Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-16
Gen, Grant at Washington.

GEN. GRANT INVITED TO TENNESSEE.
Gov. Sam Bard, who, as chairman of the
Chattanooga committee, extended an invitation
to President Grant in behalf of the municipal
authorities ADD the board of trade of Chatta-
nOOga, for himself and cabinet to visit Chatta-
nooga and Lookout mountain, had an interview
to-day with the president, who informed him
that he had laid the invitation before the cabi-
net, and would give definite answer after the
meeting tomorrow.
THE KUKLUX PRISONERS.
During the forenoon, members of the cabinet
in town, Belknap, Creswell and Williams, visit
ed the president on business. The last named
IN relation to the kukluX prisoners in the Al
bany penitentiary The report made by Colonel
Whitley having been read to the president, he
directed pardOns to be made out in behalf of
those especially recommended to executive elem
ency, namely, David Collins, William Teal,
Amos Owen and William Scrugg, who are rep
resented to be old men, one or two of them in
poor health, and who Joined the kuklux in ig-
norance of its real objects. Some days will elapse
before they will be set at liberty as it will
first be necessary to ascertain when and where
they were convicted. After these cases shall be
disposed of, the president will consider the sug-
gestions of Col. Whitley relative to Is others
now in the Albany penitentiary.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS ON THE SITUATION.
Early in the afternoon the president fully and
calmly engaged in conversation with several of
his friends, chiefly on political topics, from
which it appears that he is satisfied with the
situation as regards himself.
THE ALLEGED AFFRoNT TO FRED DOUGLASS.
When asked about the alleged slight 10 Fred
erick Douglass he replied that if Douglass did
not complain because he was notinvited by him
to dinner, he did not see why Senator Sumner
should exhibit so much anxiety, if not indigna-
ton, upon the subject The simple fact was
that the San Domingo commissioners with their
secretary having called to submit their report .
hn ipxrif n1 fhnrO 70 IiTNn - l.,
Douglass not being with the commissioners, he
did not at the time think Of him nor of the 9TH
ers who accompanied the expedition. But if
Sigel and Douglass had been with the commits
sioners they would have been included in the
invitation to dinner, which was informal and
private, having no official significance what
ever. The president expressed his surprise that
so much should be said about an immatera
matter, one that merely concerned his own
household.
PUBLIC BUSINESS ATTENDED TO.
The president remarked that no public bust
ness is neglected by his absence from Washing
ton, as he attends to it at Long Branch. His
coming back to Washington to-day was not alb
solutely necessary for that purpose.
THE PRESIDENTS OPINION OF MR. SUMNER
The conversation turning on a 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 origi-
nal abolitionist, but he favored emancipation
as war measure. When this was secured he
thought the ballot should be conferred to make
the gift complete, and to place those who had
been liberated in the full possession of their
rights as freemen. His views however, on
the subject of slavery were well known. They
had been expressed in letters to Mr. Wash
burn and others, and extensively published,
and hence this was not now matter OF dis
pute. In the course of conversation he said
while 81 CHI ba in al ,;aI,
the leading principles of the party which
elected him, it was essential that he
should enforce the laws which may be
enacted, and administer the government
not in the interest of party, but in that of the
entire country While he had no unkind words
to utter concerning Senator Sumner, he was
perfectly willing to place his acts against Sena-
tor Summers words; and in this connection he
said Sumner did not show himself such good
friend to the black man as he professed to be-
when he was not willing TO have a civil rights
bill stand on its own merits, recurring only
majority vote, but insisting on bill of his own
as an amendment to the amnesty bill, which
could not be passed without a majority of two
thirds. Carpenters civil rights bill, however,
was passed during the absence of Senator Sum-
ner, and, as the facts show, much to his surprise
The president also said it will be seen by the
Congressional Globe that Senator Summer did
not vote at all on the joint resolution recon-
mendlng the ratification of the fifteenth amend
ment to the constitution of the Uuited States.
This amennment, Since ratified, provides the
right of citizens 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 seryitude, and congress is invested
with power TO enforce this article by appropriate
legislation. Mr.. Sumner, the president said,
lodged vote on this joint resolution
MISCELLANEOUS.
A cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow, at
which Belknap, Creswell, Williams and Delano
will be present, the last named gentleman hay
ing returned from Ohio to-day.
The president will leave tomorrow for Long
Branch.