The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-08-02
GRANT AND JOHNSON.

twenty years ago, though it was then no,
more than half believed. Some didn't
want to believe it, while others were so
anxious to have it accepted that they
not only emphasized the facts, but
added to them. 1t is a matter of history
and it is one OF the few things that
marred the character of a great man
that tor q time following the close of the
war. President Johnson was bent on
wrecking terrible vengeance on the
leaders OF the rebelIion-the military
and civil authorities who had kept up
the strife SO long N defiance of their
better judgment, because they were too
deperate or hadn't the courage to yield
until forced to surrender. It was MOI
credit to Johnson that he should feel
so bitter against the people of his sec
ton of the country. Afterwards, through
the famous Swinging round the circle"
politically as well as geographically, his
better nature was restored, though the
restoration came so near to completely
wrecking the President. That johnson
and the country were saved further
distress on both occasions was due to
tie fact that the extremists were not
permitted TO have their way. How
General Grant figured in the trying
times when Johnson wished jeff Davis
and associates hanged, and later when he
desired to give back to the south its lost
power before the yictors thought it wise
70 do SO, has been told by tho Brooklyn
Eagle, which heard the story from the
lips of Grant last January. The Eagle init
mates that the matter wasnot to bepub-
iished until after General Grants death,
s iying the General knew just what he
was talking about. He knew he was
talking TO a friend who knew how to 4
listen aud how to remember what he
heard. As both these great men have
passed. away, it becomes more interest
ing to learn just what it was that
passed between them, which at the time
was the cause of so much comment and
such severe structures and fulsome
praise according, as the critic was the
political foe or friend of the parties. The
Eagle says:
Andrew Johnson, at the beginning OF |
his term, sent for General Grant. They |
lad private interview. He bluntly |
told the General that he wished the army |
l1.,-
Of the rebel Administration, the rebel |
and the rebel State Govern
nents, as well as the rebel army and |
naval officers.
The former he would try in Federal |
courts. The latter he would try by mil
tary commissions. He frankly added: |
I intend to hang every mothers son OF
hem. This was the time when to Tom,
Jick and Harry, Tray. Blanche and
,Neetbeart. he was saying: Treason |
must be made odious and traitors must
De punished"
lie was also drinking more than was |
good for him-and Grant was not.
For reply President johnson got this
witt. and straight from the old COM
nander:
Il will not employ the army for any
uch purpose, nor will l let it be en-
'ioyed fox any such purpose.
But, said Johnson, II am by the
commander-in-chief. What
III you 90 il [ give GU such orders?"
"Disobey them,' quietly rejoined
rant. and state my reasons to Con-
ress and the country. The soldiers of
he South accepted my parole, which by
be laws OF war and the United States 1
vas authorized to give. 1t guaranteed
hey should not be molested if they lad
Iown their arms, went home and !
'beyed the laws. they did so. I will
tand by that parole, and the first court
martial you order would better be one
y try me, for | will not issue such
riders as you suggest, and 1 will issue
Orders against them, for the purpose
~ state"
President Johnson, after measuring
heodcs abandoned the project of ven
,eance.
President Johnson was not alone in the
esire to proceed in "a spirit Of vengeance
ma yiciousness. The Secretary of War
ias Violent when he heard of the gener-
US terms that had been granted to the
urIen dered army, and wanted to re-
S-Ao '--~-d' ~ niS pODloAOQ az Tile
Ime and has often been repeated since,
hat General Grant said if tlis parole
'ere violated in the last degree, he
TouId resign his commission. The
of Grant prevented the n
ecretary and the President from
lking a step that involved SO much
sk.
1t was after Johnson mad performed
is swinging round the circle feat that
e again sent for Grant, when the fol-
wing took place, according to the
Eagle:
at that interview President johnson
aid to General Grant:
Il mean to order elections in the
suth for Congressman, State Officers :
nd Legislatures under the old law" .
You cannot do it, said the General. L
The southern States are now under t
royisional governments, established
y the laws of Congress. y
But, interposed the President,
those laws are unconstitutional. The
outh viii act under my orders and s
nose Representatives and Senator's.
I1h them the Democrat Representa-
ives and Senators of the north |
III unite. Together they will 4
lrm Congress l will recoe- 1