Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-10-30

ever HsLcneO, ana 1t IS unfortunate for his
tory aud posterity that it cannot be pre-
served as it was told. 1t had the local
coloring OF conversations with and state
ments by the chief actors, and of the situa-
tons OF parties and persons as the
events occurred, invaluable as n por-
trait,.re and estimate Of the times.
/ said in my address that Gen.
Grant performed services to his country
which were unwritten, quite as Important
rs any that were recorded, and think
this narrative will bear ME out. This is the
substance OF the story: johnson began the
day after the assassination OF Lincoln, to
loudly proclaim at all times and places,
with constant reitcra ton, the shibbolath:
treason is odious and must be punished,
and the chief rebels shall be hung
TO give effect to this sentiment, as
soon as nc was inaugurated he insisted
upon the United States caarts in Virginia.
hndlns indictments against all the leading
members Of the confederacy. He also want
ca the officers in the rebel army who had
lett the regular army to join the rebellion,
to be summarily dealt with by court mar
tial. These movements OF the president
produced the greatest CONSERVATION
throughout the south. The confederate
leaders appealed to Grant to protect
them in the parole he had given.
40" nv" b"iliioOA VII IlC SuDICCb, only TO ne
Informed that the president was, by the
constitution, commander-in chief OF the
army, and that anything by the command
ing general in the field was subject to his
approval or rejection, and he rejected the
terms. Gen. Grant urged that the rebels
had surrendered on these conditions.
dIsbandcd their organizations, submitted
universally to the situa ton, and were car
crying out in good faith their part OF
the asrc"mcnt, and every consideration
OF both honor and expediency demand
Ell equal good faith on the part OF the
government. The other course would have
led to an endless guerilla warfare. John
son obstinately adhered to his view, and
assumed the authority OF commander,
when Grant tatly told him that, if there
were to b. any court martials one must be-
Jailed to try Gen. Grant first; that he would
by every means in his power protect his
parole ant! appeal to congress nd the coun-
try. Ia the halt called by this attitude Of
Gen. Grant, Il very remarkable change oc-
Cured in the views and policy OF Prcsi-
dent johnson. Gen. Grant discovered!
that the most frequent and favored
visitors to the White House we're the men
whom the president had prescribed In
the generals opinion Johnsons loyalty
was subordinate to, ii not entirely depend
emit upon his intense hatred OF the slave
holding Oligarchy. He was poor white,
had been Ii jOurneyma tailor, and notwith-
standing the distinguished public positions
he had held, he could not break through
the class barriers. and was treated
socially with contempt by the proud arts
tocracy. When they plunged into rebellion
he saw his opportunity. He believed in
the power OF the government, and thought
that tie time had come when he could
defeat his enemies, contiscate their proper.
ty, humiliatc their pride and possibly de-
stroy them. The absorbing ambition and
passion Of his lite had been to be received
and treated as one OF them by the olga rchy.
Having failed in that, and
SUFFERED INSULT AND ISDlGNITY
in the effort. he became one OF the most
vindictivr OF mon. He saw then, foiled in
their rebellion. defented and impoverished
and now he wanted to kill them. While he
was devising means to overcome Gen.
Grants resistance to the last purpose,
leaders OF old feudalism called upon hin
They admitted their former trent
ment OF him and justified it,
They said that as president OF the United
states be became, regardless Of birth or
ancestry, not onlya member OF their order,
BIT as a leader. Johnson WAS wild with
delight. Ambition and pride had both
been satisfied. lie became as anxious to
sustain and perpet,ate in some form
system which had given the highest social
and political distinction to IL few great
families as he had been to DESTROY it.
Grant did not have long to wait for the
formulation OF plan. The presi-
dent sent for him and said the radical
measures OF congress were revolutionary
and would destroy the country. The war
was over and the republic ut peace, and it
w nnSsSh1o for nf.,sp l.
OF all sections. The provisional gov rn-
ments provided for the seeded states, were
temporary expedients, without constitrl-
tional authority and the states had all
their rights and should possess all the
powers they had before the war. He
had perfect Il scheme to accomplish
this result, and with Grants assist
ance it's success WAS assured. He would
by proclamation direct the rebel states to
send to Washington their full quota of
senator's and representatives. He had as
sur RANGES from enough members from the
North, who. united with them. would make
3 quorum of one house at least, ifnot both.
A congress thus formed he could recognize
and install at the capitol. If the other
Northern members did not choose to join,
they would be pOwerless and hold rumD
in some hall. To the generals sus-
gestion that this would start civil
war afresh, the president replied: 'Thcy
who do it will be the rebels, hut IL you sus-
tain me, resistance is impossible" He APP!
peaied to Grant to stay by MIN in the cri-
sis and they would be the saviors of the re-
public. After endeavoring for a long time
in vain to convince the president OF the fol-
~ OF such q course and its certain failure.
no matter who sustained it, Grant finally
told him that he would drive a congress so
constituted ont of the capitol at the
point q. the bayonet, give possession
of the building to the senst ors and rep
resentatires from the loyal states and pro-
tect them. if necessary. He would appeai
to the country and to the army he had so
recent " mustered out OF service. Mr..
johnson asked him II he did not recognize
the powers vested in the president by the
constitution, and II he would refuse to obey
the commanders in-cl1ief Grant said
that under Aticli Sir substances he
most certainly would. Shortly afterware|
the president sent for Gen. Grant,
and sald To- him that the relations 81
our government with Mexies, were
very delicate, and he wished him to 60 e,
the City OF Mexico at once on q very i'm.
portant mission The general knew, this
Was to get him ont sof the way and nut itsin
the power 81 the prpsi,l lent to cal "a his sue
cessor tn Washing tom some officeF .up0n,
whom he could rely He replied II
the Appois1 t.ne1t ,xas q ID ipinynatie one
he deSlnetl 81; a. III Nas q military one,
be rslpSssa tn obey, because III general