Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-25


IL CHANT A DRUNKARDf
Grants indiscreet friends have been the
means Of exposing bis unfortunate habits
10 degrees that Ihust be. rnortifg ing 10 the
American people. But for the malignant
,nisrsprssenfata0ns Of Gratzz Brown by
Grants friends his own personal habits
would have been passed over as lightly as
possible. 1t is their fault that bis unfortu-
nate habits Of dissipation have been made
the theme Of public comment. The Dem
ocratic press has been isposed to pass over
these things, and fight the battle out upon
the political issues Of the times. The Rad
icals, however, laboring under their past
proclivities for SANDER and personal con-
troyersy were not content with fol-
lowing onr example, but in the
absence Of anything truthful, re-
sorted to gross anonymous SANDERS against
Gov. Brown, charging him with the in
temperate use of ardent spirits. This in
general and in particular has been refuted
and now comes the immaculate Grant to
answer to the same charge. Below we
publish letter from Rev. @. w. Dennison
a resident of Washington city, TO which
we call the attention of those who were
SO horri6ed at Gov. Brown a few weeks
since. E#aEs 4Ha
OFFICE OF NATIONAL HARBIEGER,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 80, 1S72.-My
| Dear Sir:-l am this morning in receipt of
your letter Of the 18th instant, asking for
the exsct truth with regard to the drinking
| habits of President Grant. In giving
YOU the Information of the facts that are
known to exist in this important ma
! tional matter, allow me to premise
that have always, at all times and places,
been friend Of our Chief Magistrate. l
was one Of the first to advocate his being
| brouehs from bis command at the West to
| the front at Richmond. Iwrote book Of
his life, known as "The Tanner Boy"
which had wide circulation. l was ex-
4 tremely anxious to vindicate him on the
temperance question, and was glad on his
coming to Washington to learn that, for
one year Immediately preceding and con-
nected with bis Inauguration, he almost en-
tirely abstained from the Eabitual use Of
strong drink. It was during this period,
| and for q short interim succeeding, that be
was recognized in the manner spoken Of by
the excellent woman (Mrs. Mary j. Buel)
t. whom you iefer in your letter.
But 1 regret to be under the necessity
of informing you that an unfayorable change
has come over the personal habits Of
] President Grant in this respect. am
1 solemnly bound in honor to say, from the
facts which have possession, that no
| consistent Temperance man can support nun
| 1t cannot be denied in Washington that be
has on several occasions been seen under
| the influence Of liquor. The times and
| places can be specified if they are demandk
ed. The parties who have seen him in
this condition can be produced. In con-
versation last winter with Senator Will
son that gentleman said to me, "PreSident
Grant drinks too nuch," and concluded
| with the remark, 81 have told him So"
| Senator Wilson will not deny this fact.
| Many similar facts can be adduced. A
! gentleman well and iavorably known in,
Washington, one who has long occupied a
public position at the national capital, in
forms me that on the night Immediately
following the last great speech of
Senator Sumner, two respectable cit
liens walking together on Jack
i son square encountered President Grant.
he was in a state of intoxication. His bat
was slouched over his eyes; he had sight
ed cigar in his mouth, and was staggering
along, muttering to himself. The names
/ of all this party are at command. Another
Washington resident, of unimpeachabe
Yeracity, has also informed me, within the
last ten days, that there is good evidence
| for stating that the real reason why Presi-
dent Grant made such hurried exit from
the capital for Long Branch, when so much
important public business demanded his at
| tention, and when several Senators and
| Representatives were so bitterly disappoint-
| ed at not meeting him, according to ap-
pointments he himself had made, was this:
i that he was so much under the influence
of liquor that he was not fit for interviews
in the Executive Mansion. Names Of re-
sponsible parties are at hand
who will substantiate this state
ment. A scholar of established
reputation and high moral character writes
within short time past, TO one of the most
| distinguished men of the country on the
subject of the drinking habits of President
| Grant. The letter is dated at Cambridge,
/ IudDS.s duu udfC pcCn W NOp1
| from il the facts that are well known to
many, to-wit: that the last appearance Of
| President Grant, in connection with the
exercises Of Harvard University, was such
| as to excite general feeling of anxiety and
disgust among all who witnessed it. He
was carefully observed by those Immediate
| ly around him, and the aspects Of his inc
! briefly cannot be mistaken.
An old ,,ooiHa M If tho ~ Of Ralkiua0ro
Nd, only few weeks ago, accompanied
party of friends to the Presidential man.
sion, where, on being admitted to sn audi
ence with President Grant, they found him
to be so much under the influence of liquor
that they Immediately closed the Interview
and withdrew. An officer in the civil
service, now a permanent inhebitant
of Washington, states that during
one of his trips on a steamer
from New York to the East, President
Grant was known by several parties to be
excited by strong drink to disgusting ex-
tent. Should any of these facts be denied
by responsible parties, the proef viii be
produced. / make these statements with
sincere regret. l am accountable to my
God for the truth OF every word. remain,
dear sir, your obedient servant,
CHARLES WHEELER DENIsON,
Editor and proprietor If the National Hsr-
binger, Washington, d. G. -.f.' F..
j. T. Warrington, Esq, Carbondale, Pa.
Senator Wilson denies the remarks at
tributed to him, but in most Incorporate,
ungentlem&nly manner. he admits having
a conversation with Mr.. Denison touching
the reported incorporate habits of Grant,
and to have expressed regret "that the
President used intoxicating liquors at ALL"
and that he s'had mind to ask him to
join the Congressional Temperance Socie-
ty." There is simply now question of
veracity between the two. Wilson de-
MES what Denison says he said,
but he admits having conVersed with
him about Grants incorporate
habits, and of the necessity of his
reforming. Mr.. Wilson says he never saw
Grant under the influence of liquor. 1t is
very clear that Wilson has carefully select
ed the times for his visits to Grant, or he
belongs to that class of men of whom 1t is
said 'none are 30 blind as those who will
not see." The proof is too abundant and