The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-27

senator from Kentucky. on the floor of the
Senate, denounced Congress, and demanded the
expulsion of the popular branch from the Capl-
toll and the Chicago Times spread before its nu-
merous readers many such paragraphs as the
following:
..'If the rump Congress shall not speedily
abandon its seditious revolutionary and lawless
practices; if it shall persist in excluding the
representatives Of eleven States from their
rightful seats, and in exercising the powers OF
the Congress of the United States we do not
hesitate to declare that it will become the sol
emn duty of President johnson to constitute
himself the Cromwell of the time. and dissolve
the rump by military power
This denunciatory language was not much
more violent than that used by President John
son on such occasions as that which he de-
nounced Col. John W. Forney, Secretary of
the Senate, a dead duck, and while max
ing the trip which is spoken of as swinging round
the circle The fear grew daily among welln-
formed men that if not restrained by the con-
sciousness of overwhelming power the President
would drive the legislative bodies from the Capt.
tol and assume the work of reconstruction by IN
viting the white citizens OF the insurgent States
to send their quota of members and senators to
cooperate with Johnsonized Democratic sena-
tors and members from the North in legisating
for the whole Union.
'In pursuance of a request made by Mr.. Stan
ton, on his assumption of the Office of Secretary
of War, / visited his room in the department
every day, including Sunday. 1t was from Sec
retary Stanton learned that the President had
attempted to tamper with the General of the
Army, and use him confederate in his revolu-
tionary schemes. 1t was this knowledge that
justified me in leaving my duties on the floor of
the House and coming home to address my con-
stituents and townsmen as did on March 10,
1866. But this was not an individual act 1t was
the result of consultation with others who be-
lieved the time had come when notice Of i'm
pending danger should be given to the country.
Hence the address and its publication In
nkvsk 49, %h<N
country. 1t a knowledge of President John
sons designs that made Secretary Stanton vol
untary prisoner in the War Department. which
confinement, with these extraordinary causes of
anxiety and the performance of the ordinary
duties of his Office cost him his life. 1t the
knowledge of these nefarious designs, and that
General Grant had not only refused to cooperate
with their author, but had threatened the ex-
pulson of any so-called Congress that might
assemble on the Presidents proclamation, that
influenced Republicans like Colonel Forney,
David K. Cartier. myself and others who had
participated in the nomination of Lincoln, to
urge General Grant to accept the Office OF Presl-
dent at the hands of the Republican party. And
let it be remembered to his honor, it was the
dangers to his country that President johnson
had shown him to be possible that induced him
to surrender the life Office of General of the
Army and accept the temporary position of Presl-
dent which, in itself, could reflect no honor on
his name. He saw in President Johnson's
treachery how lit tie dependence could be placed
on the professions of an ambitious man, and de-
termined to accept tho presidency in order to
give assured peace to the country during the
period of reconstruction.
THAT the President endeavored by every
means known to him to get General Grant not
only away from the capital but out of the coun-
try is shown by the records now made public by
his military secretary, Captain Moore who tells
US that on the 18th of October the President sent
for the General and proposed to him to accom-
pany Hon. Lewis d. Campbell, whom he had
just appointed minister to Mexico to the capital
of that country; that the General refused
tie mission; that on the 25th of the month
the President prepared order directing the
General to proceed with the new minister on his
mission to Mexico, and report to the Department
of State; that In Difference to the opinion of
meeting, by which it was modified so as to re-
quest and not order the General to leave the
country.
"The Generals statements to Mr. Depew in
this respect are verified as thoroughly as is the
fact that Andrew Johnson's loyalty was simply
an expression of his hatred of the landed aAd
saveholding aristocracy of the South which had
persistently refused him social recognition This
is matter of general notoriety that needs no
testimony to establish it. But l have reached
the limit of space you have put at my service, and
will bring our interview to an end by quoting the
closing paragraph of my speech of March l5,
1866. as follows:
"'The danger of the county is not from military
power. The great soldier who captured Fort
Donelson and enabled Andrew johnson, the
hunted refugee to return to his home, commands
the army for life. No St Arnaud can order
pardoned traitor to his position, and, having
conquered the rebellion on his own line, he will
not permit the results of the peoples dearly
fought victories to be herously surrendered.
The Thirty ninth Congress will maintain the Con-
stitution in its integrity. 1t will do what it in
spite Of the veto power TO protect the public faith
and credit 1t will invest the executive with
ample power to protect and avenge every loyal
man in the country. 1t will strive to guarantee
to each State republican form of government.
1t listens to the appeals of the survivors of the
the brigade of loyal North Carolinians who
sponded to the appeal of the gallant Foster and
the Alabamians who followed Spencer through
the war, and will not be content to yield them
helpless victims to the malice of the traitors
who could not corrupt or overawe them. The
evidence taken by the central directory" shows
that there such men throughout the South
and if they are to be abandoned to vengeance-if
the South is to be closed to emigration-if they
and the public debt and property, yes and may
add peace-are to be tconfded to the care of the
master spirits of the rebellion it will not be
done by the Thirty ninth Congress-"
THE SUSPENSION OF STANTON.