The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-19
GRANT AND BUTL Err.
How Whey Were Rsconci - George
WMkes, the MeRoLiator OF Pence.

Mr.. George Wilkes, in the last number of his
SPIRIT of the Times, tells how he was instrumen-
tai IN bringing about reconciliation between
Generals Grant and Butler. We quote:-
''The political readers of the Spirit have been
made aware through articles in other journals,
paper, several months ago, undertook the deli
cate and what seemed the difficult task OF re-
moving the misunderstanding which had for
sometime existed between General Grant and
General Butler, and of placing these two dis
tiDguished public servants once more in good
accord. We made no public allusion to our
own efforts in this matter because We had no
personal objects TO promote. Our sole desire
was TO clear no what we felt must be a misap-
prehension on both sides; IN order not only that
these leaders might cooperate cordially in the
fall ampalen, but that depressing uneasness,
because OF their antagonism, might be removed
from the loyal portion Of the public mind. We
knew, in undertaking this task, that many
Others had embarked in it aud failed; but feel.
ing that we had an advantage over them in not
being o pohtcian-that is to say, not politician
in any mere party sense OF that term-we went
at 1t with guaranty against suspicion. and
without risk at the same time to the good will
which existed for us on both sides.
This under taking was commenced in March
last by an interview with General Grant, in
which all matters that had been currently re-
ported rs causing points of difference between
him and General Butler were fully and freely
discussed. As we had supposed, General Grant
frankly dlsavowed any intention to reflect upon
the military conduct or position of General
Butler at Bermuda Hundreds, by the famous
phrase in his report about the Army of the
James being bottled up? and when the matter
of General Buffers subsequent rejection Of
General Grants In nvtatIon to meet him at his
house came up, it fell from consequence, with
equal rapidity, on due explanation. There was
then, In fact, nothing left but the puny matter
of decorum in relation TO the note OF invitation;
and rs General Butler had cleaily acted under
misapprehension in regard TO that, and was
therefore plainly in tt wrong, we felt that all
real obstacles to t)rdlal reconciliation had
entirely vanished. L e only difficulty from the
first had been to- md ice General Grant to talk
upon the subject a. all; and, indeed, we must
admit, he evinced Rleat reluctance to be led
into 1t on this occasion; but being in, he was
as frank as his great nature always is, and left
but little for us to do at the end beyond the
process of the report.
"0ur calculation as to General Buffers action
was correct. On being informed of the substance
OF our interview with General Grant, he imme-
diately saw that there was but one material
point of issue between them las governing the
problem of personal antagonism), and that upon
that point he had acted under direct misappre-
helsion. General Butler has a maxim which
may be commended to the observation of all
stupid stubborn men. 1t is that mo man who
respects himself can afford to remain IN the
wrong alteI he once knows it, SO that all that
there was left 10 be done in the premises by
us was to place the facts In proper shape for the
joint comprehension of General Grant and him-
self, so that the final disposal of the case might
be salts factory and complete. We therefore ad-
dressed letter to General Butler, detailing the
conversation had with General Grant. A copy of
this letter was shown to General Grant, and in
due time it was answered by General Butler.
This answer recognized the TACT that General
Grant bad not intended to reflect upon him by
his allusion to the army at Bermuda Hundreds,
as being within his own (the writer's) know
ledge; and as to his note about the evening
party, General Butler frankly asked permission
TO withdraw it, Upon this correspondence
being turned over to General Grant, he cor
daily consented to General Buffers wish, and,
deeming the re naming matters of no real impor-
tance, relrained from touching them and stopped
right there.
''It is true that this process, which has been
enormously diguihed with the name OF a nego-
tation, covered quite stretch of time, and
therefore it has been assumed that there were
great difficulties in bringing these gentlemen
together; but the truth is that it was the joint
desire of both General Grant and General But
Ter. as soon as it was seen by each how little
there was to be adjusted that the adjustment
should be delayed till alter the close of the i'm
peachment trial. The reason OF this was that it
was constantly expected that the defense would
pat General Grant upon the stand with the view
Of betcheing him with fierce cross-eXamina-
ton and as, 10 that case, General Butler would
be required TO defend him while there from any
improper assault, it was not thought advisable
that any change of their personal relations
should be effected at that time. THIS is all there
is about the delay which caused so many rumors
except what there is about the delay of General
Buffers final answer 10 Gen. Grants acceptance
of his request. This last delay was caused by
our own personal absence from Washington
from the latter part Of June until General Grant
had set out for the West; and as we had made
ourset the intermediary aud pivot of the corre-
spondence, General Butler had no authoritative
medium of communication with General Grant
TIL we called on him again. Subsequent to Gen.
Grants departure from Washington, however,
we addressed General Butler a note, with the
view of closing the matter up before General
Grants return, and to this we received an answer
from General Butler that he intended soon to
make a speech to his constituents at Gloucester,
Mass, which he thought would prove satisac-
tory termination of the whole correspondence