New-York tribune., 1886-07-11

Mr.. Attorney General. is there any reason why
General Grant should not obey my orders' Is nc
any way ineligible to this duty 7" Grant started
to his feet at once. and exclaimed: can answer
that question Mr. President, without referring 10
the Attorney General | am an American cltlzen'
and eligible TO any Office TO which any American 10
eligible | am an officer of the army, and bound 20
obey your military orders. Bat this is civil
office. purely diplomatic duty that you offer me.
and cannot be compelled to undertake IL. ANY
lega! military order you give me will obey; bnt
this is civil and not military; and decline the
duty. No power on earth can compel me 10 IT,.
lie said not another word. No replied; and ne
left the Cabinet chamber. He returned Immediate
ly to his headquarters. and recited all that hao
occurred. | took down his words at the time, ana
read him afterward this account, which he ap-
proved.
Even after this scene copy Of his Instructions
was sent 10 him through the Secretary OF war, VINO
was directed to request him to proceed to Mexico.
But he wrote a second letter declining positively
the duty assigned him. Meanwhile Sherman mad
arrived. Grant had written to him to come directly
to his house and there explained the situation he
told his great ordinate of the plot to get rId OIL
him, and declared that he was determined TO dis
obey the order and stand the consequences. Sher-
man then paid his visit to tue President lie was
informed that GRAFT was 10 be sent to Mexico, and
that he was to command tho army in the absence OF
the General IN Chief But Sherman assured the
President that Grant TOad not 90. and SAID very
fatty that Johnson codll not afford to quarrel with
! Grant at that tine. He declared he could himself
be easier spared than Grant
The country was full of rumors of the object Of
Sherman's visit; If the real purpose was abandoned
il was necessary to cOnrive some excuse for send-
ing for him This Shermans own suggestion
/ Ia. - 1tv.4p pfAIfn n
turn his instructions to sherman. who was
Mexico in his stead the United states ship
Snsquehanna, Captain Alden commanding AS the
vessel left New York harbOr Sherman turned to
| Alden and said /" Ny mission is already ended
| BY substituting myself have prevented serious
quarrel bet tween the Administrator and Grant"
| This was not the only occasion WHEN the soldier
! frIerd came to the rescue crafty politicians
sought tC entangle Grant. | shall have other
stories like this to tell At these crises sherman
returned with interest all the constancy aud loyal
ty that Grant had displayed toward him so often
during the war He crused along the coast or
Mexico. visited ons two points. performed nc
duty of the slightest Importance. and in month or
two returned For all that hal been accomplished
he might as vol have remained at St. Louis. lie
declares in his Memoirs &" | am sure this whole
movement was got uo for the purpose OF getting
General Grant away from Washington" Grant
always attributed the conception OF this scheme
TO Seward
About this time Grant received the following let
ter which opened aud handed to him. After read
ing it he threw it into the lire. but snltched 1t
from the flames and preserved it.
October 1866.
GENERAL: / feel it 20 be my duty To warn you
To on your guard against dedssndtt1a, also To oe
| very careful of what you Ell. AMI rh@t you cat,
for the next sixty days believe that the hHighs
ho-- of 4 |
written them To bc careful. Ny warning NAV not
| reach them. II you can warn them do So As ever,
vours rnwANpAH, the Scout
Nothing more was ever heard on the subject. but
the letter is curious. showing the fears that some
| entertained at this time ADAM BADEAU.