, 1870-12-07
PORTER.

Porter Much Troubled by tho Publ.
cation OF k1ls Fort EtshcF Letter
tic makes a k.cnttential Call mt
tho Whsto gAouse-1ntervtcyx with
tf7s President
Fasktasfon {Dte. y Dfspateh 10 ihs Cincinnati
Tbs letter written IN Jsnu1ry, 1865. By Ad-
niral Porter to Gideon Welies, Which waa
published in the Commercial OF Friday.
cteates much c1titeue Mt here, Aud II the
principal TOPIC OF conversation among mem
bers. Porter was the most unhappy man,
unhappy citT, and he was ut first disposed to
pronounce it forgery, and iu fact be author
iEed tho statement 10 that effect. Ha sent to
the Navy Department 70 Inquire It tuch let
ter was On file, and the Chief Clerk, after
brief Examination, retusned word
eeasch, however, wasmore successful, aud the
Admiral Waa notified that the original copy
wan on file. Porter at once posted on to the
White House, and he Bays he was received BY
Grant with greater kindness than be expected,
and 1t is supposed = melting time followed.
Porter explained that he never had such N
opinion OF Grant as the letter indicated. He
could not understand why he had ever written.
it. There Enust hkEe been soule c1cnmstancea
which be could not recall, but he could not
dong ita authorship. Ho Was very sorry the
letsss sppe.1ed, DC. From Por.sfs .eo Punt
tho prseideut w1a only less unhappy
DID, did nat s succeed -! very ~ wsu 30 in IBIS his
attempt to smooth the mattss over. Consid-
ering that du1ang the past t~o {esEs Porter
aud Grant have been the most devoted per
eonM friends, the letter is likely to prove Of
more Consequence than would ~ first appear.
during tha time that the statesman Bore WAS
in the Cabinet, Porter Vas in reality Secretary
| OF the Navv, Ut Grants peraonas solicitation,
! L. A1ka Ah71r 7kR- aa-
/ mente be sustained Porter aa Against Botle,
| and it was matter Of potoristy that nothing
could be done in the Navy Department. without
| porter'a consent, and that Bor,e'b consent
VISA not essential In anything. When
Robson came In the Ar11nKemonts were
fact, as we'll A ia nams. Porter and Robe.
sun never got on we'll together. Thsre could
not he Two Secretaries, and kobeson held tie
commission. Grant took the middle Gronnd,
md was greatly annoyed over the comp'ica,
tioue. At this time, in the vefE height Of the
unpleasantneas, Farrsgus conveniently died,
aud tho problem was solved. Grant Ut once
appointed Porter Admiral Of the Navy, aud
the President WEE relieved Of his embartass, 9,
mant. Rohesou got nd Of Porter in the do
partment. Porter felt good over his promo
tion, and happiuess ore1aprosd the scene
Potter kept away from the Department., 81.
tabliahed private Office in his residence
and hcuceiorth be e1jo7ed his honors and hil
prize-moneY, confident in the msAntime tha
the President wonld send his name to the Sen
ase, and that he would be duly confirmed
The effect Of the appearance Of this latte
Po1tcr's first step was to fix matters Wiz, th
President. The President the sana1..Av dne
! With Robeson. Grant was unb..ooy. Por,,
was rretched, but Robeaan ,xas ID erstac
! The result Of the Dime, is iu doubt, II
Porte: Just DOW is in d.oubt ~ to whether Il
.. ffesident will nominate him to the SenAt
/ and that i he does, whether the Senate v
+ c.uafm him.