New-York tribune., 1872-08-16
GIANTS Defense OF HIMSELE

HE Is SATISFIED WITH THE sITUATION-TUE
FRED. DOUGLASS INDIGNITY-TIIE GOVERN
MENT BUSINESS ATTENDED TO AT LONG
BRANCH-sUMNERs DISHONESTY ON THE
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-Early in the after
noon the President freely calmly engaged in couyer
saton with several Of friends chiefly political top
les from which t appears that he Is satisfied with inc
When he was asked about the alleged slight
Of Frederick Douglass, he replied that Doug
lass did complain because he was not invited by him
10 dinner did why Senator Sumner should ex-
hbit so much anxiety not indignation upon the sub
iect The simple that the santo Domingo Com
mssioners with their Secretary having called to sub
init their report, he invited them to dine with him.
Frederick Douglass not being with the COMMISSIONER
he did not at tho time think OF him. nor
OF others who accompanied tho expedition ;
but II sigel and Douglass had been with the Commits
soners they would have been included In the iVtaoh
TO dinner which was informal and private having no
official significance whatever The sident expressed his
surprse that so much should said about mmaeral
matter one that .merely concerned his own household
The President remarked that no public business IL
neglected by his absence from Washington as he ATTENDS
TO IL at Long Branch His coming back TO washington
to-day not absolutely necessary Tor that purpose
The Executive Mansion has been for some time undergo
ing extensive repairs 1t being In some parts ihedng
those occupied by the Presidents family IN an unenant-
able condition, the plasteTmS VI m"o "H" NNA''c
having fallen and the roof being In leaby condition
The conversation turning on the remark Of Senator
GUNNER TO tho effect that Greeley is better friend to
the black man than President Grant, the President re-
piled that he had never pretended 10 De- as nc hau
peatedly said original Abotionlst Dut Nc laVoreo
emancipation a war measure. When thls was
secured, he thought the ballot should DO conferred
to the gift complete and TO place those who had
been liberated in the full possession OF the right OF ee-
vie the subject OF Slavery
we're well known, expressed In letters to Mr.. Washburn
and others and extensively published, and hence this
was not matter Of dispute In the course ot the
conversatlon he said that whlloss'a President
should be In accord with the leading prin-
ciples OF the party which elected Hun, II was es-
sental that he should enforce the laws which may be
enacted and administer Government not in the in
terest Of party but in those Of tho entire country
While he has had no unkind words to utter concerning
Senator Sumner he was perfectly willing to place his
acts against Senator Summers words. lie said
that Sumner did not show himself sueh
good friend to the black he professed to bewhen
he was willing to have civil rights bill stand on its
own merits requiring only majority vote, but Insisting
on q bill of his amendment to the Amnesty
BILL which could not be passed without majority OF
twothrds Carpenters civil Rights bill, however was
passed during the absence OF Senator Sumner and as
the facts show much to his surprise.
The President also said thatit will be by The Con
qressoal Globe that Senator Sumner did not vote at all
on the joint resolution recommending the ratification Of
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States This amendment, since ratified, pro-
vdes that the right Of citizens of the United States to
vote shall not DO denied abridged by the
United States by State account Of color
or previous condition Of serytude and Congress In
vested with the power to enforce this article by appro
pirate legislation. Mr. Sumner, the President said
lodged vote on this Joint resolution