members, a majority why would they not be the Congress of the United States?”
In answer to this question: “Have you heard him make a remark kindred to that elsewhere?” General Grant said:
“Yes, I have heard him say that aside from his speeches, in conversation. I cannot say just when.”
The North Carolina proclamation was read at an informal meeting at which only Grant and Stanton were with the President. General Grant did not criticise the paper. He said of it: “It was a civil matter and although I was anxious to have something done I did not intend to dictate any plan. I looked upon it simply as a temporary measure to establish a sort of government until Congress should meet and settle the whole question and that it did not make much difference how it was done so there was a form of government there. … I don’t suppose that there were any persons engaged in that consultation who thought of what was being done at that time as being lasting—any longer than Congress would meet and either ratify that or establish some other form of government.”
General Grant understood that the North Carolina proclamation was in substance the paper which had been considered by Mr. Lincoln, but General Grant said also, that Mr. Lincoln’s plan was “temporary, to be either confirmed, or a new government set up by Congress.”
General Grant’s testimony upon one point is supported by the testimony of Mr. Seward and the testimony of Mr. Stanton. They agree that Mr. Johnson’s plan of reconstruction was in substance the plan that Mr. Lincoln had had under consideration. Mr. Stanton regarded the plan as temporary.
If President Johnson intended to enforce the plan upon the country he concealed his purpose when the North Carolina proclamation was under consideration.
