The Portland daily press., 1872-08-16
WASHINGTON.
Cabinet MISUNDERSTANDING Pardon ned.

| Cabinet DIectinS-Ku-Kiux Pardoncd.
WASHINGTON, Aug 15.-of the Cabinet in
| town, Secretary's Belknap, Cresswell and
| Williams, visited the President on business to-
day. The last named in relation to the ku-
Klux convicts in the Albany penitentiary.
The report made by Col. Whitley having
been read to the President he directed pardonS
to be made out in behalf of those specially rec
commended to executive clemency, namely
David Collins, VIM. Seal, Amos Owen and VIM.
Scrubb, who are represented to be old men and
Joined the Kn-Klux in ignorance of its real
objects.
Political and Personal Matters.
Early in the afternoon the President freeley
and calmly engaged in conversation with sever
al of his friends, chiefly on political topics, from
which is appears he is satisfied with the situa-
ton as regards himself I-...ee-
When asked about the alleged slight to Fred
erich Douglass, he replied that if Douglass did
not complain because he was not invited by
him to dinner he did not see why Senator
Sumner should exhibit so much anxiety II not
Indignation upon the subject. The simple tact
was that the San Domingo Commissioners with
their secretary having called to submit their
report he invited them to dine with MN.
Douglass not being with the Commissioners ne
did not at the time think of him nor Others who
accompanied the expedition, but if Douglass mad
been with the commiss oners he would have been
included in the invitation to dinner which was
whatever The President expressed his SUR
prise that SO much should be said about an I'M
material matter one that merely concerned his
own household.
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 orig
inal abolitionist, but he favored the emanclpa-
ton as a war measure. When this was secured
no thouUI,t tho ballot shny1l1 no conferred to
make the gift complete and to place those who
had been liberated in full possession of their
right of freedom. -
His reviews, however, on the subject of slav-
cry were well known and expressed in letters
to Mr.. Washburn and Others and extensively
published and hence this was not now a matter
of dispute. In the course of conversation he
said that while President should be i'll accord
with the leading principles OF the party that
elected him, it was essential lie should enforce
the laws which may be enacted and administer
the government not in the interests of the par
ty, butin those of the entire country. While he
has no unkind words to utter concerning Sena-
tor Sumner he was perfectly willing to place
his acts against Senator Summers verbs, and in
connection he said Sumner did not show HIM
self such good friend to the black man as he
professed to be, when he was not willing to
have the civil rights bill stand on its own mer-
its requiring only majarity vote. but insisting
OH bill of his own as an amendment to the
amnesty bill which could not be passed without
a majority of two-thirds.
Mr.. Carpenters civil rights bill however was
passed during the absence of Senator Sumner
and as the facts show much to his surprise. The
President also said it will be seen b. the Con-
gressional Globe that Senator Sumner did not
vote at all on joint resolution recommending
the ratification of the 10th amendment to the
Constitution of the U. S. This amendment
since ratified provide that the rights of citizens
be denied or abridged by the United States or
by any State on account of race, color, or previ-
GUS condition of servtude and Congress is in
vested with power to enforce this article by ap-
prapriate Legistion. Mr. Sumner, the President
said lodged vote on this joint resolution.