he
opponents of the President's policy than was General Grant's by its
friends. It was a somewhat singular train of circumstances that
produced the two reports, while the sequel, so far as the authors were
involved, was quite as remarkable as the contradictory character of
the views set forth. In the early summer (1865) when Mr. Johnson had
yielded many of his preconceived views of reconstruction to the
persuasions of Mr. Seward, but was still adhering tenaciously to some
exactions which the Secretary of State deemed unwise if not cruel, it
had occurred to the President to procure an accurate and intelligent
report of the Southern situation by a man of capacity. Mr. Johnson
held at that particular time a middle ground, measuring from the
original point of his extreme antagonism towards the Southern rebels
to the subsequent point of his extreme antagonism towards the Northern
Republicans. His selection of Mr. Schurz for the special duty was
deemed significant, because at that period of a political career
consistent only in the frequency and agility of its changes Mr. Schurz
happened to take an extreme position on the Southern question--one
that was in general harmony with the views entertained and avowed by
Mr. Sumner. Mr. Schurz, according to his own declaration, had
communicated his "views to the President in frequent letters and
conversations," and added an assurance, the truth of which all who
know Mr. Schurz will readily concede--"I would not have accepted the
mission had I not felt that whatever preconceived opinions I might
carry with me to the South I should be ready to abandon or modify, as
my perception of facts and circumstances might command their
abandonment or modification."

Mr. Schurz started on his mission in the early part of July, and was
engaged in traveling, observing and taking copious notes until the
middle of the ensuing autumn. His report did not reach the President
until the month of November. In the intervening months Mr. Johnson
had been essentially and rapidly changing his views,--growing more and
more favorable to the Southern leaders, less and less in harmony with
the Republican leaders. He had gone far beyond the balancing-point of
impartiality, where he stood when he was willing to intrust the task
of Southern investigation to a man of the radical views which Mr.
Schurz then professed. He was now altogether unwilling to submit the
report of Mr. Schurz to Congress as an _ex cathe