The New York herald., 1869-03-30
GRAxT,S WASHINGTON HOUSE. i,

How the Money was Raised "a. Purchase IL.
WASHINGTON, March 20, 1s6o
There has existed grave doubt as to who origi-
mated ana carried out the idea TO purchase house
here in 1866 for General Grant. 1t appears that Mr.
Stewart wasOot the originator Of the scheme, and
at its commencement did what he could to dis
courage 1t at meeting OF the gentlemen composing
what was known as the Grant Reception Committee.
Said meeting was held In the Fifth Avenue Hotel IN
october or November, 1886, and Mr.. Stewart was
chairman OF the meeting. The following is short
account Of the move, and for the accuracy of the
statements refer to any Of the gentlemen who were
present at the meeting. Among them were Marshall
o. Roberts, A. b. Darling Mr. vermilye and George
Opdyke:-
Mr.. A. r. Corbin, Of West Twenty-seventh street,
sold his house in washington to General Grant. Mr..
A. X. Emo was one Of the witnesses to the execution
OF the deed, and noticed the whole amount OF the
purchase money $780, 000 was left on mortgage for
term Of years. but with the privilege Of payment at
any time few days after the execution OF the
deed the Grant Reception Committee met at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. At this meeting Mr.. Emo men.
toned the circumstance OF the purchase Of the house
and the mortgage given the whole amount OF the
purchase money to several gentlemen then present.
Each one to whom he mentioned the circum-
or $500 toward the Sss payment Of p tSs GSs mort mort
gage. Mr.. Emo took down the names OF
the amount they expressed q wday Ness to sub.
scribe had amounted TO about slAgeS% Afer the or
ganization Of the meeting Mr4s4o rose and said
General Grant had recently pun yhased house for
the sum OF $4,000, and that hiSfmeans wereso lim-
amount OF the purchase money on bond and mort
gage, and that he thought that II would pSrhaps
be more substantial mark Of gratitude b Cen
eral Grant to raise by individual subscription
he had already mentioned the subject % seve eve.
In md ghan all
@ Eno aa Mr. stewart az oppossa aSSFnt the pro nc
position and said that at was not for
indisi = : 70 furnish the money, but for Congress;'
that ConkNs should do for General Grant as the
British Parliament had done for the Duke OF Wei.
lington; to which It was replied that Congress
lish such precedent. and further that putting the
matter OF on Congress was but evading the subject.
Then Mr. stewart said he would give as much as
any other man for the object; that he would pay
1000 n any other man would. Mr.. Emo accepted;
said he would give $4,000; chat he had the names
with Mr.. stewards $4,000, the whole amount OF
$4,000 was already subscribed. Mr.. Stewart then
backed o. out M squarely, and said he would only sub.
large a sum as 100000 Gould not be raised,
failed Mr. Emo da no not ABANDON the the fsa scne%s
TO raise tins but as ne was about to sail for
Europe handed the names he had already secured to
General ID. Butterneld and as an fnducement to him
to undertake 10 obtain the subscriptions promised to
be responsible Tor the difference between what SUBJ
scriptions were received and the sum OF $4,000,
should General Butterfeld not succeed in obtaining
that amount Mr.. Emo sailed for Europe In Noveni-
ber 1SeS. Al that time the subscription TO the fund
amounted TO only about S23000, and instructions
we're left from him TO that sum suf1cent to pay
on the mortgage on Grants house was subscribed,
up the deficiency by increasing his subscription to
the required amount. General Butterneld sue
ceeded in obtaining the $4,000 subscription, and
when this was done continued soliciting subscnp-
tionsuntil 100000 or ai05, 900 was raised and the
amount handed 10 General Grant,