The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-15
GRANT IN PEACE.
NO. xI
NJ. Al.
Grant. stanton and johnson.

Grant and Stanton were opposing their common
superior, for both believed that superior was OPP
posing the declared will of the people, to whom
Presidents are responsible. Stanton remained
An the Cabinet for the express purpose OF pre-
venting johnson from carrying out his opposi-
ton to the law. his course was approved oy
the mass of those who had been friendly to the
government during the war. 1t was approved
by Grant, with whom the fact that the people
had spoken was paramount Had he disap-
proved the law he would have felt it his duty to
enforce 1t. and he was shocked al well as panied
at the spectacle of the President and nearly all
his Cabinet devoting their energies and arts to
plotting the obstruction and evasion OF the law
If he had felt some tinge of annoyance at
Stanton's brusque demeanor, he put away the
remembrance now, and throughout this entire
crisis the two were heartily in accord. They
concerted constantly how best to execute the In
tent of Congress in spite of him whom Stanton.
at least, deemed guilty conspirator. Stanton,
Indeed, being in the Cabinet, probably knew
even more than Grant Of the designs and mach
anations of the President. He had never relent-
ed from his original austerity toward rebellion.
and Grant. once so lenient had been gradually
brought to frame OF mind in which he was
able to stand By the side of the Secretary.
The situation was unprecedented in the his
tory of the country. A Cabinet Minister and
the General OF the Army were doing their ut
most to thwart their chief, the President; the
two men OF all then living who had been fore
most in the struggle against rebellion were
opposing the successor of Abraham Lincoln
The President himself and all but one of his
legal advisers were engaged in the effort to sub
vert or pervert the declared will of the people,
and those who in ordinary times should and
would have been his most faithful supporters
now deemed it their highest duty to watch him,
to check him. to detect his plans. to disclose to
each other his movements, to unmask his de-
signs, to circumvent, and restrain, and battle his
schemes. For they regarded the man who
should have been the first servant of the state
as at this moment its most dangerous enemy
They thought he was undoing all that they had
achieved. bringing back the rule they had over
turned, defying the decision Of the faithful
North installing sedition in the place of loyalty.
On the 7th of June Grant wrote to Sheridan as
follows:
IL was absent from hero my way to West
Point when the correspondence commenced be-
tween you aud the Secretary of War which cul
knew nothing of it, except what was published
10 the papers, until my return here yesterday.
The Secretary's dispatch was in obedience to an
order from the President, written on Saturday,
before starting South, but not delivered to the
Secretary until Monday after left the office. L
know MIR. Stanton is disposed to support you
not only in this last measure. but In every
official act of yours thus far. He cannot say SO
because tits in Cabinet he has to do this and there
Is no telling when he may not be overrued; and
1t is not in keeping with his position to announce
beforehand that he intends to differ with his as
Eociate advisers.
Ia fact both Grant and Stanton were fire.
Quently compelled TO issue orders whose pur-
pose they abhorred; orders which, though
clearly designed to conflict with the intention
of the law, were so sklfully framed as to be
technically within its terms. They then more
than once discussed the means by which they
too. could apparently obey the directions Of
superior and yet neutralize his intent and pur-
pose.
This very letter to Sherman was written
under peculiar circumstances, to explain away
the apparent disarproval Of the Secretary.
Grant had gone to West Point where /
accompanied him, but mis- visit was sud-
denly terminated, and he returned to
Washington, because of telegram from the AS
sistant Adjutant-general at his own headquar-
ters, containing only these words: "You
are needed here" This was in consequence of
an agreement he had made with Stanton that he
should be summoned in this way, If necessary
Thus the telegram from q captain was in reality
a message from the Secretary of War. It meant,
and Grant SO understood it, that the President
of the United States was plotting mischief. and
that the General of the Army was required to
up his engagements and hurried back to Wash
ington.
IN considering the behavior Of both Grant and
Stanton at this period it must be borne in mind
that this was no ordinary political crisis. 1t
was not a struggle for Office, or about tariff or
q bankrupt law, in which they were engaged, but
dispute that followed hard on terrible civil
war. 1t was the reconstruction of the Union
that was at issue The question was whether
the States that had seeded and the population
that had rebelled, should be admitted to their
former place with or without the stpulations
and restrictions which the victors had decided
TO demand. More than this. the hopes held out
by johnson of easier terms had revived the am
billions and disturbed the quiet of the South.
Naturally, after great and disastrous convul-
sion there were many perturbed spirits, some,
perhaps, ready TO seize an opportunity to recover
what they had lost; there a population of
millions recently set free, living among their
former masters, there were the Unionists of the
South in the midst of the unsuccessful Confed-
crates; there was every cause for anxiety, every
passion and sentiment to be appeased, and al
Isyed and controlled.
All these seething elements of disorder were
stirred up by Johnson's obstinacy. The South
erners would have submitted to the inevitable,
bu; be encouraged and melted them to hold ont
still. If the decision of the North was accepted
by tho South, there would be an end of the
trouble, but by the stimulating conduct of the
President, by his incessant public and private
provocations, and porsuasions, and exhortations.
he prolonged the trouble and made worse things
probable. 1t was tho apprehension of still fur
Their confusion and reawakened strife that rem