The New York herald., 1876-08-15
Our Silent President Explains His Re-
latiOnS with BriStOw and Wilson.
HIS SIMPLE RULE OF RIGHT
Honest Desire That No Guilty Man
Should escape-Confidence in
Babcock and Porter.
MAsHrNGroy. Anrnst Ia lS-6

upon him recently, and those particularly in
the evidence adduced before the Committee
on the Whisky Frauds. discussed quito freely, the
whole subject OF these vexatious charges and
nsruat,ons 10 treated them in so calm and ,air
spirit TO evidence that strong justice which
his friends SO urgently claim for him. All the while
that he was explaining his OF the persons as.
calling assailed, or while he was referring
to those who had the Congressional investi-
CATION In charge, no spoke in pleasant,
cheerful manner, smoking 'csurcly as he
went on. The names Of ex-Sccrctary Brsow and ex-
Solicitor Wilson came up, OF course most prominently
"Having had The fact OF well considered conspiracy
laid before him, with every evidence OF its
being well foundcd,' hc remarked that mot
wthstandIpg he never gavo tho subject any
more than passing attention, and tho thing did
not him the slightest apprehension, because
he knew tha, neither during the course OF his military
life, nor in hts civil experience President of the
United States, had he written anything which
could come up him the slightest concern
shame. or with the light OF events
since come to pass and the experience OF earlier
times, there many things no could
now which no might do, II again necessary
different way; but they pcrtaned to
matter of discretion TO individuals than to ques-
tions Of policy. In everything hc did he had always
adopted the rule, through liic. to examine into what
was submitted to him carefully and without anything
| but the principle of doing right, far he could
| judge, to guide him. He had always written, spoken
and acted in that direction aud in which no
| thought up to that standard. Tho question
OF his Integrity or probty as it might DO judged
| or In after yesrs, gave him emotion OF con-
cern at least In tho way OF doubt, because hc knew
that he had been mpced by proper motives. and
he did lot believe that thero the slightest thing
the contrary record
There were many misrepresentation ne went on to
say, made in connection with the official communlca
tons between himself and ex-Sccetary Bristow and cx
Solicitor Wilson As Illustration OF this he never
asked for the resignation of the former but three
cral times when no voluntarily proposed to resign
and urgently anxious TO do so, he,
President Grant, prevailed upon him to stay In
ONCE. Once Mr. Bristow insisted upon tho acceptance
of his resignation, because, he said, he could not
undergo the ordeal of experimenting another dis
charge cutting down OF the Treasury employees
Again. and for tho third timc, Mr. Brstow rendered It
and fixed tho date OF Its occurrence as no would
like IL 10 bc upon June 20, because
no said that his forty Fourth birth day. and he
would DO glad to close his official life upon that day.
On the second occasion the President prevailed upon
Mr.. Bristow to remain, because. the order Of
things the Treasury Department about tako
place. with the substitution OF silver for the fractional
|
| of Mr.. Bris;ow.
So far rs anything had been elected In the Con-
gressional examination bearing upon himself or tho
attaches OF the White House. tho President
went on again, after pause. and with great tran
guilty, show OF great satisfaction and quiet smile;
he willing to leave the whole matter to the judg-
| mcnt of tho country from testimony gwen
by cx-Socitor Wilson before tho Congressional In
vcstgating Committed In relation TO that part OF
Bluord Wilson's testimony which charged Generals
Babcock and Porter with being concerned in Black
Friday speculations the President said he once
put lot OF papers rolled up, for moment. in
a private drawer OF his desk, and subse-
qucntly took them out, handing them to bis
son, who was acting as his private secretary for
animation. The papers he found, when reported upon
by Mr.. u Grant, Jr, did not show any connection
Whatever of General Babcock with the Black Friday
affair Mt the time stated because they could not ho
then in San Domingo: and, for General Portcrs
connection tho Black Friday scandal he could not
find that he had bought dollars worth of gold
In his life, but he had purchased small
pieces Of property on Washington Heights, New York
city, through in connection with General Butter
held which, from all he could learn, was a perfectly
honorable and straightforward transaction. When these
many aud frequent reports made about
those bearing near and Intimate official relation
TO him. it was natural he should accept them with
great caution and suspicion, but ho always signlcd
the most distinct and emphatic manner. as hc
did IN the letter Endorsement OF "Lct no guilty man
escape which Mr Blutord Wilson was endeavoring
to abstract with other papers from the Treasury
Department, that he did desire that any per-
sons no matter how high The officials nigh. be-
even they were his own intimates should
ENJOY immunity from responsibility escape
punishment for wrong doing II proved upon them.
first 40 was al
10 believe that they meant Casey others He was
told by those attacking Generals Babcock and Poror
tina, would be given by General George H. Sharpe,
Surveyor the port Of New York, and those papers
examined by young Mr Grant wore cn by him. but at
no time did tho President stand the way intimate
anything but his strongest desire have full,
nest ana honest examination and prosecution Of any
wrongdong among his friends.
As for Mr. Brsiow, the President added. notwith-
standing doubts and cxpostulatons Of my friends.
always regarded with the fulcs. confidence good
will and respect: but my friends laughed when
gave finally my opinion from facts and Information
brought to my knowledge by persons whom thought
reliable that there conspiracy on foot, In which
ne took part pertaining 10 tho Presidential candidacy;
and regret tho conclusion forced upon mo now,
that there than seeming In the suppos-
ton.
The President ended the Conversation which he con.
Quoted on part In unreserved and easy manner
By remarking, THAT Is about iair and correct
statement AS made OF this subjectn Finishing
the interview with this emphatic ndorsc-
ment Of himself, the President arose and
In a mos, courteous manner excused himself and bado
your correspondent good night leaving green room
with his private secretary, Mr. U. S. Grant, Jr, TO
join Generals Sherman and Van vct the portico OF
the White House tor quiet chat and smoke