The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-21
Chauncey NJ. Depew Explains What He
Meant by a Hint Dropped at Dinner.
Andrew Johnson's Scheme for Turning the
Country Over to the Southern Rebels
and Their Northern Sympathizers
General Grant Was Urged by the Presi-
dent to Assist in the Conspiracy,
But Took Determined Stand and Threat
ened to Drive the Rebel Congress from
the Capitol at the Bayonet's Point.

New YORK, Oct 2O--Hon. Chauncey NJ. De-
pew has furnished to the press the following
open letter to Col F D. Grant:
''NEW YORK, Oct. IL, 1885.
my Dear Colonel-In answer to your request
for the particulars of the conversation had with
your father and TO which alluded in a speech
before the Chamber of Commerce, the following
is my best recollection: About four years ago
sat beside General Grant at dinner. There were
many courses, slowly served and the entertain
ment 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 Kung, who was re-
gent, and the real ruler during the minority of
the emperor, told him of their controversy with
Japan. War was about to be declared, and the
Prince thought it would be long
and 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 citizen.
and had no power to enforce his decision. He
suggested. however, the terms of compromise.
When in Japan, shortly after, the Mikado's min
listers told their side of the trouble and revealed
the fact that several Of the European govern
ments were actively stirring up the strife on
both sides, hoping to benefit by the war. The
same request was made to him on the part of
the japanese government, to act as arbitrator
and, in again declining, he stated the substance
of the compromise he had advised for China
The two nations adopted, substantially, the
the terms proposed by General Grant, and dis
astrous conflict was averted.
'.The conversation then drfted into a consd-
Grafton of his relations with President Andrew
Johnson. The narrative of this period was one
of the most graphic descriptions to which l ever
listened, and tbs unfortunate for history and pos
terity that it cannot be preserved as it was told
1t had the local coloring of conversation WITH
and statements by. the chief actors and OF the
situations of parties and persons as the events
occurred, invaluable as rortrature and est-
mate of the times I said in my address that
General Grant performed services to his country
which were unwritten, quite as important as any
which 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 Mr.. Lincoln, to loudly proclaim, at all times
and places. with constant reiteration, the shib
boleth, Treason is odous and must be pun
ished, and the chief rebels shall be hung. To
give effect to this sentiment. soon as ne was
inaugurated he insisted on the United States
courts in Virginia finding indictments against all
the leading members of the Confederacy. He
also wanted the officers in the rebel army who
had left the regular army to join the rebellion
to be summarily dealt with by courts ts-martial
These movements of the President produced the
greatest CONSERVATION throughout the South.
The confederate leaders appealed to General
Grant to protect them on the paroles
he had given. He saw Mr. John
son on the subject, only to be informed
that the President was, by the Constitution,
commander-in chief of the army and that any
thing done by the commanding general on the
field was done subj ect to his approval or rejec-
ton, and he rejected the terms. General Grant
urged that the rebels had surrendered on Eese
conditions, disbanded their organizations, sub
mitted universally to the situation, and were
carrying out, in good faith their part of the
agreement, and every consideration of both hon
or and expediency demanded equal good faith on
would have led to an endless guerrilla warfare
conducted in country admirably adapted for it,
by desperate and hopeless men. johnson OBJ
stnately adhered to his view, and assumed the
authority of commander, when Grant fatty told
him that if there were to be any courts. martial,
one must be called to try General Grant first;
that he would, by every means in his power,
protect his parole, and appeal to Congress and
the country.
SUDDEN CHANGE OF FRONT
"In the halt called by this attitude of General
Grant a very remarkable change occurred in the
views and policy of President johnson. General
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, Johnsons loyalty was
subordinate to, if not entirely dependent upon,
his intense hatred of the slave holding obligarchy
He was poor white had been a journeyman
tailor, and Notwithstanding the distinguish he'd
public position he had held, he could not break
through the class barrier, and was treated
socially with contempt by the proud aristocracy.
When they plunged into rebellion he saw his
opportunity. He believed In the power
Of the government, and thought
that the time had come to defeat
his enemies, con6scate their property,
Inundated their PRIDE and possibly destroy them.
The absorbing ambition and passion of his life
had been to be received and treated as one of
them by the olgarchy. Having failed in that,
and suffered insult aud indignity in the effort
he became one of the most vindictive of men.
He saw them foiled in their rebellion, defeated
and impoverished, and now he wanted to kill
them. While he devising means to over
come General Grants resistance to this last pur-
pose, the leaders of he old feudalism called upon
him. They admitted their former treatment of
him, and justified 1t. They said that in