Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-22
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
Senator Sumner on Fred Douglass.

cal affairs, regarding the treatment re-
ceived by Frederick Douglass, on Po-
tomac steamer, having been exposed,
Senator Sumner now bubbles. Andrew
d. White, President of Cornell Univer-
sity, gentleman of high standing, and
one of the commissioners, exposed the
whole of the story, as has Frederick
Douglass himself Mr.. Sumner has adj
dressed letter to President White, eX-
pressing surprise at Mr.. Whites state
ments. that he had misrepresented the
facts with regard to the treatment OF
Frederick Douglass by the captain of
the Potomac steamboat. Mr.. Sumner
now says that his allusiOn was TO the
exclusion of Mr.. Douglass from the
common table Of the steamboat. Why,
then. did he not say so. In his letter to
the colored men he says Mr.. Douglass
was thrust away from the company of
the commissioners" There can be but
one construction of these words-they
have but one meaning, that Mr.. Doug
lass, after having taken his seat at the
table in company with the commission,
was driven, thrust away" This is the
idea Mr.. Sumner intended to convey,
and in 50 doing was guilty of deliber-
ate misrepresentation. MIR. Douglass
was not thrust away from the table-he
was denied place at it. On learning
the indignity, the commissioners in
body left the table, standing by his side,
and by sharing, protected him, in some
measure, from the SCOTS and sneers Of
Mr.. Summers nelo mlade friends, tile DEM
ocratS, who would not submit to that
" interference with their rights, which
placed a negro, their superior in culture,
in intelligence and as a gentleman, at
the same table with them.
AS to the invitation to the dinner at
the Presidents house, Mr.. Sumner says
Mr.. Douglas expressed himself aggrieved
and as feeling the slight kecnly. Mr.
Douglass has himself disposed of this
matter. He does not, and did not regard
it as q slight, and was not present with
the Commissioners at the time the invita-
ton to dine with President Grant was
extended. President White also gives a
full statement to a reporter with re-
ference to this Presidential dinner, which
is published below.
This raises a direct issue of veracitY
between Mr.. Douglass and Senator Sum-
ner Mr. Douglass version of the story
will receive credence. Mr.. Sumner says
he did not intend to deceive when he
stated that Mr.. Douglass was ''thrust
away from the company of the commits
sioners, but if any man in this country
understands the force of language, it is
Charles Sumner. he knows too we'll
to hide behind 50 thin an excuse. He
has done in this as many other matters
which he has charged against President
Grant, intended to deceive, and they
will have little faith in the words of
Charles Sumner who has wiIfully de-
ceivcd them during this canvass.
The Saratoga correspondent of the
Commercial A6orrtj~e1' sends to his narrr
the following interview with President
Andrew D. White, of Cornell Univrr-
sity, in which the pitiable prcvaricatons
ex-senator Sumner are glaringiy exposed:
Mr.. Sumner has been so ANXIOUS 10 do
anything to beat Grant that he has gone
to prevaricating in his old age. He pre-
varicatcs about Fred Douglass. and says
the President treated him STABILITY when
/, Il, 7
petition with President White. Of Cor
Senator Wade and General SigcI. Ivy not
inviting him to the White House dinner.
Yesterday had the pleasure Of riding
to the lake with President White, who
explained the matter.
'What is Summer DOING" I asked
Hes trying TO make ort that Grant
sighted Mr.. Douglass, replied President
White.
"Weu. did he s}ight Lin?"
mo, sir, Mr.. Douglass himself saws
he didn't and every commissioner viii
saw he didn't"
GLOW was it-what are the circum-
stances ?" ! asked.
"Whv. the President cave directions
that Mr.. DOUGLASS should be treated with
courtesy on the ship. He had a room
next to the admiral. We all eat togeth-
pr. and Mr.. Douglass was one of MS.
"How about tie dinner?"
"Wen," continued President White.
'after we returned from San Domingo
and the business Of the commission was
ended, Mr.. Douglass and General Sigel
separated from us. They went to their
homes and business. | think Mr.. Doug
lass was running a daily paper in Wash |
ineton One dav DR.. Howe, Senator
Wade and myself called on the President.
socially. Sigel and Douglass would |
have gone. | suppose. if we could have |
seen them. Then the President invited |
us to dinner. IF MIR. Douglass had been
along he wouldha been invited too. In .
fact, | suppose if he and General Sigel
had called on the Praeidart without ne