Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-27
Gen. Grant and Andrew johnson.

Ii is a somewhat strange story that Mr.
Chauncey NJ. Depew tells concerning the
relations existing between General Grant and
Andrew johnson, during the former part of
the administration of the latter but it will
easily be credited by those who have carefully
studied the characters and careers of these
two men. The attitude of Johnson when he
fret succeeded to power in 1865 is yet fresh
in the minds of many OF our readers. Trea-
son was to be made odious and the chief
rebels were to be hanged. Mr. Depew re-
peats the story rs he had it from Gen. Grants
own lips. johnson insisted that the federal
courts in Virginia should find indictments
against all the leading members of the con-
fedcracy, and that the rebel officers who had
left the regular army to join the rebellion
should be summarily dealt with by court
martial. According to Mr.. Depew the con-
federate leaders appealed to Grant to protect
them on the parole he had given. He saw
johnson on the subject, only to be informed
that the President was, by the constitution,
COMMANDMENT. chief of the army, and that
anything done by the commanding general on
the field was done subject to his approval or
rejection, and he rejected the terms. Cen
eral Grant urged that the rebels had surreu-
dered on these cdnditions, disbanded their
organizations. submitted universally to the
situstion. and were carrying out in good
faith their part of the agreement; and every
consideration of both honor and expediency
demanded equal good faith on the part of the
government. The other course would have
led to endless guerilla warfare. conducted in
a country admirably adapted for il, by des-
perate aud hopeless men. johnson obstinate
lv adhered to his view and assumed the au-
thority of commander, when General Grant
a. -. 4 l.. All. H.. l.
court-martials one must be called to try Gem
eral Grant first; that he would by every
means in his power protect his parole and
appeal to Congress and the country. johnson
was frightened and halted. Then came sud-
den and most remarkable change on his part.
In q few months he sent for Gen. Grant again
He said the radical measures of Congress were
revolutionary The seeded States had all
the rights and should possess all the powers
they had before the war. He had perfected
a scheme to accomplish the result, and with
General Grants assistance, its success was
assured He would BY proclamation direct
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 a quorum of one House, at least.if not
both. The Congress thus formed he would
recognize and reinstste at the Capitol. If
the other Northern members did not choose
to join, they would be a powerless rump,
meeting in some hall. But he had again mis-
taken his man; General Grant would not be
used. and when the President tried TO send
him out of the country TO Mexico he refused
to go, and johnson was baffed again. Per-
haps the most curious part of this narrative
is the revelation given of the reason for John
sons change of policy, which has heretofore
been more or less of puzzle. Even his
enemies have heretofore been disposed to ad-
NIT his loyalty and his patriotism but accord
ing to General Grants account, 'Johnson's
loyalty was subordinate to, if not entirely de-
pendent upon, his intense hatred of the slave