Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-29
Hon. c. VI. Depew Makes Public
the Substance Of an Inter-
view With Grant.
An Account Of Some of Grants
Important Unwritten Ser
vices to the Country.
Col. Moore Disputes the State
ments Made by DepeW in
His Letter.
A Chat With Grant.

A Chat With Grant.
SOME UNKONWN FACTS MADE PUBLIC.
NEW YORK Oct. 23-Hon. Chaurcy
M. Depew mas furnished to the press
the following open letter to Col. T.
D. Grant:
NEW YORK, Oct 12, 1885.
My Dear Colonel-In answer To your request for
the particulars of the conversation had with
your father, and to which alluded in speech
ing is my best recollection: About four years
ago l sat beside General Grant at a dinner There
were many courses slowly served, and for enter
tainment for several hours discussed
many matters suggested bv his travels around
the world, and among other things he said to me
that when in China Prince Kung who was recent
and real ruler during the majority of the en-
peror, told him OF their controversy with
Japan. War was to be declared and the prince
thought it would be long and bloody one and
asked General Grant il he would act as arbitra-
tor. The general declined for want of time but
principally because he was private person and
had no power TO enforce his decision. He sug-
geSted, however, the terms of compromise
When in Japan shortly after, Mikada's minister
told their side of the troTble and revealed the
IacG tnat severa! OF the european goVernn-ent
were actively stirring strife on both Sides hoping
to benefit by the war
The same request was made to him on the part
of TIE japanese government to act as arbitrator,
and again declining he stated the substance of the
compromise he had advised for China. The two
natious adopted substantially the terms proposed
by Gen. Grant, and a disastrous conflict
averted. The conversation drifted in considera-
tiOn Of
HIS RELATIONS WITH PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON.
The narrative of this period was one of the most
graphic descriptions TO which ever listened, and
it is unfortunate for history and posterity that it
1t had the local coloring of the conversation
with and the statements by e. e chief actors and
OF the situations of The parties and the persons as
the events occurred, are invaluable as por-
traiture and estimate of the times. said in my
address that Gen. Grant performed services TO
bis country which were unwritten quite as i'm
portant as any that were recorded, and think
this narrative will bear me out. This is the sub
stance of the story: Johnson began the day after
the assassination of Lincoln, to loudly proclaim
at all times and all places, with constant reitera-
ton, the 'shbboleth, treason is odious and
must be punished, and the chief rebs shall be
hung
To give effect to this sentiment as soon as he
was inaugurate1 he insisted upon the United
States courts in Virginia finding indictments
against all the leading members of the c0nfed-
eracy. He also wanted the officers in the rebel
army who had left the regular army to join the
rebellion to be summariiy dealt with by court
martial. These movements of the president pro-
duced
THE GREATEST CONSERVATION THROUGHOUT THE
The confederate leaders appealed to Grant to
protect them on the patrol he had given. He
saw johnson on the subject only to be informed
that the president was. by the constitution, COM
mander in chief of the army and that anything
done by the commanding general on the field
and was don subject TO his approval or rejection
and he rejected the terms. Gen. Grant urged
that the rebels had surren' cred on these condi-
tons, disbanded their organizations and submit
carryng OUT m good faith 1her part Of
the agreement, ard every consideration of both
honor AMI expediency demanded equal good faith
The other Course Would the Nave ed to an
endless guerrilla warfare conducted in a coun-
try admirably adapted for it, for desperate and
hopeless men. johnson obstinatelY adhered to
his view and assumed authority of commander
when Grant fatty told him if there were to oe
any court martials one must be called to
GEN. GRANT FIRST,
and that he would by every means in his power
practice his parol and appeal to congress and
the country In the halt called by this attitude
of Gen. Granta very remarkable change occurred
in the views of President johnson. n. Grant
discovered that the most frequent and favored
visitors to the white house were the men whom
the president had prescribed. In the generals
opinion Johnson's loyalty was subordinate to if
not entirely dependent upon his intense hatred of
the slave holding obligarchy.
He was poor white and had been journey
man tailor and Notwithstanding the distinguished
public position he had held he could not break
through the class barrier, and was treated social
ly with contempt by this proud aristocracy.
When they plunged into rebellion
SAW HIS OPPORTUNITY.
He believed in The power of the government and
thought that the time had come when he could
defeat his enemies, confscate their property, hui
initiate their pride and possibly destroy them.
The absorbing ambition and passion of his life
had been to be received and treated as of
them by the oligarchy.
Having failed in that and suffered indignity in
the effort he became one Of the most vindictiye
Of men. He saw them defeated in the rebellion
and impoverished and now he wanted to Kill them
While he was devising means to overcome Gen,
of the old feudalism called upon him. They ad-
mitted their former treatment to him, and were
justified, they said. in all ages and countries
where caste existed the conditions were always
possible which promoted men who had achieved
success from the lower into the higher order AS
president Of the United States he became regard
less of birth of ancestry. Not only as amember OF
their order, but its leader Johnson was wild with
delight and lis ambition and pride were both sat
iSficd.
He became as anxious to sustain and perpetuate
in some form system which b given the high
est social and political distinction TO few great
families as he had been to destroy Grant did
not have long TO wait for formulation OF his
plan. The president sent for him and said 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 union of all sec
tions. The provisional governments provided for
the coded states were temporary expedients, with
out constitutional authority, and the states had
all thu rights and should possess all the powers
Cney DaQ DeTOr6 Jne war. he naQ perfected a |
scheme to accomplish this result, and with Gen. !
Grants assistance its success assured.
He would by the proclamation direct the |
rebel states to send to Washington their full |
quota Of senators and repJ esentatives from |
enough members from the north who united |
with them would make a quorum Of one house |
at least if not both. The congress thus formed |
he would recognize and install at the capitol |
If the other northern members did not choose to |
join they would be a psWerless rump meeting in |
the same hall To the general suggestion that |
this would start the civil afresh, the president
replied that they who do it will be the 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 saviours or the republic. After endeavoring |
for q long time to convince the president of the |
fol y OF such course and its certain failure no
matter who was sustained, Grant finally told him
that he would drive congress so constituted out |
OF the capitol at the point of the bayonet give |
possession Of the buildings to the senators and |
from the loyal states, and protect
them If necessary. He would appeal to the |
country and army he had so recently mustered |
out of service.
Johnson asked If he didn't recognize the |
powers vested in the president by the constitu- |
ton, and il he would refuse to obey the COM \
mander-in- chief. Gen. Grant said that under
such circumstances he most certainly would |
Shortly sfterward the president sent for Gen. /
Grant and said to him, that the relations of the
uritb GaI;o