Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-24
THE GRANT.JOHNsON STORY.
A Statement that Gen. Grant Favored
the impeachment Of johnson What
Gen. B. F. Bntier Says Of JoAsson's
Impeachment Trial.

LOUISVILLE, Oct. 2S.
The Courier-Journal says editorially tha,
II Is astonishing that among all the wise men
of the East, among all those so busy writing
history. not one should remember that Gen.
Grant did not appear before the judiciary
committee and give his testimony. Gen.
Grant certainly does not sustain Mr.. Depew
He says distinctly that President johnson
did not propose TO recognize Congress com.
posed of Southern members and democrats
of the North. He asserts that in his public
speeches when "swinging around the circle, u
President johnson did not suppose q case,
and then asked which would be q legal Goa
gress, and he denies that he said even this
much to Gen. Grant in private. This and no
more is the substance of Johnson's treason,
and it is plain that what is now in Mr..
Depew's letter is not true.
Gen. Grant had accepted the position OF
secretary of war in the proceeding August on
the suspension of Edwa NJ. Stanton BY the
President. under the provisions of the tenure
of office acts. That act provided that in
cases where the President suspended ar off,
Ger, his reasons for the suspension, and
the name of the protein appointment
should be submitted to the Senate. If the
Senate approved the suspension, the old in
cumbent stood removed. 1t the Senate re-
fused to concur, the nomination fell and the
old incumbent resumed his place within the
required time after the assembling of the
Senate.
In September, 67, johnson, in obedience
to the requirements OF the tenure of office
act, submitted his reasons for the suspension
OF Mr.. Stanton to the Senate, which were re-
ferred to an appropriate committee, and, as
remember now, without looking at the records,
that committee made an adverse report.
Within short time after the RECOMMENDING
of Congress, the Senate proceeded in execu-
tive session and finally, late at night, came
to final vote sustaining the report of the
committee and over-ruling the Presidents
action in suspending Mr.. Stanton Under
the law this vote reinstated Stanton and re.
moved Grant. Next morning Stanton ap-
peared at the war Office at an early hour, and
before the arrival of Gen. Grant, and on the
arrival OF Grant, Stanton informed him of the
action of the Senate and said that he was
now again secretary of war.
Gen. Grant retired and in a few DAYS oc-
Cured the scene between johnson and Grant
in the executive mansion and in the presence
of all the cabinet, except possibly Steward.
In the interview it will be remembered Mr.
johnson stated to Gen. Grant that he (Grant)
had accepted the portfolio of the war depart
ment with the agreement that in case the
Senate disagreed with the action of the Pres
ident in removing Stanton, he (Grant) would
either holc the Office and contest with Mr..
Stanton the constitutionality of the tenure of
office act or in the event of his unwilingness
to do so. he would give timely notice thereof
to the President in order that the latter might
substitute the name of some other person who
would test the validity OF the act in question
with Stanton.
johnson claimed that in his opinion the ac-
ton was unconstitutional and declared that
he was led to believe that Gen. Grant con-
Cured with him in such an opinion. As to
what was said and done in that interview,
Gen. Grant and the President seriously differ
ed, and members of the cabinet who were
present were called upon to substantate the
Presidents version. Up to that time never
knew or heard of any serious misunderstand-
ing between Gen. Grant and johnson, and
am satisfied that up to that period Gen. Grant
was opposed to any action looking to the i'm.
peachment of Mr. Johnson. short time
after is difficulty, which so far as | could
understand, involved nothing but question
of veracity between the parties, l can state
positively that Gen Grant became warm
and Jealous advocate of impeachment, and
continued so until the final vote on the sub
J'Ct. speak oHiy from memory as 10 oates,
but the substantial facts are correct.
ST. LOUIS. Oct. 23
Touching the question as to whether Gen
Grant did or did not favor the impeachment
Of President johnson as raised BY the recent
correspondence between Col. Grant and Mr.
Chauncey Depew, the Globe Democrat this
morning prints the following statement made
by Gen John B. Henderson, who was in the
Senate at the time and will be remembered
as one of the very few republican Senators
who voted against impeachment. Gen. Hen
derson was also an intimate friend of Gen.
Grant and had superior opportunity OF
knowing that gentlemsn's views at that time
His statement is a. follows: There were two
separate and distinct movements to impeach
President johnson. One was in the House
in December, 1867, Immediately on the as
sembling of Congress.
1t was based on the action of q committee
appointed during special session of Con-
gress in July, 1867, to investigate and report
whether it was advisable to impeach Mr.
johnson. speak only by memory, but at
last action was taken in December, and the
proposed articles of Impeachment were voted
down by very large majority. Gen. Grant
was then acting as secretary OF war and as
member Of Mr.. Johnson's cabinet, and have
various reasons for stating that at that time
he was opposed to the impeachment of Mr.
johnson.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 90.
Col. Frank A. Burr of the Philadelphia
Times, who was in Washington during John
sons administration and who has Just about
completed his memoirs of Gen. Grant, which
will soon be published, deals in his book With
the subject OF controversy recently started by
the publication of Chsuncey NJ. Depew's re-
ialion of the narrative by Gen. Grant, in
which the latter describes peculiar existing
relations between President johnson and
himself. Col. Burr's book confirms the story
as related by Gen. Grant to Mr. Depew in
every particular.
In further dealing with the same subject
Col. Burr details the manner in which Gen.
Sherman caused President johnson 70 devi-
ate from his proposed course Of sending Gen.
Grant TO Mexico. Sherman, he SAYS, went
to Johnson and told him that Grant was de-
termined to stand a court martial before he
would obey the orders to go to Mexico, and
Sherman Was ordered to 90 to Mexico, and
went, while Grant remained at Washington
Sherman, also, the author SAYS was convinced
that Johnson's reason for wanting Grant
to 20 to Mexico, was that be wanted to get
rid of him. During this critical period, the
author says, it vas learned that q large force
was being organized in Maryland to sustain
johnson should . conflict occur between the
President and Congress Grant sent trusted
officers into Maryland to investigate the mat.
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