The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-04
ANDREW JOHNSON
INDICATED BY GEN. W. Usher
MAN.
Whatever the Faults Of the Great
Tennesseean He Was Pure
and Upright Patriot.

MISUNDERSTANDING: Lest autumn no
little excitement was created by the
statsmgflt which occurred in speech
made,iby the Hon. Chauncey M. De.
pew before the New York Chamber OF
Commerce TO the effect that Gen
Gan, had saved the Union twice; that
after the war be had defeated plot Of
Andrew johnson to throw the govern
ment intot the hands OF The ex-re b els.
This practical charge Of TREASON
against Mr.. johnson wis an Cd story,
and had long since been trampled out
OF existence in the minds OF men not
warped by partisan hate ty the results
OF tie Impeachment trial. But ever
since that time certain prominent rad
ical Republicans bad been wsgging
their heads fagely and whispering
malienabt ints that there was testi-
mony in existence which bad never
been made public, tr.umphantly prov
ing Johneon's guilt. Such men as
Blsire, Logan, Boutwell,, st Id genus
omne, did not hesitate to intimate this
in private conversations Among the
wituesses whose testimony could be
evoked 10 blast the memory OF the
dead Andrew Johrso twas claimed,
wss Gen. W. T. Sherman, who had an
active part in the imbroglio between
Grant. Stanton and johnson, though
himself not implicated in any way as
principal.
Mr.. Depew's speech and subse-
autnt newspaper publication brought
this private talk TO a head, and mHds
il A matter OF keen public attention,
for Mr.. Dspew professed to have bad
the facts at Il ST hand from no less
great an authority than Grant himself.
or the accuracy OF the Depew quo a.
ton, there can be no doubt, as Col.
Fred Grant and the Rev. DR.. Newman
afterward told the writer Of this that
they had often heard Grant make
practically the same statements in
conversation. The readers OF this
journal will perdcn the writer II he
restates briefly tbs, substance OF Gen.
Grants accusat ON, AZ uttered through
the ou.hpiece Of Mr.. Depew.
Firstly-Andrsw Johnson, ss firm
believer that the States had never been
con. additionally or legally out OF the
Union, was strongly OF the opinion
that, instantly the rebellion was sub.
dued, the lately seeded States had
the right to send their normal Con-
gressioDal delegation to Washington
10 represent them In legislation.
Secondly-Nr. AJohnson's political
course, from the beginning, shaped
itelt 10 effect this result, which, IL sue.
cessful, would give the party Of treason
and disunion, North and South, the
numerical majority, and enable the
South to carry ont by peaceful means
what she had failed In doing by arms.
Thirdly-Tbe President attempted
10 secure Gen, Grants co operation, as
the General commanding the army,
that the backing Of Federal bayonets
might be at his beck In case there was
q Northern revolt against this mon
strous revelaal of the results of the
war, rs there would almost surely be.
Gen. Grant indignantly refused aud
minated that the bsyonets Of the
United States would be ranged on the
other edo should such an exi1ency
arise.
Fourihly--Mr. Johnson, seeing that
r IN. Grant would be deadly oppo.
81 mt to his plot, sought TO remove
i'm from the scene by sending him to
lexico onna semi.diplomatic mission,
thus puttibg Gen. sherman in COM
mand ofthe army. Grant penetrated
the motive, and refused TO go, de-
termined 10 be on hand to battle the
incipient treason. II was this action,
coupled with Stanton's iron frmnesJ
in the War Department fight, which
prevented Mr.. johnson from proceed.
ing further with his plot.
Shortly after Mr.. Depew had stirred
mp these old issues the writer was in
the West, ard took occslon TO call on
Gen Sherman at 81. Louis, as this
emiuent man had been mentioned as
one Dol those having unpublished
proofs OF Johnson's treasonable plot.
The gallant old soldier, on being ap-
prised Of the motive OF the visit,
burst into loud laugh Of derision,
and said that tuch rubbish was not
worthy Of being discussed; that the
matter had been settled long since,
and that no man with two grains OF
sense in his skull really believed that
Andrew johnson, whatever mistakes
he might have made, was animated
by aught but pure and upright mo-
tiveS. Asno notes were taken OF the
conversation, and the writer has only
his memory 30 trust to, It is not
claimed that anything but the sub.
stance Of Gen. Sherman's remarks is
given.s
How then do You account for Gen.
Grants sincere bslief that johnson
was plotting against the Union"
THAT'S very simple" said Gen,
Sherman. "Mr. Johnson sometimes
drank little too much, There's nu
doubt that in come OF their friendly
chats over bot 10, "a often ocCu be
tween two gentlemen, Johnson may
have made some rash sta ements as Ia
constitutional reconstruction, moi
clearly grssping the drift OF his own
remark, and that Gen, Grant may
easily have mistaken the purport OF
them and so got very wrong impress.
EAVhts ~ wan why Nv tut AuNN Nuilill
the Staniou-Johnton imbrcgio that
any III feeling grew up between Grant
and johnson.
"Had Grant believed from the tt,it
that President johnson was ha'chipl
such plat, would II not have medl
them enemies at once?'
"Cer ainly Il would" was tie Gen
erals reply, That eoel without gay
ing. l do not believe that Genera
Grant at the outset, when the alleged
conversations We're held, thought o.
themspeeialy as being out Of the com
mon, even though he may have at
tributed 70 johnson a predispcsitior
10 the Lincoln plan Of reconstruction
II is perfectly well known that tn,
theory o! reconstruction favored by
JOIN son was that which Mr.. LincolI
proposed 10 cary out in c, 10 he haC
lived. Mt only this, but msny Of IL,
leading Northern Senators and othe
influential politicians had put them
selves on record rs in cord with il
Even Senator Motion, titsrwfrd tn,
most hitt ard radical Il Joh1eon'
enemies, made a speech shortly site
Lircolh's de. ia, strongly iavorirg thi
pan The VIZ tar would remark, e
PEASANT hat only tSo weeks su5su
~ lie sR. h. n l.