinner
several months ago Several cours-
cs were served slowly and several
hours consumed. To while away
the time the General unbosomed this
secret. lie stated that when he
came to Washington after the sur
render he found Andrew johnson
hot after rebel blood. The presi
dent boldly said that he was the
commander-in-ch of the armies
and he declined to Tatify Grants
terms of surrender. He began to
utter his famous shibboleth the
next day after Lincoln's funeral
TRAITORS must be punished and
treason made odious," and he fierce
iy announced his determination to
hang the leading rebels and confis
cate their property. He ordered
gin their indictment. Gen. Grant
remon strated to no avail, and then
he got mad and told the president
thabhe would defend his terms of
surrender with his life and his ar
mics and that his first indictment
for treason must be against him.
Johnson finally abandoned his
bloody policy and went TO the other
extreme. The reason given for his
actions are amusing to any one who
knows how absurd they are. 1t ap
pears that in ancient days there was
a slaveholding aristocracy at the
south. Andrew Johnson was a |
parUenu and these royal bloods |
would not recognize nor associate
with a man who was not born a
slave baron, no matter how high he
might rise Andy, chagrined and |
maddened at the Sights he had en-
dured for years, saw his opportunity !
to avenge himself nightly and to
wipe this princely gang out of exist
ence. When Grant frustrated him,
however, he changed completely to
the other extreme. 1t is said these
aristocrats sent willy messengers to
scrape sugar in Andy's ear. They
told him that although he was born
a plebian, his wondrous achieve
ments and mighty valor were count
ed to him for righteousness, and he
had become the prince and leader Of
southern aristOcracy. And they
paid him great homage. Andy was
delighted beyond measure and set
about measures to perfect his title
and bring his satellites about him.
He sent for Grant again and told
him he had changed his mind, that |
he was going to withdraw the pro-
visional governments from the !
southern states, annul all measures
of reconstruction, announce a com
g I,A rNr %
once TO their full rights IN the
union, call for senators and repre-
and organize a new con
gress. He said he knew some of
the northern people would kick, and
possibly the congress would decline
to ratify his policy, but his new con-
gress would be the largest and the I
old one would be an illegal rump,
and with the help of Grant he could
inaugurate a new order of things.
Grant, of course, more vehemently |
opposed this than the other. The |
president then ordered Grant to
Mexico on a pretended mission and
ordered Sherman to Washington to
take command of the armies. He
thought he could use Sherman.
Grant refused to leave Washington
The whole thing thus came to naught.
These main facts are embellished
with MINOR absurdities that make a
complete narrative. Numbers of
the surviving statesmen OF those
days are trying their hands at cor
these points, and the
world is being gradually en'ight-
ened upon a state of facts that make
a monstrous traitor out of Johnson
and participating criminals out of
Grant, Sherman and all others who
were privy to it and refused to tell.
Tenuessee's Great Iconoolast.