New-York tribune., 1885-10-21
h,. , AND JOHNSON.
THE GENERAL AND PRESIDENT AT ODDS.

W-1ORK, oct. IL, 1850
MY DEAR COLONEL: In answer to your request ioi
the particulars Of the conversation had with your
father. and to which alluded in speech before the
Chamber of Commerce, the following Is my best recoi-
lection:
About four years ago I sat beside General Grant Mt
dinner There many courses and slowly ser'eu'
and the entertainment lasted several hours we as
many suggested by his travels around tue
world and among other things he said to me
that when IN China Prince Kung, who was Regent ana
the real ruler during the minority Of the Emperor told
him Of their controversy with Japan war was ABOUT
TO be Jared aud the Prince said that 1t would be
long and bloody one, and asked General Grant II he
would act arbitrator The General declined for want
of time principally because he was private person
and had no power TO enforce his decision He suggested
however, the terms OF compromise when IN japan
shortly after the Mkados ministers told their side OF
the trouble revealed the fact that several OF the Eu
ropean Governments were actively stirring up inc slo
on both sides, hoping to benefit by the war The same
request was made TO him on the part OF the
Iananese Government to act rs arbitrator, and In
again declining he stated the substance OF the com
promise he had advised for China The two nations
adopted substantially the terms proposed by General
Grant and a disastrous conflict was avertcd.
The conversation drfted into consideration OF his
relations with President Andrew Johnson The nara
tive NJ this ueriod was one OF the graphic dscrp
tiops 10 which ever listened and it unfortunate Tor
history and posterty that it cannot be preserved as
was told. 1t had local cooriug of conversations
with and by the chief actors and OF the stua
tons OF parties and parsons as the events occurred m
valuable in portraure and estimate Of the times
said in my address that General Grant
to hi, country which were importantas
any that were recorded, and think this narrative VIII
bear me ont This is the substance or the story Joh
son began the day after the assassination or Mr Lincoln
loudly TO proclaim at all times aud places Win constant
reeration the shiboeth Treason is odious and must
tbo chip ~ rphp
give effect to this sentiment. soon as he was naugu-
rated he insisted upon the United states courts In Nr
gnia finding indictments against all the leading mem-
hers of the COncderacy. lie also wanted the ocers III
the Rebel Army who had left the Regular Army to JOIN
the rebellion to be summlriy dealt with BY court-mar-
ua These movements of the President produced the
greatest CONSERVATION throughout the South'
The Confederate leaders appealed to Grant to
protect them parole he had given He saw John
son on the subject only to be Informed that the ffc
dent was, by the Constitution, COmmanderln -ChleI OF
the Army and that anything done by the Commanding
General Oh the field was done subject to his approval or
rejection and rejected the terms General Grant urged
that the rebels had surrendered on these conditions '
banded their orga zal0no submitted universally 10 the
situation and carrying out in good faith their part
OF the agreement and every deration of both honor
and expsdienoy demanded equal good faith on the part
of the Government. The other course w0ud nave lea
o on endless guerilla warfare conducted IL country
admirably adapted for t by desperate and hopeless
men. johnson obStinaely adhered to MS view
and assumed the authority OF Commander
when Grant fatty told him that II there we're to be any
conrt.u,artials ono must be called to try General
Gcaut Grst that would by every means In his power
protect his parole and appeal to Congress and the conn
try.
In the halt called by this attitude OF General Grant
very remarkable change occurred In the views ana
pocy OF President Johnson. General Grant discovered
that the most frequent and favored visitors TO the White
81. nr.af ft.n hat ts,rn4p fl,0I
In the Generals opinion Jchusons loyalty was suhordi-
nate TO- If not entirely dependent upon. his Intense
hatred Of the slavo-hOlding ogarchy. lie was poor
white had been journey tailor. and not~iistAnd
ing the distinguished public positions he had
held he could not break through the class
barrier. and was treated socially with contempt hy
this proud ari-ocracy. When they plhngei INTO ra'
bellon he his opportunity. lie believed In The
power OF the Government, ana thought that the uhc
mad when he oould defeat MS enemies c"nhscato
their property, humialc their ptldc ana ppsslhty
his f. mad bocn to be received treated Of
theu 10y the olisarchy. Having failed IL that and sni
OF the most indicative Of men. Heraw them foled IN
their rebellion, defeated aud Impoverished and how he
While he was dcvislng means to overcome General
Cr.nts resistance 10 this last purpose the leaders
the cid frudalsm called upon hun They admitted their
former treatment OF him ana JusHhed H. lhry
Caste tinctions existed conditions were always pos
sblo which promoted men who had "chleVcu success
from the lower INTO the noble order As President OF
tb, ited states he became regardless OF birth
cesiry only member OF their order bnt us icaer
johnson Wild with delight ambition and pride Wcro
bol n satisfied lie became ~ anxious 10 sustain and
perpetuats in some form systen which had gwen fhc
highest social and political distinction to few great
families as he had been to destroy It, Grant did not
have long wait for the formulation OF his plan. The
President sent FOR him and SAID that the radical measures
OF Congress revolutionary aud wOnd destroy the
country Tne was over and the Republic wdhiod
peace and that was possible only by union ol al! sec
tons The provisional governments provided
dients without constitutional authority. and
the states all the rights aud should possess all The
scheme u accomplish this rcsdlt, and with General
Grants assistance its success was assured He would
by proclamation direct the robci states TO sond to
Washington their full quota OF senators ana Represent
ativrs He had assnrau, from enough members from
the North who united with them. would mako
Quorum house at least. II not both The Congress
CapltaI n the other Northern members di choose
to join they would be powerlcss runp meeting Ia some
hall To The Generals suggestion that ms Wond start
the civil war afresh the President replied
"Thcy who do 1t viii be the rebels, but you snstai@
me resistance is impossible"
ne appealed TO Grant TO stand by him IN
vain to convince the President OF the folly or such
IT, Grant finally told him that he would irvc the Con-
grcs of the Capitol at the point or the
and Representatives. from tho loyal states and protect
them II necessary, he would appeal to the country ana
10 the army had recently mustered out Of service
w. vie1 IN the President by the Constitntion and n
he would refuse to obey the Commander in-Chef Gen
eral Grant .ad that under such circumstances he most
certululy would.
Shortly afteiward the President sent for Grant, and
said To him that the relations Of Government with
Mex 60 ere very delicate lie wished hD to tho
CITY Of McYIcO AZ Cnce very important mission. The
General knew that this to get him out Of tho way
and put 1t in the power OF the Pre,dont to call as MS
huc ccessor o Washington officer upon whom lie
could rely. lie replied that II tho appointment WAS
diplOmatc one he declined It, II IL military one
he refused TO obey because the General of the Army
could be ordered foreign country Win which w6
are al peace The interview stormy onc, but tue
subj .ct was dropped. One day tho General sent
Wrst on a tour Of Inspection lie knew that General
sherman was To his successor ana In HIM lie had Ab
sOlute confidence. Tho OutspOkon loyalty OF the
preat soldier prevented the project being
renewed IL s at this date needless to speculate upon
what might have happened had General Grant actively
assisted vry Obryed the President No doubts
the courage and Ubstinancy Of Andrew johnson, aud
only man equal triincss and determination could
have prevented a most calamatOus and unfortunate
strife at the critical period OF the reconstruction
OF the Republic. Yours very truly,
CHAUNCEY VI. DErEW.