Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-21
fas UNIOyaND AMERICAN.
GRANT


actertstic Letter tram the Rolltck-
ing Colonel, James Fisk, Jr,-- n Is
order Cutting on the Free Passes
of the Presidential, Family ON the
NarraRanssx Line Of SteaHaers-
The Presfdent Ckarged' wIth In
dutRinR in Malicious Gossip About
the CoIOneI-Grant's Subscriptions
TO the Raxxlius Fund REld BY
Could and Fisk.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commercial.
New YORK, Sept B.--James Fisk has
written the following letter 10 the Sun:
.To the Editor of the Sun-Dear Sir:
I notice in your issue of this morning an
article headed Gen. Grant Euchered,
which reads as follows: The President
went TO Long Branch on the steamer
Plymouth Rock, on Tuesday last, ana ID
goingoffs the boat, exhibited pass. on
the New Jersey Southern RailroaG pat
as Admiral Fisk had given orders not 10
pass any of Gen. Grants family OF any
boat of the manganese Steamship Non-
panv.-his railroad pass was repudlasee'
and the Presidents fare was DEMANDED
notwithstanding his right powes 80, -
Tom Murphy, tried TO push nm 1nIousn'
John Hoey, of the Adams EApioss,
FASTENED to Grants rescue, go' niin
ticket and be passed along.
"This order, now going the rounus u
the papers, is so different from tne ieal
orders issued to the commanders OF steam
ers owned by the Narragansett Steamship
Comnsnv. that am compelled IN justice,
not only to the corporation represent,
b,,t also 90 the individual against whom
the garbled order appears TO he specially
aimed. occupying the exalted position OF
the Chief Magistrate of this country, to
Law before the public the genuine order,
and to give, at the some time, my eason
for its issue. That there was any fnten-
ton ON the part of the subscriber : to this
letter that the President Of the United
States or any of his family OF
staff while travelling on the
steamers of the Narraganseit Steamship
Line, should not be treated with the
greatest courtesy as ladies and gentlemen,
is entirely erroneous. The simple truth,
and the whole truth, is that an order was
issued to allow them the privilege of pay
ing for such accommodations as they
might call for, and this is the beginning
and ending of the order. issued an en-
tirely different one, Youwil observe from
that copied into your journal from tne
Boston Transcript. Ny reason Tor
taking this course, viewing the matter IN
a common sense light was that was
weary of furnishing free transporta-
ton 10 the President and his many
relations, over sea and land, as
did to very great extent last summer,
particularly as had not the satisfaction
of Knowing that the civilities extended
were appreciated, never having been even
thanked for the effort had made in the
matter. On reviewing the transactions OF
the past year, found that had not only
furnished large amount of free trans
Dol. alton, but that bad been allowed the
great privilege of subscribing TO Mr..
Grants charities. In the final settlement
of the gold speculations of the fall OF
1869 in which supposed and still believe
the President was a partner with us, l
find the following item charged to my ac-
count:
"'One half of Grants subscription TO
the Rawlins fund, five hundred dollars.
''The circumstances are simply these:
A subscription was started for the
widow of the laie lamented Rswlins.
The President placed his name at the
bead of the list for one thousand dollars
Mr.. Gould followed for a similar amount,
and their signatures we're followed by 9TH
ers for various sums Mr.. Gould, having
himself paid the amount set opposite his
name, was called upon by an agent of
the President TO advance the money for
his, the Presidents, subscription, and
this he die, taking it for granted that this
disbursement was part and parcel
of other moneys passing through
the hands of Mr.. COrbin.
was, of course, charged my proportion,
but should never have found fault with
this, nor would have even mentioned it
were it not for the manner in which the
President gossiped about me in the fall of
1863 Why he did so after what | had
done for him is only known to Him who
makes the apples round. Taking all the
circumstances of the case into considera-
ton, and feeling not like Micswber, wait
ing for something TO turn up, but, to a
certain extent, broken in spirit, not being
even thanked for what / had done, de-
termined, after quietly communing with
my own heart, to restore my peace of
mind by henceforth treating the President
of the United States, and all connected
with him, as becomes the high position he
occupies at the head of this great nation,
ignoring his treatment of me, and never,
for one moment, assuming that deserved
any thanks from him, or bear the slight
est resemblance to q gentleman.
F9The result of this determination was
~ a. ,rCor thot Uhpnpypr the
President, or any of his family or staff,
travelled on any of the steamers of the
Narragansett line, they should be treated
with the greatest respect, but not upon
any other footing than that of ladies or
gentlemen. That the articles reported in
your paper as having been sent to the
Boston Transcript were published either
TO belittle me OF to make political capital,
there can be no doubt, and for some few
DAYS there have been whisperipgs that IT
emanated from one upon whom the Pre-
sident has recently bestowed the most lu-
crative office in his gift, in spite of the
notorious fact that this lucky individual
has steadily voted the Democratic ticket
for the last twenty years.
''Mr. Editor, beg of you, in justice
to myself, to make this letter public. Give
me the advantage of having my side of
the story read. l trust that some will be-
lieve, if not many, that now, in my wa
ming years, the best part of my life having
been given to the service of the public, l
am determined, no matter what treatment
/ may receive personally, l shall never
forget the duty owe to the public, the
corporation whose interests | represent,
and TO myself, and shall take care that
no matter who may be travelling under
our charge, they shall, one and all, be
treated with the utmost courtesy and con-
sideratiOn.
9'"The Republican press endeavors to
make party capital out of this, instead of
placing my order before the public as it
was actually issued; an order will say,
in conclusion, which was simply intended
to impress upon the officers and men IN
der my charge that they, as well as my
self, are but the servants of the public.
"Yours, respectfully,
"JAs. FISK, JR."
Col. Fisk showed a-repoIter check
y,o;l 20 Rt1ttprfipld for Grants SubSCriD.