The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-04

,io7 on bis memories OF the talks with
johnson that he entertained ut the
time.H .04sircf a UfH
"There can be no doubt ] suppose,
that Mr.. johnson would have carried
out, IL practicable, what may be called
the Lincoln plan OF reconstruction,
afterward denounced by Republicans
as rank treason sgainst the Union%
"No doubt whatsoever answered
Gen. Sherman, "but it would never
have been by any but through strictly
legal and constitutional meane. |
don't believe any ST. tssman ever lived
N America who understood the con-
stitu ion and all its powers and limi
Iatluns better than did Andrew John.
son. IL was his Bible, and he studied
il rs such. He loved the South as
PAS onitely az he ha'ed slavery and
slave holders, but he was not the man
10 take any steps unless he believed
fervently that he bad good constitu-
tioEal grounds for it.
"Whst do you think concerning
Gen. Grants statement that President
johnson asked him il he would sup.
port his policy, should it be necessary,
WITH the power oil the aTmy2"
II believe that the President may
have asked Grant in an incidental
way, and in one OF his most careless
moods, whether be would give him
the support OF the army in case there
should be any desperate collision be-
tween himtelf aad the Republican
faction in Congress. But this does
not presuppcse any plan or plot or
even serious purpose on the part OF
Mr.. johnson. 1t was one Of those
tentative questions which any man
in the Presidents place might have
asked without any drTiere pensee. /
should cert ,inly attach but little i'm
portsnce 10 it."
snow as to the a't'mpt to get
Gen. Grant out OF the way by sending
him to Mexico with Minister Camp
bell. 1t seems TO me that this charge,
II substantia'ed, is one OF the most
dangerous OF the whole series, as i'm.
plying vicious motive"
GIN. SHERMAN AMUSED.
Gen. Sherman laughed long and
loud.
THAT part OF the business, said he,
sis one OF the most extraordinary
farces in my whole experience. have
seen much roaring fun on and off the
stage, but that beats it all. That was
one OF S.ward's jobs. Johnson had
but little to do with it. Seward was
shrewd old fox, aud he u ed johnson
to pull his chestnuts out OF the tile.
The facts are simply these: Seward
had betn beaten every time ss can
dldate before the nominating conven.
ton OF the Republican party. He YVES
mad for the Presidency. He knew in
1865 that Grant was the man to whom
all minds were tuning as the most
available Republican candidate, and
that his own chances would be as q
feathers weight, unless Grant did
something to diminish his own popu.
larity. Seward reasoned that II Grant
could be sent out on this farcical miE-
sion, the importance CT which he had
artfnlly exaggerated to the President,
the chances were he might do some
foolish or impolitic thing which
would kill his Presidential chances
Grant unquestionably saw the
trap and wouldn't go. He
felt the importance politically of ttay-
ing at home lust tn n, though not, in
my Judgment, because he feared at all
on account OF any johnson plot. To
get Gen. Grant out Of the dilemma OF
refusing to obey the Presidents order,
/ volunteered to 90 in his place. On
proposing this to Mr.. johnson, he
said: Il am glad TO have you 90,
You'll do just as we'll for the purpose,
which is simply to give the mission
additional dignity by having very
high officer OF the army associated
with it,. So went, and Mr.. Seward
was terribly chagrined. AS for that
mission, there never was such an alb
surdlty.l / had glorious junketing.
None Of us went near the City Of
Mexico or Juartz, and we simply had
first rate vacation, When got back
Congress passed a solemn resolution
thanking me in glowing terms for the
admirable talent for dip omacy and
discretion / had shown. The whole
thing was worthy OF the Grand Duchy
OF Gerolstein. Somuch for Johnson's
desire to get Grant out of the coun'
try"
Tho writer at tho time was editorially
connected with the North American Repie,o,
and soug 10 obtain certain important pa
pers for publication. Con. Sherman refused
10 allow this, but permitted his private book
10 be insps cted, which contained the docu-
monts In question bearing on this subject.
Gen. Sherman talked freely, on condition
that his remarks should not be ppl lished,
As he 10 about TO publish now IN the North
American Reviep the documents then re-
fused, tho writer holds himself freed from
his pledge.