Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-28
emphatic mailing Of the falsehood, nm.
Mr.. Denison 70 Hon. 4. n. 1aes.



Portland, Aug. ~, lS7S.
Hon. A. II. Rice, Boston - Nv D,ae
Friend Il enclose you an article clipred
from the Eastern Argus, which quotes you q
authority for its statements that President
Grant was intoxicated on the occasion of the
Boston Jubilee in 1869. Believing you would
not lend any influence to the injury Of sinrle
individual, except upon the most positive, &C.
tol knowledge of the facts, knowing that
your three years in Congress must have
brought you into intimate acquaintance with
the habits of Gen. Grant-snd that ~ Presi-
dent OF the Jubilee you could but be coeni.
zant of all the movements of the President
while there-I would ask you, upon the
ground OF our long standing and confidential
friendship, to write me the full and cophden-
tial friendship, to write me the full and nm.
vanished particulars of what you can say of
the Presidents habits in this particular, and
of how much truth there is in the statement
of this "Second Samuel"
Very truly yours,
ADNA T. DENIsoN.
To which Mr.. Rice made reply in the fol.
lowing note and the accompanying statement
Hon. A. H. Rice's Reply,
Boston, Aug. Path, 1872.
A. T. Denison, Esq.,-My Dear Sir:-I
have this moment received your letter Of the
land Argus giving me as authority for the in
famous SANDER upon the conduct Of Presi-
dent when in this city, in attendance upon the
National Peace Jubilee in 1869. The origin
OF this story appeared, think, in the New
YORK Sun some ten days ago; and ~ you will
observe, the authority given for General
Grants drunkenness, was carefully stated to
be "Mr. Rice of Boston," but does not say
what Mr.. Rice. though by selecting the Ju-
bilee, of which was President, a. the occa-
sion, it was evidently intended to give public
impression that had written such letter a.
is referred to, to Mr.. Charles Goddard. The
Portland Argus evidently so understood the
original article, and consequently circulates
it upon my testimony. ought to feel oblig-
ed to the Argus for the courteous endorse
ment of my character, and feel certain that
it will do both the President and myself the
justice, to say in its column, that the state
ment that President Grant was intoxicated
while in Boston, and that / ever wrote any
such fact to Charles Goddard, or to any one
else, or ever said anything of the kind, 10 to-
tally false.
The President was the guest of the city of
Boston on the occasion referred to, the May
| or of the city, with whom he especially asso-
ciated, was a democrat, the Hon. Nathaniel
B, Shurtleff, and if democratic authority is
| needed for the Presidents conduct while here,
| why do not those who are circulating this ma
licious falsehood, inquire of him. There was
no platform in the Coliseum for persons to sit
upon, but at the call of the vast assembly,
the President for moment stepped alone up
on the Conductors stand, and bowed his ac-
acknowledgements Of their enthusiastic saluta-
tons. If "Jim Fisk" was present there, or
at any other time during the Jubilee. the fact
was unknown to me. do not believe that
Gen. Grant drank even glass of wine while
in Boston, and furthermore, was in WASH
ington during the whole period of the war,
as a member Of Congress, and for three years
after its close, and although occasionally
heard from som gossipper. that Gen. Grant
at some time in the past, and in some obscure
place, had been seen drunk, / never yet met
the person who had seen him drunk. The
truth is that President Grant, without being .
prohbtionist, is as temperate in his habits.
as he is modest in his manners and dignifed
and patient under the torrent of malignity by
which he is assailed. As to Mr.. Charles
Goddard, it is quite time that he should pro-
duce the slanderous letter, if he has one ;and
| in the absence of the document, the public
may we'll doubt his testimony.
state emphatically and unquali6edly that
! he has no such letter from me, that never
heard of him until his name appeared in con-
nection with this SANDER; and that the con-
duct attributed to the President is false and
malicious, and disgraceful even to the unre-
strained license of apolitical campaign.
/ am, dear Sir, yours very truly,
ALEX. II. RICE.