The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-29
Grant anfl. Johnson.

rom Hon. Chauncy NJ. Dupew. OF New
7 orx, to Col. Fred Grant. embracing an +
interesting chapter Of the anwritten his +
tory of President Johuson's adminissr "a |
tion. The facts related have brought out {
numerous statements from other parties
familiar with the events Of that period, in !
which MI. Depew is both sustained ard
disputed. The weight OF the testimony IS
in favor Of tie verify OF Mr.. Dupew's mar
ration. The inference from what ten
eral She rman says is that there was,
serious trouble brewing about the time
he was summoned to Washington by
the President. Others positively sfase
that Johnson had determined, III his own
mind, on a plan OF reconstruction, coa-
tlicting with that Of Congress. 1t was 70
invite representation in Congress from All
of the seeded States, ard With the repre-
sentatyes of the North and West. WHO
would agree to it. to recognize thai cody
as the Constitutional Congress ignore
the other body, and proceed with ieglsla-
ton. This plan was conceived. after tile
defeat by Gen. Grant OF the President
purpose to arrest and try for treason Gen.
Lee and all the officers indeed who had
been educated a. West Point. and lett the
Federal service aud joined the South, to-
gether with prominent Southern citizens,
who were influential in the councils q the
Confedracy. 1t is known that great con-
sternation vas occasioned in Virginia
when in Judge underwood's court, Geif
Lee and osfers were indicted for trea
son. All looked to Gen. Grant for protec-
| tion, for President Johnson had given ex-
preston to very bitter sentiments and Il
purpose to make treason odious. 1t was
not until it was known that Gen. Grant
| intended to stand by the terms OF the sur
render and protect the Confederate sol
diers, under that stipulation, that feel
/ ing of relief was experienced in the South.
/ It was we'll known then that it was to Gen.
Grants determined position that the in
dictments were practically qaashed and
Gen. Lee and the others embraced in the
threatened prosecution permitted to live
quietly in the peaceful pursuits of private
life.
1t Was one of the marvels OF the times,
that after this brave and magnanimous &C
i ton of Gen Grant. that he should SO soon
have become the object of the b'tterest
n denunciation of the Southern people, and
held up to the world as scottish brute, an
ignoramus, petty tyrant, seeking the
destruction of constitutional liberty and
especially the oppression and humilla-
ton of the South. There was no language
too vile and coarse to be applied to him,
and those in the South who deemed it right
, to support him for the Presidency ovel
Greedy came in for their share of the per
, secntion and villilication which the bene
fciaries of his magnanimity heaped upon
, him. He was anxious at all times fol
genuine peace. He never felt any bitter
ness towards the Southern people, and i
, the laws and Constitution had been ac
jcepted in their spirit and intent, there
would have been but little trouble, com
! paratiyely. in adjusting the relations O.
4 the seeded States to the government ant
securing the paciGcation Of the country
The dying sentiment he uttered at Mt
' McGregor was not new with him. 1t hat
. found expression from him often and owe
|, again. His oath required him to see tina
, the laws and constitution were enforced
/ and tho strange thing to him was that TIL
: Southern. people did not recognize this ant
endeavor to live squarely up to it. Hi
duty was plain. He could not eyade 1t
, and his earnest desire was that other
, should see the situation rs he was com
, PEELED to look at it. His appointment 0
Iongstreet as Collector Of Customs at New
! Orleans. and Orr to the Federal Judlclar.
of South Carolina, was in the interest o
Cancellation telling them if they coul'
| get representatives, in those States t
q accept the situation as they had, the who'll
power and prestige OF the government
in those States should be given them. FL
, wanted no carpet-bag governments. III
/ wanted the people of each State to admin
q lister their own affairs. All he asked wa
= that the National laws and the Constitu
ton and the rights they guaranteed shout
!, be recognized and respected. Ard If th
spirit he manifested had been met by re
;. ciprocal purpose, the South to-day woul
. be twenty years ahead Of what it is, i
: material development and national fratel
: nization. There was no time from tn
surrender at Appomattex to the closin
scenes of life at Mt. McGregor that Ger
Grant did not feel the sentiment he III
tered as he passed from earth. and woul
: not have given it practical application
e he had had any encouragement to do Sc
q He, of all men in the Nation had the il
q fluence and power to befriend the South
: Instead of trusting him, however, tn
: Bourbon leaders took UP Greedy an
: sought to defeat and humiliate the maj
!. who stood between them and the revenge
: full spirit of Andrew johnson as exem
!. plified in the Indictment of Robert E. lie
and those who we're mentioned with hin
y Taking the time and conditions SURROUND
q ing him then, his action.was far more eS
! allied. grander, nobler and more christia
n and patriotic, than even his utterance o
q his diving couch. Amid the safgings Q
4 passion, the angry tempest of war fee
+ ing, the griefs of the Nation over new
. made graves, the sufferngs of the maine
A and disabled, the sombre apparel tina
n darkened almost every home, the herc
: mutterings Of the Chief Magistrate, til
| revepgeful action Of the Court-there thi
: man stood solitary and alone to breast th
! storm and drive back the mad wave tina
4 threatened, or go down in the maelstror
f that would have engulfed the victims 0
e official vengeance.
y Never since He who spake as never ma
spake, uttered the piteous appeal, Father
: forgive them, they know not what the
i do was more sublime spectacle pre-
i sented Never in all the annals of human
' experience was there ever a grander pictur
arrayed, than when Gen. Grant, Will
! the parole of Robert e. Lee i'll his hand
faced the power Of the government ant
babe it touch not hair of his head. FL
had erred, Grant as much as said but hi
: honor and nv honor is recorded in thi