The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16

Part or n Plan or Confederate Leaders TO Sup
port I'resIdcnt Grant.

From ne Chicago Times, Herald.
In 1868, after tho election of Gen. Grant to
the Presidency, there was a conference of nearly
all the big leaders OF the CouGederacy in one OF
the parlors of the ST. Charles Hotel in New Or
leans. There were twelve or more present, and
the meeting, which was held behind closed
doors, lasted for more than a week. Whom it
did adjourn II had been resolved that so fn- as
they could they would throw no obstacles in tho
way OF the national Governments; that they
would advise their southern friends to desert
the Democratic party and join hands with tho
Republicans, and in this way tho Federal Of
fees would 90 to the cX-Conrelerates in
stead of the Ehouls and carpet .bnggcrs that
then infested that country. Gen. Inngstrent, "A
college mate of Gen. Grants and a personal
friend of many years standing. notwithstapd-
Ing the fact III It each had commanded contend
ing forces during the civil war, had seen tho
great soldier ut Washington n few weeks before,
who then had recommended such n course. 1t
was agreed Mt the New Orleans conference, al
most, without opposition, that these Southerncrs
should cooperate with Gen. Grant and bring
about II speedy settlement of all differences.
The gontloinen pnrticipntlng in this confer
enGe went to their homes Gen longstreot went
the President soon after his arrival. A few
days later he was appointed United States Mar
nomination was confirmed and the General AZ
feptch tho position. The country knows about
tHc nDNl lnHt WIS fhlSeu an over INC country
south of Mason and DiXnn's line because Of
long Democrat. lie had voted with the Wings
before The war, but hnl recnntod and had
come back INFO Inc Democratic fold. exhibiting
much comtrition. He had whipped tho Van.
keos at Knoxville and was ono of the heroes
OF the ContcdcraCy. He had gone 10 his
Georgia home in 1868 with enmlty and malice
in his hearl toward all Yankeoland. The Re-
publican party WAS then to him IA party of
rascals. And for him to go into their camps
four wears later WAS an act only pHrallGlCd
By that OF Judas Iscariot when ne betrayed
his Christ. That is the way the Southerners
thought. Some still look at it that way.
stump ~speHkcTs Numbered their excoriatine
sentences from all corners and cross roads:
private families heaped ob!oquy on his name
around the family hearth; ministers spoke dis
paragingly Of him in tho pulpit, and children
we've taught to turn their faces when they saw
the old solder coming. But he was undeterred
by these demOnst~ ratiOus, and up to the explra.
ton of his commission he remained unsedureh
by such popular claInOr. The other Confederates
who had entered into the compact to take the
offices and thereby show tho administrator that
ened away by the Indignation created by
LOngstreet'S acceptance and finally they became
the traitors II traitor thore was. Iongstrcet
had been sent ahead to blaze the way. The
fogs had become thick and tho road DANGEROUS,
and his followers halted behind when thoy had
promised assistance,
And during all the years since then this gal
liant old man has carried his hcartlches well.
He has meyer divulged the secret. 1t may come
out some day, and then woe DO unto q few South
srnsrs who have reyilsd his glorious namSi