Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-21

An Important Addition ca the Secrct
History Of the ueconslrnciiO ion lcriosl.


letter TO Col. +. ID. Grant regarding certain
great but unrecorded services of zen. Grant al
luded 10 by Mr.. Depew at aspeech before the
New York chamber OF commerce. Mr. Dcpew
says I'm this letter that the facts recited he
learned from Gen. Grant about four years ago
at "a dinner, during which they sat side by side.
Mr.. Depew first tells the well-known story of
Gen. Grant having, during his tour around the
world, 10y his advice averted an impend-
ing between China and Japan. which
several European nations were endeavor.
The conversation drfied into cops Snu
of his relations with President Andrew John
son. The narrative OF this period was one u
listened, and IL is unfortunate for history and
posterity that il cannot be preserved as IL was
told 1t was in substance as follows: johnson
began the day after the assassination OF Mr..
Lincoln 10 loudly proclaim the shibboleth,
Treason is odious and must be punished, and
the chief rebels shall be hung. lie insisted
upon the United States courts I'm Virginia find
ing indictments against all the leading men,
beers of the confederacy. He also wanted tho
officers i'm the rebel army who had left the reg
ul;ir army to join the rebellion TO be sufnnartly
dealt with by court-martial These ,noyements
of the President produced the greatest conster-
nation throughout the south. The confederate
leaders appealed TO Grant To protect them ON
the parole he had given. He saw johnson On
the subject only TO he informed that the Presi-
dent was commander-in-chief 81 the army,
ing general ON the field WAS done subject
To his approval or rejection, and he re-
jected the terms. Gen. Grant urged that
the rebels had surrendered on these conditions,
and were carrying out Ina good faith their part
OF the agreement, and every consideration Of
both honor and -eNpediency demanded equal
good faith on the part of the government John
son assumed the authority OF commander, when
Grant fatly told him that Ii there were Ia be
any courts-martial one must be called tn Gen.
Grant first. that he would by every means in
his power protect his parole and appeal 10 Con-
gress and the country. In tie halt called 10y
this attitude OF Gen. Grant a very remark able
change occurred Ina the views and policy of Pres
ident Johnson. Gen. Grant discovered that the
most frequent and favored visitors Ia the W hite
House were the men whom the President had
prescribed. In the generals opinion Johnsons
loyalty was subordinate Ia, IL not entirely de-
pendent upon, his intense hatred Of the slave
holding oligarchy. He was "A poor white, had
been journeyman tailor, and Notwithstanding
he was treated socially with contempt by this
proud aristocracy. When they plunged into
beIieyea in inc ,he ~ pow s opPor fSe governs.
ment, and thought that the time had
come when he could defeat his enemies.
confscate their property, humiliate their pride,
and possibly destroy them. While he was de-
wishing means to overcome Gen. Grants resist
ance to this last purpose, the leaders of the old
feudalism called upon him. They admitted
that President of the United States he be-
came regardless of birth or ancestry, not only
member of their order, but Its leader. Johnson
was wild with delight; ambition and pride were
both satisfied. He became anxious 10 sus-
tain and perpetuate i'm some form a system
which had given the highest social and political
distinction Ia few great families AS he had
been TO destroy IL. Grant did mol have long 10
wait for the formulation of his plan. The
President sent for him, and said that the
provisional governments provided for the
seeded states were temporary expcdients, ana
the states had all the rights and should possess
all the powers they had before the war. He
had perfected scheme TO accomplish this no
suit and with Gen. Grants assistance It's suo-
cess was assured. He could by proclamation df-
rect the rebel states TO send to Washington
their full quota OF senators and Representatives.
He had assurances from enough members from
the north, who united with them would make
TSe Congress- th%s formed he would recosDiss
and install at the Capitol II the other northern
members did not choose TO join. they would b
generals suggestion that this would start the
civil war afresh, the President replied:
%nU $40 ~ w De ans
After endeavoring In vain TO convince the
President OF the folly of such q course Grant
gress SO constituted out OF the Capitol At the
point OF the bayonet, give possession OF the
from the y ioyai states and d" protect them. n
necessary he would appeal 20 the country and
TO the army he had SO recently mustered out q
recognize the power vested I'm the President by
the constitution, and II he would refuse -
obey the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Gen S ..,..ns
certainly would.
shortly aferward the President sent for Gen.
and he Wished him 70 60 70 the city q Meaioo =
knew that this was TO get him out Of the way
and put IL In the power Of the President % ceu
As his successor some ofiicer upon whom -
was q Diplomatic one he declined t. IL 10 -
O military one he refused 20 obey, because the
general OF the army could not be ordered 70 .
foreign country with which We arc ~ pcena
The Interview was stormy one, but the suc0s8
In answer 70 Mr.. Depew's letter Col Frea
Grant writes that the narrative contained In %
1. substantially correct sna snas ne $780,, - 80 80