Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-23


effect, and would ask that he be ordered to
quash all indictments found against paroled
prisoners, and to desist from q further pros
ecution of them Mr.. Johnson was in per-
feet frenzy on this subject at the time. and
sent for Gen. Grant to come to the White
House. He said TO him. If this is the stand
you take when 10 the hanging of rebels to be-
gin!' Gen. Grant replied to him, very calmly
and logically, and went into the reasons
which induced him to give Lee such terms
ct Appomatox ~ he did. He said that Is
condition of these terms Lee had surrendered
his army, and the example thus set had been
followed As he had expected by the other
Southern armies. guerrilla warfare had
thus doubtless been prevented, and the whole
war brought to sudden termination; that
these officers had all kept their paroles hon.
orably; and until they violated them they
could not be arrested or punished. This led
TO very heated discussion, and Gen. Grant
went so far as to say that he would resign
his position in the army if he could not pro-
tect his prisoners. Gen. Grant related the
interview to me upon his return from the
White House to the headquarters of the army
in Washington. He said that he wanted to
spare the country the modification of so
gross breach of faith as that evidently con-
templsted by the President.
president johnson not long after this
changed his whole attitude in regard TO the
South, and commenced to carry favor with
the higher class Of people in that section.
He evidently intended to see that Southern
representatives were admitted to Congress.
and was determined TO use force if necessary
to install Southern members. Gen. Grant
became very apprehensive and fearful that
we were on the verge of revolution.
''fhe President exercised q good deal of
adrOitness in attempting to win Gen. Grant
over to his views, but in this he utterly
failed. The general was frequently invited
to cabinet meetings where his opinions were
asked with great Difference, and he was treat
ed in a manner that would easily have fiat
tered and controlled weaker man. The
General was entirely frank with the President
and told him emphatically the stand he would
have to take as ge neral of the army in case
of any proceedings that he considered revo
lutionary.
The President directed him to take a trip
to Mexico under pretence of wanting him to
ascertain the true situation there, 1t was
perfectly evident to General Grant that this
was mere excuse for getting him ou' of the
country at this crisis, and he declined to go.
He WIS sent for by the President during a
attorney general, 4 have given Gen. Grant
orders to proceed to Mexico, which he de-
clines to obey. l want an opinion from you
as to whether the general of the army cannot
be compelled to obey ORDERS Gen. Grant
spoke up at once and said, Mr.. President,
think can give you as good an opinion on
that point ss the attorney general. We are
at peace with Mexico, and as commander-in-
chief OF the army you have no right to order
me there in military capacity. You have
rendered me simply diplomatic mission,
and have but availed myself of the right
which every citizen 10 entitled to, that of de-
clining such a mission
Mr.. Seward nodded his head approvingly
to Gen. Grant as he made these remarks.
There WAS no cOercive measures taken as far
as this mission was concerned. The matter
ended there.
''Bu: curious complication lay in the fact
that Gen. Sherman had been ordered to WASH
ineton to take Gen. Grants place, it being
taken for granted that Gen. Grant would 20
upon this mission, and Gen. Sherman was
already on his way to Washington. Gen.
Grant communicated with him, rs soon as he
arrived in Washington. Gen. Sherman ar
rived in the morning and went to Grants
house, where the General told him of his
Washington, mentioning what had transpired
with the President and the stand he had tax
en- in the matter. Gen. Sherman's patriotism
was at once aroused, and with the prompt
ness and frankness characteristic of the man
said, You did right Grant, you did exactly
right
The Commercial Advertiser prints an in
terview with ex-Congressman Ashley of Ohio,
known for years as Impeachment Ashley"
who is credited with saying, "the letter of
Depew about Gen. Grants connection in the
matter with President Johnson is substan-
tally correct Every prominent public man
at the time knew that such was the case. The
reason why the matter was never brought out
at the trial was because the leading men Of
his party were opposed to it and to impeach-
ment itself The facts were smothered in
the judiciary committee"