San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-11-05
GRANT AND JOHNSON.
Alleged History Made Public for the
First Time.

NEW YonK, Oct. 21.-A lettoris made
public this morning from Chauncy
M. Depew to Col. II. ID. Grant where
in Mr.. Depew gives the substance ol
a most important conversation ht
once had with General Grant The
import of this conversation is that
when Andrew johnson first took the
Presidents chair, Just after Lincolni
assassination, he was for hanging oil
the rebel leaders out Of hand, even
those whose lives were guaranteed
them by the terms of the final peace
To give effect to this sentiment as
soon as he was inaugurated he insist
ed on the United States Courts in
Virginia finding indictments against
all the leading members Of the Con-
federacy. He also wanted the officers
lin the rebel army who had left the
regular army to join the rebellion to
be summarily dealt with by courts
martial.
General Grant opposed johnson in
this course, seeing that its adoption
was violation of the Governments
pledge and would lead to endless
guerilla warfare. Soon after johnson
suddenly changed front, and instead
of being for killing the rebel leaders
off without ceremony, began to receive
them at the White House. The ex-
planation Of this change offered is
that johnson being accounted at the
opening of the war by his aristocratic
neighbors at the South only "poor
white trash hailed with Joy the first
opportunity to get even with them.
But as he was aboutto make the most
of it, the big Southerners began to
coddle him and make fuss over him,
and then, seeing he could himself
now be of it, he was for maintaining
the old Southern aristocracy in all its
old strength and prestige.
In pursuance of this new ambition
johnson disclosed to General Grant
design of directing by proclamation
the rebel states to send to Washing
ton their full quota of senators and
representatives. He had assurances
from enough members from the North,
who, united with them, would make o
quorum of one house at least if not
both. The congress thus formed he
would recognize, and if the other
northern members did net nhoosa to
join, they would be powerless rump,
meeting in some hall. He appealed
to Grant to stand by him in the crisis,
and they would be the saving of the
Republic.
After endeavoring in vain to con-
vince the President of the folly OF
such course, Grant finally told him
that he would drive the Congress so
constituted out of the Capitol at the
point of the bayonet, give possession
of the building to the Senators and
Representatives from the loyal States,
and protect them. If necessary, he
would appeal to the country and to
the army he had SO recently mustered
out of service. Finding Grant thus
obstinate, johnson tried to get kim
out of the way by ordering him to
Mexico, but Grant would not 60.
Finally, finding Grants opposition
too formidable, he gave his project
up. II
Only the Herald and the World
editorially comment upon this story.
The World says: "This is story
that has been repeatedly limited at
and now that it is all out everybody
will feel better. 1t is marked trib-
ute to the loyalty and steadfastness
of General Grant, and it adds another
shade to the darkened memory OF An
drew johnson. The Herald says
"This correspondence is of course
only q prelude to further revelations
concerning one of the most perilous
epochs in our national history.
Among the disclosures that are to
come, we await with special interest
sufficient explanation why treason
able propositions of President john
son which Gen. Grant related to MIR.
Depew, and which Col. Grant certi-
fies that he has letters and documents
to attest, were omitted from the ar
ticles of impeachment presented
against President johnson by the
House of Representatives in 1868"
NEW York, Oct. 23.-The Herald
to day has further details regarding
the Grant-Johnson matter, comprised
in interviews. Hugh Mccullough
said that he never heard Of anything
of the kind before What made him
doubt the correctness of the state
ment is that the personal relations
between President johnson and Gen
eral Grant were of the most friendly
character up to the time when Gen.
Grant, as Acting Secretary of War,
yielded his chair toSecretary Stanton,
and that was a year or more after
these occurrences are reported to have
taken place.
Mr.. Depew, being asked il he know
any corrobOrative facts, replied
" Gen. Sherman says he knows all
about it. Gen. Horace Porter was
acquainted with the matter Vice
President Frank Thompson, Of the
Pennsylvania railroad, told me yester
day that years ago eK-Judge Jeremiah
Black informed linn Of JohnsOnls in
tentions. johnson sent for Black /
and laid before him tie plan which
be bad laid before Grant and asked
Black Tor his aid in carrying out the
scheme. Black heard al that John
son Lad to say and when the whole
-. - ,-e-e.1e-1 SID. tYOu have