The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-08-29
The President on Current Topics-He
Pitches into Sumner.

I WASHINGTON, August l3.-Early in tn
afternoon the President freely and calmly en-
Gagged in conversation with several of hi
friends. chiefly on political topics, from which
it appears that he is satisfied with the stua
ton as regards himself When asked abou
the alleged slight to Fred Douglass, he re-
Piled that if Mr.. Douglass did not complain
because he was not invited by him to dinner
he did not see why Senator Sumner shoulc
exhibit so much anxiety, if not Indignation
upon the subject. The simple fact was tina
the San Domingo commissioners, with theil
secretary, having called to submit their re.
port, he invited them to dine with him
Frederick Douglass not being with the COM
missioners, he did not at the time think oil
him. nor of others who accompanied the ex-
peditiol, but if Sigel and Douglass had beer
with the commissioners they wonld have been
included Ia the invitation to dinner,whieh
was informal and private. having no official
significance whatever. The President ex-
pressed surprise that so much should be said
ABOUT an imtaaterial matter. one that merely
concerned 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 Execn iva Mansion has been
for some time un3e ing extensive repairs.
it being in some parts, including those oc-
cupied by the family. in an s.uutenable con-
dilion, the plastering Of the walls and cell
ing having fAllcn of aud the roof being in
leaky condition.
The converse ion turning or the remark of
Senate. Sumner that Mr.. Greeley is better
friend tothe black man tn IN President Grant
the President replied that he never pretend
edto be, as he had repeatedly said. an origi.
nal aboli:ionist, but he favored emansipa ion
as war measure, and whca this Was secured
he thought the ballot should be Conferred to
make the gift complete, to place those who
had been liberated in the full possession Of
the rights of frecmen. His views, however,
on the subject Of slavery were we'll known
and expressed in letters to Mr.. Washburne
and others, and extensively published, and
hence this was not now a matter Of dis
pute. i
In the curse Of the conversation he said
that while President should be in accord
with the leading principles of the party cleo
ting him, it was essential that he should en-
force laws that may be enacted, and admin
lister the government not in the interest Of IA
party, but in those Of the entire country
While he had no nnkind words to utter con
Senator Sumner, he was perfectly
~ i Ga I.,u,
ner's words, aud in this connection he said
that Mr.. Sumner did not show himself such
a good friend to the black man as he pfotes
sed to be when he was not wiling 10 have a
civil rights bill stand ON its own merits. re-
quiring only a majority vote, but insisted on
a bill of his own as al amendment to the am
nesty bill, which could not be passed without
a majority of two thirds. Senator Carpcn-
ter's civil rights bill, however, was passed
during the absence of Senator Sumner, and,
as the facts show, much to his surprise. Be-
sides, tie President said it will be seen by
the Congressional Globe, that Senator Sum
ner did not vote at all on the joint resolution
recommending the ratification of the fifteenth
to the constitution of the United
States. This amendment, since ratified. pro-
vides that the right of citizens of The Unit
ed States to vote shall not be denied or abridg
ed by the United States, or by any State, on
account of race, color or previous condition
of servpitude. and Congress is invested with
the power to enforce this article by appro-
pirate legislation Senator Sumner, the
President said, lodged vote Ga this JOINT
resolution.