New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-11
GEN. GRANT ON THE SITUATION.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O-Presdent Grant. in the
course of long and free conversation to-day with
representative of the New-York Associated Press
said that he recently received dispatch from Gov
Chamberlain to the effect that it currently re-
ported in Columbia that, in an interview with Keep
resentative Hewitt of New-YOrk a week ago. the
President had remarked that when 63 members OF
the South Carolina House of Representatives, hold
ing certificates from the Secretary OF state,
should convene he would recognize them as
the legal House. The President said that he had
telegraphed to Gov. Chamberlain, in reply, tnat
the report was untrue. The President says he bad
a free and agreeable conversation withMr. HEWITT,
in which he said that in his Judgment not less than
SO members were eligible to organize the House
and transact business, including the determination
of the qualification of its members. This was the
view he then held but it was merely private
opinion and he might be wrong. In this connection
he produced n note addressed TO him by Sir. Hewitt
dated House of Representatives. Dec. o." as ioi-
lows:
To the President: ,.
/ have received a reliable telegram from Columbia Columbia
stating that the sxty-thrd member, holding cetlhcae
from the secretary OF State, has Deen sworn INTO he
House presided over by Speaker wallace, when Is q,
fore organized in accordance with the requirements vi
law as stated by you
On the same day Mr.. Hewitt sent another note to
the President. as follows:
I
Supreme Court Of South Carolina nag pronounce rs
Judgment and declared the House presided over Nv W
seniatlyeS and that Mackey private person, not
Speaker in any respect an oncer Oh tue iesiSa'"o
body. .
The President said that he did not think after his
free conversation with Mr.. Hewitt, that the latter
would make use of what he said for the purpose OF
defeating the party which the President represented
Whom Mr. Hewitt and Senator Randolph called on
him several DAYS ago. he informed Mr. Hewitt OF the
contents of the dispatch he had received from Gov.
Chamberlain and the reply he had made ana lhti-
mated 10 Mr. Hewitt that he thought his confidence
had been abused. Mr.. Hewitt denied that he had
sent 10 Columbia such dispatch as that mentioned.
Senator Randolph then produced displtch troin
Gen. Hampton, in which he said II the President
would recognize the Wallace House, ana Withdraw
the troops he would do everything possible to pre-
serve the peacc The President remarked that he
looked upon this as piece OF impcFtlnence on inc
mart Of Gen. Hampton i'll telling him what to do;
that the sending OF troops 10 South Carolina was IN
obedience to the call of Gov Chamberlain. the
danger there being too formidable for tho anthori-
ties of the State 10 control that organized rifle
clubs representing Gen. Hampton wore n the City
of Columbia and that III the Federal troops shond DO
withdrawn there would be peace. but II wonld be
the rest Of death. Senator Randolph then explained
that the President should not think that Cen Hamp
Ton souglt to advise what TO do and hat the dis
patch which was shown TO the President was reply
10 one that Senator Randolph had sent to Gen.
HAMPTON The President said he had never in
structcd Gen. Ringer to place troops IN the State
House but that was the way Gen. Kruger understood
his orders; tho troops were in South Carolina III
obedeucc TO the call Of Gov. Chamberlain to sup
press instruction too formidable FOR him to control
and had it not been for these troops Gov Chamber
I "a I, ri, to is
from Mississippi.
The President said in the course Of conversation,
that he looked on the situation embarrassing, to
say the least ; n good deal OF bad temper has been
shown on the Democratic side, and many are acting
unreasonable they seem 10 fear that no Is doing
what is right. and are abusing everybody for not
Welding to their views; this struck him as strange
considering the scenes through which we have
passed: Gov. Hayes represents the party which in
the late election carried all except four
Of the States which furnished tho means for
supprcssing the rebellion; Gov. lliden carried
all except three Of those which sought to destroy
the Union In allusion TO frauds he said the major
ity for Gov Iilden in the city Of New-iork was
larger than his total majority in tho entire State in
1874. and in that city there is much cTimo aud a
larger number of men who have little interest either
in the State or in the Republic frauds were COM
nlttcd in the States Of New-JcrSey and Connccti-
cut; ~ those Of the Southern States which gave
Gov Tlden majority many voters ballotcd more
than once, yot nobody claims that Tiden did not
carry those States the party that pcrpctrated
frauds in Some Of the Southern States for Tilden
complain Of frauds in Florida, Louisiana and South
Carolina; but if there had been frauds III Msss-
sipp, North Carolina. and Arkansas These States
would have gone for Hayes and Wheeler The Presl-
dent justified the exclusion of Lauron3 and Edge
ltA Souf a refn "a
the grounds that Georgans voted frequently in those
counties and cast more votes than tina legitimate
Democratic voters.
Much talk he said, has been made ABOUT the use
of troops; but considering the number Of lives
ri6ced and the many political murders ia the South,
il is necessary to afford the required protection The
President says all quiet in the South far
be ascertained; as far he can ho will protect
every one from violence; all past steps TO this end
have been duly considered.
In reply to q remark that it seemed "a il the Dem
ocrats had abandoned the idea of impeaching him,
! tho President said he would advise them not TO
attempt it, for it might bring out evidence which
they would not like to see spread OH the record;
he would rather trust rebels than their Northern
allies, and he tried to say as much in bis annual
message; he did not receive reports from all OF
the departments in time, and therefore was
Obliged to leave out of his message many sub
iects TO which he would otherwise have alluded.
| He said he would answer the House resolution,
and inform the House why he sent troops to tho
South; Among other things, the Presldent stated
| that there are now 600 or 800 troops in Washing
ton; if there should DO any necessity for more, he
will order them hther; should have peace, IL
| We have to fight for it some days he receives tVe
or six letters threatening assassination, but he pays
no attention to them crazy man once follower
| him six. months, threatening to take his
| life, and this person was, no believed.
| niaced in the insane asylum when he first