The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-11

State" It was doubtless supposed that Grant,
with his profound anxiety for Mexican inde-
pendence, would bite at the bait But the device
was too transparent; and Grant, if ordinarily un-
adroit, was yet far-seeing. He usually went to
| the core of thing, when immediate judgment
was required He promptly declined the mis-
sion. This was in conversation with the Presi-
dent
! day or two afterward johnson returned to
| the subject and announced that he had sent for
| Sherman to take Grants place in his absence
Congress was about to assemble. Congress
hostile to johnson, and the air was full of
rumors that the President would refuse to re-
cognize it. and might even attempt to dispense it
by arms. Mr.. johnson had recently seemed to
have designs to use the military force il Mary
land illegally. or at least improperly. Grant
remembered this, and declined to leave
the country; this time in writing. Never
theless, in a day or two he was sum
| moned to a full Cabinet meeting where his
detailed instructions were read to him by
the Secretary of State. exactly as if objections
and refusal had not been offered. But
Grant was now aroused and before the whole
Cabinet declared his unwillingness to accept the
mission. The President also became angered.
| Turning to the Attorney general he inquired:
| mr.. Attorney general. is there any reason why
General Grant should not obey my orders2 Is he
| IN any way ineligible to this duty2' Grant
started to his feet at once and exclaimed: II
can answer that question. Mr.. President with
out referring to the Attorney general.
r ali h1o
to any Office to which any American is
eligible. am an officer of the army, and bound
| to obey your military orders But this is civil
| Office, a purely diplomatic duty that you offer
me, and cannot be compelled to undertake it.
Any legal military order you give me will
! obey; but this is civil and not military, and
decline the duty. No power on earth can COM
| pei me to it, He said not another word No
one replied. and he left the Cabinet chamber.
| He returned Immediately to his headquarters,
| and recited all that had occurred l took down
| his words at the time, and read him afterward
! this account, which he approved.
| Even after this scene copy Of his instruc-
tons were sent to him through the Secretary of
| War; who was directed to request him to pro-
coed to Mexico But he wrote second letter
4 Q6clDluE pOSlblVSly ID0 Outy dSSiSuSU
Meanwhile Sherman had arrived. Grant had
written to him to come directly to his house, and
there explained the situation; he told his great
subordinate of the plot TO get rid of him, and de-
| clared that he was determined to disobey the or
| der and stand the consequences. Sherman then
| paid mis- visit to the President. He was informed
that Grant was to be sent to Mexico, aud that
| he was to command the army in the absence of
| the general in chief. But Sherman assured the
| President that Grant would not go. and said very
| fatty that johnson could not afford to quarrel
with Grant at that time. He declared he could
| himself be easier spared than Grant
| The country was full of rumors of the object
| of Shermans visit; if the real purpose was aban-
doned it necessary to contrive some excuse
| for sending for him. This Shermans own sug
| gestion afforded In day two Grant was
directed to turn over his instructions to Sherman,
| who was sent to Mexico in his stead on the
| United States ship Susquehanna, Captain Alden
| commanding AS the vessel left New York har
| bor Sherman turned to Aldon and said My
mission is already ended By substituting my
self have prevented serious quarrel between
the administration and Grant,
This was not the only occasion when the
soldier friend came to the rescue as crafty poll
| ticians sought to entange Grant | shall have
| other stories like this to tell. At these crises
| Sherman returned with interest all the con-
| stancy and loyalty that Grant had displayed to-
| ward him so often during the war. He cruised
along the coast of Mexico. visited one two
| points, performed no duty of the slightest i'm
portance, and in month or two returned. For
| all that had been accomplished he might we'll
have remained at St Louis. He declares in his
Memoirs: II am sure this whole movement was
got up for the purpose of getting General Grant
away from Washington" Grant always attrib-
uted the conception of this scheme to Seward.
ADAM BADEAU.
About this time Grant received the following
letter which opened and handed to him. After
reading it he threw it into the fire, but
snatched it from the flames and preserved it.
| Nothing more was ever heard on the subject,
| but the letter is curious, as showing the fears
| that some entertained at this time:
OCTOBER, 1886
to be on your guard against assassination, also
| to be very careful of what you eat, and where
you eat, for the next sixty days. believe that
the Knights have spotted you, Sheridan and
sherman. / have written them to be careful.
My warning may not reach them If you
warn them do so. AS ever, yours,
TEwANDAH, the Scout
An Authority on Pronunciation.