Adam Badeau, Grant in peace: from Appomattox to Mount McGregor, a personal memoir

[39] any longer to object, and accordingly accompanied the President. As he had anticipated, the tour was converted into a political pilgrimage. At every point Mr. Johnson made speeches and received demonstrations in favor of his policy, while Grant was dragged about an unwilling witness of manifestations which he disapproved. He kept himself, as much as possible, in the background, and refused absolutely to make any speeches; but his presence was nevertheless proclaimed as positive evidence of his adherence to the President's policy. Finally, his disgust was so great that he became half unwell, and pleading illness left the party and returned to Washington in advance of the President.

He was not free from the peculiarities of ordinary humanity; and this entire incident intensified his growing dislike to the plans and proceedings of Andrew Johnson. Grant indeed had at this time a peculiar aversion to crooked ways and diplomatic arts, an aversion perhaps more manifest in the earlier part of his career than afterward. For although he himself always remained direct—after mingling much with the world he found artifice and craft so common that the shock of the discovery wore off. But when he was new to them they affected him most unfavorably, and the chicanery of Johnson disposed him in advance to dislike the principles it was intended to aid. Thus the President, by his manoeuvres, instead of attracting, actually repelled the straightforward and obstinate soldier. It was, however, not so much Grant's real concurrence as the appearance of it before the world that Johnson probably sought, and something of this he secured. Grant was conscious of the unfair success, and this very consciousness made him more ready to take an opposite stand.

Congress finally announced its plan of reconstruction, which was simply to undo what the President had attempted and to refuse admission to the Southern States until a new basis of representation was established. The Legislature did