Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-10-29

Nj. DepeW mas turnlSneu 10 the press
the following open letter to Col. II.
ID. Grant:
New YORK, Oct - 1885.
My Dear Colonel-In answer to your request for
the particulars Of the conversation had with
your father and TO VIII ch alluded in a speech
] before the chamber of CommerCethe follow
ing is my best recoUectton: About four years
ago sat beside General Grant mt dinner. There
/ were many courses slowly served, aud for enter
tainment for 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 vas recent
and real ruler during the Minority OF the en-
| peror, told him OK their controversy with
Japan. War was to be declared and the prince
| thought 1t would be long and bloody one and
/ asked General Grant II 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-
| gestcd however, the terms OF compromise,
| When In Japan shortly after, Mikadas minister
| told their side of the trouble ana revealed the
| fact that several Of the European government
were actively stirring strife ON both sides, hoping
/ to benefit by the war.
| The same request was made TO him on the rart
/ of the Japanese government 20 act as arbitrator,
and again declining he stat the substance OF the
compromise ne had advised for China The two
natious adopted substantially the terms proposed
/ by Gen. Grant and disastrous conflict was
avertod. The conversation drifted Ia cUnsidera-
ton Of
HIS RELATIONS WITH PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON.
The narrative or tins period was one OF the most
/ graphic descriptions 90 whick ever listened, and
II is unfortunate for history and posterity that tt
| cannot be preserved as IL was told
| Ii had the local coloring of the conversation
with and the statements by e chief actors and
of the situations OF he parties and the person. as
| the events occurred, are invaluable az a por-
| traiture and estimate Of the times said In my
| address that Gen. Grant performed services TO
| his country which We're unwritten quite as i'm
| portant es any that were recorded, and think
| this narrative will bear me out This Is the sub
! d hg Johnson bpplu
the assassination OF Lincoln 20 loudly proclaim
at all times aud all places, with constant retera-
| ton, the "shbboleth,' treason is odious aud
must be punished, and the chief rebs shall be
hung ~
TO give effect to this sentiment as soon as he
was inauguratel he nsisted upon the United
States courts in Virginia finding indictments
again. al the leading members OF the c0nied.
cracy. He also wanted the officers In the rebel
army who had left the regular army 10 join the
rebellion to be summary dealt with 10y court
| martial, These movements Of the president pro
duced
THE GREATEST CONSERVATION THROUGHOUT THE
SOUTH.
The confederate leaders appealed 10 Grant 20
protect them ON the patrol he had given He
saw johnson On the subject only 70 he informed
! that the president was, by the constitution, com
/ mander m chief Of the army aud that anything
/ done by the commanding general on the field
| and was done subject 10 his approval or rejection
aud be rejected the terms Gen. Grant urged
| that the rebels had surren cred on those condt-
IOnH,
| tel universally 90 the conditions ana
were carrying out Ia good faith their part OF
the agreement ard every consideration OF both
honor an 4 expediency demanded equal good faith
The other course would have led TO an
endless guerrilla warfare conducted in coun-
| try admirably adapted for II, for desperate and
hopeless men. johnson o0stinately adhered %
| his view and assumed authority OF commander
/ when Grant fatty told him II there were 10 DE
/ any court martials one must be called TO
TRY GEN GRANT FIRST,
and that he would by every means in his power
practice his parol and appeal 20 congress and
/ the country In the halt called by this attitude
| Of Gen. Grant a very remarkable change occurred
| in the views OF President johnson. q n Grant
discovered that the most frequent ana favored
visitors 20 the white house were the men whom
the president had prescribed. In the generate
opinion JOhnson's loyalty was subordinate TO II
not entirely dependent upon his Intense hatred Of
the slave-holding obligarchy
| He was a poor white and had been Journey
man tailor, and notwithstanding the distinguished
public position he had held be could not break
through the class barrier and was treated social
| y with contempt by this proud sristocTacy.
When they plunged into rebellion
NE SAW ms OPPORTUNITY
| He believed In he power Of the government and
thought that the time had come when no could
defeat his enemies, coDfscate 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 one or
them by the oligarchy.
| Having failed In that and suffered indignity in
| the effort no became one OF the most Findctive
| Of men He saw them defeated In the rebellion
and impoverished and now he wanted TO kill them
| While he was deYising means 70 overcome sen.
Grant resistance to this last purpose the leaders
| Of the old feudalsm called upon him. They ad-
mtted their former treatment to him, and were
| justified, they said In all ages and countries
where caste existed the conditions we're always
possible which promoted men who had achieved
success from the lover into the higher order As
president OF the United States r became regard
less OF birth Of ancestry Not only as tmember OF
their order, but it's leader, johnson was wild with
delight and his ambition and pride we're both sat
isfcd
! He became as anxious 70 sustain and perpetuate
! IN some form system which II given the high
est social and political distinction - a few great
families as he had been 20 destroy. Grant DID
| not have long 70 wait for formulation q nus
plan The president sent Tor him and said the
radical measures Of congress we're revolutionary
and would
The war was over and Inc republic wanted pence,
and that was possible Only by union OF alt SIC
! tions The provisional governments provided for
! the ceded states we're temporary eNpedieutNWith.
out constitutional authority, and the states had
| al the rights and should possess all the p1wers
/ they had before the war He nad perfected
! scheme 10 accomplish this result, and with Gen.
/ Grant 3 assistance ITS success was assured
| he would by the proclamation direct the
rebel states ~ send 70 washington their iull
quota Of senators and representatives from
! enough members from the north who united
4 with them would make quorum Of ose house
az least If not both The congress thus formed
! be would recognize and Install AT the capitol.
/ II the other northern members did not chO0ee 10
Join they would be pswerless rump meeting ia
the same ball To the general suggestion that
this would start the civil afresh the presidest
replied that they who DO IL viii be the rebels, bet
| II you sustain me resistance Is Impossible
/ TIE APPEALED 40 GRANT
/ 10 stand by him in the crisis, and they would be
| the saviours Of the republic. After endeayOrinE
| for a long time 70 convince the president Of the
/ FOL Y OF such course and ts certain failure, no
mater " bO was sustained, Grant finally told him
| that he would drive a congress 50 constituted out
OF the capitol at the pOiit Of the bay On-t, give
| possession Of the bindings 10 the senators and
representatives from the loyal states and protect
! them II necessary. He would appeal 70 the
country and army be had 50 recently mustered
out Of service.
johnson asked II he didn't recognize the
powers vested In the president by the constitl
| tion and II he would refuse TO obey the com
| mander.in- chief. Gen. Grant said that under
such circumstances be most certainly would
Shortly afJerwRrd the president sent for Gen.
| Grant and said 10 him, that the relations Of the
government with Mexico we're very delicate, and
be wished him 10 90 70 the City Of Mexico at once
/ on IA very important mission The general knew