Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-13
HEWITT.
The Democratic Magnate Who
Interviewed tGe Presi-
dent.
Mr.. Hewitt Reportsthe Circum-
stances Of the Interview.
Hewitt and Grant,

0GWllL anu OIAul'
Washington, Dec la The following is
furnished by Hon. Abram S Hewitt, nd
sociated press
ln yesterdays paper l find dispatch
from you reciting conversation with
President Grant, in reference to the untor.
iunate state of affairs In South Caroi,na,
and my interviews with him in reference
thefete.-Se far NJ South Canilina was con-
eeEnea, the president erj.,ined no conii
deuce, but expressly stated that | was nj
liberty 10 communicate his views To the
public He did cujoin confidence In regard
to hat he said al Louisiana atiiirs, and
that confidence: have respected. although,
rs | have already stated to him. believe
Me publication Of his statements would do
m4el TO tranqnilize the pubIlc mind La
regasd><1o South Carolina, the president
stated ihaIl u his Judgment not less ban
sixty three members, having certificates
from tue secretaxy OF stale, were eligible
10 Organize the h0Nse nnd Transact bust
ness As thus view accprdei with my own,
and as NO con tidence was>xnjoln.d, teie-
graphcd it in the following language:
A y. Haskell, Chairman, CoiuHsbla. s G.:
i am allie to say that neither hbuse viii
63 members holding original cerliiicates
from the returning boaid
ADRIAN s HEWITT
NV object In sendinI this dispatch Was,
that ,houghtit would tend 10 allay ex,
citement in South Carolina, aud prevent
collision between the people and troops, oil
which We were very apprehensive. On the
9th OF December ] received II reply which
induced ME II, send the follow ing kilograms
10 The PRESIDENT:
To the President.
have received reliable telegram from
Columbia, stating that the G3i member,
holding Y certificate from The secretary vi
state, has been ss orn lnln the htuse prcsi-
ded over by Speaker Wallace. winch is
therefore organized in accordance Win the
requirements Of law as stated by you
To the President
have just received later dispatch say
ing that the supreme court Of South Caro-
lima has pronounced its judgment and de-
ciared The house presided over by w. IA.
Wallace To bc the legally constituted house
OF representatives, and thal M.ckey is
private person, not speaker, nr in any re
spect IN officer OF the legislative DO ly.
| On the evening OF the same day Senator
Randolph snRKested that he and should
|
er, under the circumstances he could not
aee bis way clear to order withdrawal of
| the United States troops from Columbia
and recog ni.e the honse OF representatives
10 constituted with 63 members.
The president granted US an interview.
which began by my saying that had sent
him two telegrams from home in reference
To South Carolina affairs.
The president at once replied that he had
received them, and that very late on the
preceding day or evening he received a
4 telegram from Columbia, BAY ing that had
| Informed parties there that the president
would recognize as legal house that body
which should have 83 members with Ger.
tifica,ion from the secretary of state The
pr slen, said that he had replied lha, he
had not made any such statement that he
did no: believe had said be had done SO
aud that at any rae 1t WAS not true.
4 replied that / had moi sent any
telegram to ,ha. effect, but had sen,
| one AS nearly as could recollect rs
follows: 81 am able 10 say that the
president will not recognize any house
that does not contain 63 members
with original certificates from the re-
turning board.
/ The president replied, "that is
correct did say so. That was my
private opinion, but did not say tina,
III weald rccogpize house that hae
E63 members"
4 ! replied-"that is true, but ,hinl
u it is implied and we have come t,
ask you to do So"
4 The President replied hat as q
present advised he must decline 10 re
cognize the house having f3 mem
bers and he did not know that b,
would recognize the other house,
That Chamberlain was governor un
til someone was regularly Inaugural
ted in his place, and that he shoul,
I sustain him.
/. then reminded the president tha
he had the means OF testing th
accuracy of my recolleotions Of hi
statements, because Immediately afte
the interview, Sunday, had dictat
Q ed the substance Of the conyefsatiq
: and furnished him with copy, an,
' requested him to return it t.
5 me with any corrections he nigh
choose to make, either to be publish
ed II he would consent. or to be re
j. tanned for his uture justification, i
case after the 4,h OF March next hi
J. intentions should be called in ques
!. I,ion. He has not returned me Ii
copy SO furnished, nor made any cor
If rections to my knowledge. The pres
, identIsaid nothing to me in regard t
: nv using any Of his statements for fh
y purpose of defeating the party whie
he, the president, represented. ! hav
J. never regarded the president Of th
United Stxtes, AS representing an
party, and shall regret 10 see III
president take any other posi,ien ,hs
!, that OF the honored head of the pee
y MIA of the United States without rt