Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1885 — Johnson on Grant. [ARTICLE]

Johnson on Grant.

Gen. Ralfe S. Saunders, of Tennessee, and a prominent citizen of that State, in a conversation with a reporter of the St. Louis Republican, makes an interesting contribution to the relations existing between President Johnson and General Grant. •‘While Grant was l resident in 1871,” he said, “I was sitting in exPresident Johnson’s library with him in Greenville, Tenn. He was telling of his experience as President and remarked, ‘l’ll show you some unwritten history.’ He reached up to the book shelves and took a very large volume, larger than the ordinary ledger of a business. There were a number of these volumes ranged alongside each other. He laid before me the one he had taken down and opened it at a place whi h was marked by a torn piece of a newspaper. It was a detailed record of what occurred at a memorable cabinet meeting. These volumes contained the nrnutes of all the cabinet meetings of Johnson’s administration. The proceedings were set forth in a clear hand. I read the record of the meeting to which he had called my attention. It contained the expression of the opinions of the cabinet members concerning Grant’s course with regard to the secretaryship of war. He had, as is well known, consented to take that position for the purpose of aiding the administration to get Stanton out. In that very meeting he was accused by the President and his cabinet ministers of treachery and double dealing. Gideon Wells employed the strongest language in denouncing Grant’s conduct, and I never read such an excoriation as the President gave Grant. In language as forcible as Johnson could employ—and he knew how to use vigorous English—he denounced Grant for his deception and treachery. He charged him with having played the spy upon the administration and the cabinet. After having read the denunciation I asked Mr. Johnson where Grant was at the time. He replied with great earnestness: ‘ him, as close to me as you are, and during the delivery of my remarks I shook my finger right in his f ce.’ (Grant), continued Gen. Saunders, ‘neither looked up nor replied, so President Johnson told me. Now it is plain to be seen that Grant was moved by vindictive spite in telling what Mr. Depe v reports he said to him.’’