The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-16
PRESIDENT GRANT ON THE SITUATION
Tho Alleged Douglass slight-Ths White House
Repairs-sumner. Greeley and Grant a.
Friends Of the Black Nan-Sumner
and the fifteenth Amendment.

WASHINGTON, August Is, 1872
Early In the afternoon the President freely and
calmly engaged In conversation with several OF his
friends, chiefly on political topics, from which It
appears he satisfied with the situation as regards
himself
When asked about the alleged slight to Frederick
Douglass, he replied that II Douglass did not CON-
plain because he was not invited by him to
dinner he did not SEQ why Senator Sumner
should exhibit so much anxiety. II not indigna-
ton. upon the subject. Tho simple fact
was that the st. Domingo Commissioners,
with their secretary, having called to submit their
report he wished them to dine with him. Frede-
rick Douglass not being with the Commissioners,
he did not at the time think OF him, nor OF others
who accompanied the expedition; but n Sigcl and
Douglass had been with the Commissioners they
would have been included in the invitation to din
ner, which was informal and private, having no
Official significance whatever. The President ex-
pressed his surprise that so much should be said
about an immaterial matter one that merely con-
cerned his own household.
The President remarked that no public business
IS neglected by his absence from Washington, as he
attends to it at Long Branch. His coming back to
Washington to-day was not absolutely necessary
for that purpose.
The Executive Mansion has been for some time
undergoing extensive repairs, IL being In some
parts including those occupied by the Presidents
family, in untenabe condition, the plasterng OF
the wallis and ceiling having fallen and the roof
being In leaky condition.
The conversation turning on the remark Of
Senator Sumner to the effect that Greeley Is a
better friend to the black man than President
Grant, the President replied that he never pre-
tended to be, as he had repeatedly said, an
original abolitionst; but he favored emancipa-
tgn0 n ban Mo vUoa raA
he thought the ballot should be conferred to make
the gift complete, and to place those who had
been ubesated in the full possession OF the
rights OF freemen. His views, however,
on the subject OF slavery were well
known, expressed in letters to Mr.. Wash
burne and others, and extensively published, and
hence this was not now matter OF dispute. In the
course Of the conversation he said that, while o
President should be in accord with the leading
principles Of the party that elected him. II was es-
sential that he should enforce the laws which may
be enacted and administer the government, not in
the interests OF party but in those Of the entire
country. While he had no unkind words to utter
concerning Senator Sumner, he was perfectly will.
Ing to place his acts against Senator Summers
words, and in this connection he said that Sumner
did not show himself such good friend to the
black man az he professed to be when he was
not willing to have Civil Rights bill stand
on its own merits, requiring only majority vote,
but insisting on a bill Of his own as an amendment
to the Amnesty BILL which could not be passed
without a majority of two-thlrds. Carpenters
Civil Rights bill, however was passed during the ab
sencc Of Senator Sumner and, as the facts show,
much to his surprise.
The President also said that 1t will be seen by the
Congressional 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 amend
ment since ratified provides that the right OF citi
zcns of the United States to vote shall not
be denied or abridged by the United States or by
any State on account of race, color or previous
condition of servitude, and Congress is invested
with the power to enforce this article by appropri
ate legislation. Mr.. Sumner, the President sal d.
lodged O vote on this joint resolution.
The President will leave for Long Branch to-