Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-30
THE DEpEw.JoHNsON MATTER.
Governor Stoneman's Views Upon the
Subject and Reasons Therefor

AH4itdlS UOFerlOrS appointed over South
ern States by President johnson after the
| close OF the war, an interview was yester-
day obtained with him for the purpose of
ascertaining if he could give any facts or
throw any light upon the Depew-G Grant
Johnson matter. In answer to inquiries
made, the Governor stated that he sus-
tanned very intimate relations with Presi-
dent Johnson during the latter part of the
war, and until General Grant was inaugu-
rated as President. He said he was APP
pointed to command one of the mil
ltary divisions of the Southern States
Just after the close of the war, and
subsequently was appointed Governor of
Virginia during reconstruction DAYS
They talked very frequently and freely TO-
gether, and especially upon reconstruction
matters; He was one of the Presidential
party which became famous as that with
which Johnson made his swing around
the circle.
And by the way remarked the Gov
ernor was thinking OF that this morn
lng-about those who were in that party
and | find | am the only one of the number
now hylng, who can speak personally of
what then occurred. There were in the
party, he continued, " President Johnson,
Secretary Seward, General Grant, Admiral
Farragut, General Rawlins General Stead
man, General Rousseau, General Custer and
myself. That, | think constituted the en-
tire party, and | am the only one now
remaining out of the number. This
swinging around the circle trip, YOU
will remember, occurred through the Pres
ident and others going to Chicago to attend
the laying of the corner stone of the Doug
los nj Tho l. r
New York and Buffalo. On the way John
son and Seward got to making speeches
and Johnson, who had got into a bitter
controversy with Congress and the leaders
OF the Republican party, took occasion,
whenever he spoke, to refer to them with
strong invectiye. Johnson was an able
man, as all his state papers will show. He
was man of strong, combative nature
and to be III hot contest with some one
or over something, was his natural element
He was in it from the cradle to the grave.
Il did not hear all johnson said while
on that trip, as | did not Join the party till
it arrived at Chicago. | accompanied the
party from there, through the West. to st.
Louis and as far back as indianapolis.
Johnson made great mary speeches dur
| ing this part of the Journey. but did not
| hear a word that could be questioned upon
| the score of loyalty, or that had the slight
est tinge limiting of revolution, unless it
was his frequent Characterization of Con-
gress as rump calling the national
| body Rump Congress- That did not
| regard, and no one did, as anything more
| than strong epitbet which he applied to
| the then Republican Congress. He used
| the term in nearly every speech, and APP
peared 10 feel as if ne had been Injured
and traduced by that body and his rightful
| prerogatives interfered with 1t will be
| remembered that Congress, in its contest
with President Johnson, limited his power
very greatly, through laws passed over
his veto, and among the number was the
Tenure OF Office Act Another directed
that all orders emanating from the Presi-
dent, pertaining to the army or military
matters, should go through the hands of
the Commanding General of the army. In
| these ways Congress took from him powers
which had been exercised by his prede-
| cessorS This course made johnson in
| tensely bitter, and he struck back in an
| epithetical manner by calling the power
which was thus fighting him Rump
Congress but that he ever had the slight
est idea of attempting to interfere with that
body, or of doing any other act which
would have been disloyal, don't for a mo-
ment believe. As TO what Johnson saidin
his speeches, however, during that trip. it
| was fully reported at the time, and pub
lished in all the leading newspapers
| throughout the country. | presume he ex-
pressed himself as openly and with as much
| bitterness then as he ever did in public
| utteranceS. and by referring TO the files of
| papers of that time there need be no cues
ton as to just what his views and purposes
were"
The Governors attention was called to
| the fact that these were public utterances.
but those concerning which Depew alleges
| General Grant told him at a dinner were
given at private conferences, and that he
| might then have expressed himself differ
| emily, not anticipating that it would ever
! be repeated.
To this suggestion the Governor replied
" do not believe General Grant, at the end
| of a two hours dinner. nor at any other
| time, ever accused Andrew Johnson of be-
| ing traitor to his country. do not think
he could have done so, because l do not
| believe that Johnson ever expressed to
| Grant the sentiments imputed to him. |
| am strongly of this conviction from my
| knowledge of Johnson's character. An
! drew Johnson was Il man of the people.
and was earnest in his devotion to the
! country. | do not believe that
| Grant entertained the views concerning
| johnson, that are imputed to him in the
| letter written by Mr.. Depew to Colonel
| Fred. Grant recently. Certainly the Gen
| eral did not entertain such views when
Johnson made his famous trip to The West,
| to which l have referred. On that occa-
| sion General Grant, General Rawlins and
| myself left the party at Indianapolis, and
went together to Washington, and | did
not hear the least word of intimation from
General Grant rejecting upon Johnson's
| loyalty, nor have at any other time The
only other occasion when 1 ever heard him
criticise Johnson was at st. Louis, on that
| trip, when a two hours speech of the
President compelled us to take up with
cold dinner.
a will tell you" said the Governor in
conclusion, what l think Johnsons pur-
| poses were in his bold movements in favor
| of the South. From hearing the numerous
| speeches made by him upon that trip, and
from all | could gather, | came to the con-
clusion that Johnson contemplated gen.
uine reorganization of the Democratic
party throughout all sections of the coun-
try, with himself as the central figure. In
this manner | think it was part of his pur-
| pose to bring the Southern States again
into full relations with the general Govern
ment, without further legislation. This l
consider to be the object towards which he
was aiming and the full extent of his pur-