o the first
in front of battle.

The contest between the Congress and the President now waxed fierce, and
Thaddeus Stevens, from his place in the House, denounced "the man at the
other end of the avenue." The President had gone back to wise, lawful
methods, and desired to restore the Union under the Constitution; and in
this he was but following the policy declared in his last public
utterance by President Lincoln. Mr. Johnson could establish this fact by
members of his predecessor's Cabinet whom he had retained, and thus
strengthen his position; but his vanity forbade him, so he called it "my
policy," as if it were something new.

At his instance, I had many interviews with him, and consulted
influential men from different parts of the country. His Secretary of
War was in close alliance with his enemies in the Congress, and
constantly betraying him. This was susceptible of proof, and I so
informed the President, and pointed out that, so far from assisting the
people of the South, he was injuring them by inaction; for the Congress
persecuted them to worry him. He was President and powerful; they were
weak and helpless. In truth, President Johnson, slave to his own temper
and appetites, was unfit to control others.

General Grant yet appeared to agree with me about "reconstruction," as
it was called; and I was anxious to preserve good feeling on his part
toward the President. In the light of subsequent events, it is curious
to recall the fact that he complained of Stanton's retention in the
Cabinet, because the latter's greed of power prevented the
Commander-in-Chief of the army from controlling the most minute details
without interference. I urged this on the President as an additional
motive for dismissing his War Secretary and replacing him by some one
agreeable to General Grant; but all in vain. This official "old man of
the sea" kept his seat on the Presidential neck, never closing crafty
eye nor traitorous mouth, and holding on with the tenacity of an
octopus.

Many moderate and whilom influential Republicans determined to assemble
in convention at Philadelphia, and invited delegates from all parts,
North and South, to meet them. The object was to promote good feeling
and an early restoration of the Union, and give aid to the President in
his struggle with extremists. Averse to appearing before the public, I
was reluctant to go to this Convention; but the President, who felt a
deep interest in its success, ins