The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-15
THE COLOR QUESTION.
REPLY TO COUNCILMAN NATION
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
What Occurred at Gettysburg
n,TTON's STATEMENTS DENIED
IT WAS ISsTIsArsO BY CoPPERHB.Ds
The whole Tain. 90 Tissue OF
rmlsehe Gods from Is ginning
20 End,- and "Lib. l,us
and SlanderOus."

ton respecting his treatment on the recent |
visit Of a delegation composed Of the Mayor |
and Councils Of this city to Gettysburg, |
which statement Is vouchcd for as "truc and
reliable" by James Holmes, "thc merchant"
we, the parties accused, take the liberty Of
asking that this, our version Of the whole
matter may also be published In your col
umns, that the people here may know the
truth Of the matter.
Both Hatton and Holmes OH our return
expressed themselves delighted with the
| trip, the more so that the principle that
man should not be degraded because OF
being black had been triumphantly yindlcated
In the fact that the hotel proprietor had been
constrained to admit q colorcd man to his
public table with his other guests after de-
claring that under no circumstances would
he be permitted to do so.
Mr.. Hatton, who was very particular In
stating the present as well as former occu-
patton OF every member OF the delegation
| save his own, AYERS that DR.. Pardon before
the train was out OF sight OF the dome OF the
Capitol told him he would not be permitted
to sit at the table with the rest OF the party
| In Baltimore, that he would have to get his
dinner somewhere else, to which all the
others asscnted. Now as to what conversa-
ton took place between the two persons
named Is known only to themselves, the
idea that call the others assented" Is an
Imagination Of Mr.. Hatton's fertile brain,
for DR.. Pardon never repeated word to any
other member OF the delegation. And we
further state that DR.. Pardon never objected
to Hatton's taking meals at the same table
with the rest Of the party, nor said word
indicative that Hatton should not be treated
exactly as we were.
A violent storm Of wind and rain was rag
ing when we arrived In Baltimore, and Us n
sufficient number Of carriages could not be
procured to convey the whole party TO the
Northern Central railroad depot, an omnibus
was chartered In which all could ride and
all did ride who desired TO do so. II Mr..
IIatton and Mr.. Holmes procured another
conveyance II certainly was not the fault OF
any one but themselves, for even they will
not pretend that objection was made TO their
being seated in the omnibus. But they did
state to some Of US that they wished TO go
to certain place In the city TO see friend,
and therefore would take another convey
ance.
The whole matter about dining In Balti-
more, their happening to 20 to the same hotel
aud finding us ready for dinner, &C., Is all
bosh, for before leaving the Washington de-
pot, 1t was agreed that we should meet at
) the Northern Central depot and take dinner
at some convenient hotel, and before they
had arrived dinner had been ordered for Just
the number composing the party, including
both, who since their return, fancied them
selves so slighted.
A special car was provided at the instance
OF the Mayor TO take the party. which had
been Joined by the Secretary of War and the
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, to Gettys.
burg direct, without the annoyance OF chang.
ing cars at Hanover junction. Mr.. Hatton
and Mr.. Holmes rode In this car all the way
! through and we saw or heard nothing that
: either was dissatisfied with the attention
paid them. The only annoyance complained
! Of was that one Of them asserted his indie
2 pendencc and manhood by removing hi
: boots and exhibiting n pair Of hose that wcr
evidently strangers to laundry.
= When we arrived at Gettysburg we wer
. met by members OF the committee In charg
o of the cemetery, who Informed us that quar-
10 tiers were assigned us at the Spring Hotel
u about mile from the town. We were a.
put in one conveyance and on arriving at tn
d, hotel prepared for supper. So far as W
know and believe, all entered the dininl
room at the same time, and all took the
81 meals together.
u. On coming out Of the room Hatton II
ID formed some of us that the head waiter, VIII
I'd was a colored man, had objected to his cou
Ve Ing into the public dlning-room, and said III
ne proprietor would not permit him to do
Is again. The proprietor called DR.. Fardo
lg after supper, and told him that Hattie
re would not be allowed to take his meals |
10 the dlnlng-room, and added, awe cannC
n admit colored men to the same table wit
e, other guests. The hotel ID owned In grea
1t part by parties In New York, and they wou
z complain that we would iDJurc their prop
&c erty. Mr. Hatton shall have as good u room
&c and fare Just as we'll as any OF you, but h
a cannot 90 TO the table with the guests Of tn
N house. | am Radical Republican, (sai,
10 the proprietor,) and am willing to do u
81 much for the colored people rs any one, bu
| cannot consent to have my business RUNE
or the credit Of the house impaired" Tha
u Is the substance, II not the precise words c
the proprietor. lie subsequently, stated tina
e IIation would not have been provided with
&c room or had accommodation there had
e, not been for the Mayor, whom he had know
Il long time, aud for whom he had the grea
u est respect. DR.. Pardon told the Mayo
p what had been said, which was the first int
u nation the latter had Of any trouble or con
~ plant whatever. DIR. +. asked the Mayo
or to inform Mr.. Hattou, but he (the Mayor
~ stated that 1t was delicate subject and
o, did not like to say anything about II, lest
cu might lnJure lIatton's feelings.
on II was agreed, however, that Pardon an
~ the Mayor should have talk with Hattie
"a on the subject, which they did, and after I'll
gu latter had protested against staying the
u and ordered DR.. Pardon TO have the room a
signed him given up, the Mayor, on beir
,er requested by Iiatton, and after telling hi
nj we would all leave In the morning befo
or' breakfast unless he could breakfast with u
ros handed Hatton six dollars,wl which to pr
N, his bills In town. (The Mayor had la,
nj, with him who was very much indisposed al
al, had prior to this retired for the night
80 liatton stubbornly refused to stay over nigl
although importuned by all 80 to do, Holm
=. included and we all assured him we won
~ not take breakfast unless he was with I
~ Matters remained In this condition for
,,T least on hoir, when we finally prevailed
= llatton to remain with the underestimate
that the matter should be brought 10 a te
Il In the morning. Hat.on then handed Il
81 Mayor back the six dollars, telling him
~, C' would not need 1t, and stating that he w
~ satisfied the delegation had done cverythiI
''' In their power TO serve him. The idea Of Il
Mayor "thrustlng" this money on HIATT,
NO Is sheer fabrication, without palliation
M excuse. He said he had no money and
,r, Iuested the Mayor to give II to him,
&C, Mayor hesitating, because he did not thil
am II best for Hatton to leave.
he II was arranged that early In the morni
ng the party, with the exception OF the May
i'm who had before been over the battlefield
lie; should visit such historic places as tn
Inn could reach, and return In time for brea
fast. liatton, for some cause unknown
ny any one, separated from the party, and
ng not return to the hotel till after the appoint
time, and after all except the Mayor a
Mr.. Holmes had gone In to breakfast. An
ins eight o'clock the Mayor and lady acco
In panying him, on coming into the passal
lay near the dining-room door met Mr.. Hattie
hlo and saluted him In the usual manner. 7
nd following Is the conversation that took pla
er- between them, us will be attested on oath
en- the Mayor aud lady alluded to; Amer t
AS salutaton the Mayor asked Mr.. II. whC
on the rest Of the delegation were. HIATT
nd pointed Into the dlning-room to one of t
tables and answered. "There they are
The Mayor then inquired, "Haye you brea
an, tasted /" II. replied, "No." "Why d
nm you not go In with the others asked /
lea Mayor Ills reply was, 81 was not p
VI mltted to do So" The Mayor then sal
IN IN Follow mel | guess there will be no dli
oe guilty. ! will sec you protected" The May
que and the lady went Into the ROOM HIATT
lay with them. The Mayor was seated at t
head Of the table, the lady on his right a
go, IIatton next her, where they had the
,Is breakfast without being in any wise moleste
Mt The statement that Hatton compelled h