Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-29
RATHER MUDDY.

Ex-president johnson has sent to US with
request for publication, the following let.
ter which he has received from exAttor-
ney General Hoar, of Massachusetts,:
CONCORD, MASS, Aug. %, 1s72.-The
| Hon. Andrew johnson, Nashville, Tenn:
STA friend of mine in Nashville sends me
a copy Of the Nashville UNION AND AMER-
ICAN of Aug. Is, containing what purports
to BIZ speech of yours, delivered in that
city on the 18th, with this passage marked;
"Also a library Of great value from Mr..
Hoar, of Boston, upon whom he bestowed
the appointment of Attorney General" 1t
occurs among the enumeration of gifts &C.
| cepted BY President Grant in return for
which it is charged that Offices were con-
ferred.
You have been misinformed on this sub
ject, as the statement is utterly untrue. l
never made Gen. Grant gift Of any kind
or description in my life, directly or iadi-
rectly. The first utterer of the story fab
ricated it. When Gen. Grant first visited
Boston after the close Of the war, he was
welcomed with the respect and gratitude Of
our whole community, who sought for eve
~ proper way Of expressing their feelings.
He was introduced, among others, to some
of our foremost scholars and authors, and the
idea was suggested by some one that 1t woult
be a graceful civiIlty to send him copy of
their works. a subscription for this pur-
nose Was made by a considerable number
of our best citizens, and the subscription
was so large that some other books were
sddcd--perhaps many more than was Or
| iginally Intended.
| think the giving was honorable and the
receiving was something which could not
be helped without being churlish or I'M
kind. | should have been glad to have the
means TO Join in making that gtft, but
| did not have them, There is as little truth
In many of the other stories told by the ira
ducers; but it is not my special duty to con-
tradict them. ..
My addressing you this note, though un-
known to you, will, presume, be Justified
| by your personal reference to me, and l
| am, sir, your obedient servant.
f. B. HoAR.
| p. Stu order that the correction may
reach the persons TO whom the erroneous
statement was made as early as possible,
i have sent copy Of this note to my friend
at Nashville.
Although the charge made by Mc. john
son has been published again and again,
this is the FIRST denial Of it that wo have
seen, and this denial is not altogether clear
and satisfactory, in fac it is rather muddy.
Il is not denied that the Library was given
TO Gen. Grant by the citizens Of Massa-
chusetts aud that Judge HoaT was appoint
ed Attorney General. He does not deny
that he was instrumental in getting up or
cognizant Of the Library gift. He COM
mends the giving and the receiving of the
Gift. The language used By Judge Hoar
looks little like special pleading to save hi:
friend Grant. Gen. Grant "wss introduced
among others to some Of cur foremost
scholars and authors, and he idea sug.
gested By some one that 1t would be g
graceful ciyility 10 send him copy OF their
works. A subscription for this purpose
was made by considerable number OF om
best citizens aud the subscription was SC
large that some other works were added
A critical world might ask who was the
"some one" that suggested the giving: