Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-12-14
PLAIN TALK FROM GRANT.

PLAIN TALK FROM GRANT.
President Grant, in the course of long aud
free conversation last Sunday with repre-
sentative Of the New York Associated Press,
Mr.. L. A. Gobright, concerning political af-
fairs, said that recently he received despatch
from Governor Chamberlain informing him
that it was currently reported in Columbia
that the President had, in his interview with
Representative Hewitt, of New York, week
ago, remarked that when sixty-three members
Of the South Carolina House of Representa-
tives, holding certificates from the Secretary
of State, should convene, he would recognize
them as the-legal House. The President, in
reply to Gov. Chamberlain, telegraphed him
that if Mr.. Hewitt had sent or authorized the
sending of such dispatch, it was untrue chat
he had so expressed himself The President
says he had free and agreeable conversation
with Mr.. Hewitt, in which he said that in his
Judgment not less than sixty-three members
we're competent to organize the House and
transact business, including the qualification
of its members. This was the view he then
held; but it was merely private opinion,
and he might have been wrong. The Presi-
dent on that occasion further expressed his
views with regard to the grounds on which
each wing of the members of the House re-
spectively claim their seats, and in this con-
nection the President showed note, addressed
to him by Hewitt, dated House of Represen-
tatives, December 9th, as follows:
sIo the President: have received reliable
telegram from Columbia, stating that the sixty
third member holding a certificate from the Sec
retary of State, had been sworn into the. House
presided over by Speaker Wallace, which is, there
fore, organized in accordance with the require
ments Of law, as stated by you."
On the same day Mr.. Hewitt sent his Ex-
cellency another note, as follows:
"I have just received a late despatch saying that
the Supreme Court of South Carolina has pro-
nounced its judgment and declared the House
presided over by w. Fl. Wallace to be the legally
constituted House of Representatives, and that
Mackey isa private person, not Speaker or in any
respect an officer of the legislative body"
The President said with reference to these
notes that he did not think after his free con.
versation with MI. Hewitt, that the latter
would make use of what he said for the pur-
pose of defeating the party which be repre-.
sented. When Mr.. Hewitt and Senator Ran
dolph called upon him several days ago, he
informed Mr.. Hewitt of the contents of the
despatch he had received from Chamberlain
and the reply he had made to it, and intima.
ted to Mr.. Hewitt that he thought bis conf
dence had been abused.
Mr.. Hewitt denied that he had sent to Co.
lumbia such despatch as that mentioned.
The President then repeated to Mr.. Hewitt
the substance of the despatch in reply to
Governor Chamberlain as to the report cur
rent in Columbia.
Senator Randolph then produced despatch
from General Hampton, in which he said if
the President would recognize the Wallace
House and withdraw the troops, he would do
everything possible to preserve the peace.
The President remarked that he looked on
this as piece of impertinence on the part of
Gen. Hampton in telling him what to do.
That the sending of troops to South Carolina
was in obedience to the call of Gov. Cham.
berlain, the danger there being too formida-
BILE for the authorities of the State to control.
That organized rifle clubs, representing Gen.
Hampton, were in the city of Columbia, and
that if the Federal troops should be with
drawn there would be peace, but it would be
the rest of death.
Senator Randolph then explained to the
President that he should not think that Gen.
Hampton would advise him what he ought to
do, and that the despatch which was shown
to the President was reply to one that SEN
ator Randolph had sent to Gen. Hampton.
In response to question, the President
said he never instructed Gen. Ruger to place
the troops in the State House, but that was
the way Gen. Ruger understood his orders.
The troops were in South Carolina, the Presi-
dent repeated, in obedience to the call of Gov.
Chamberlain to suppress an insurrection too
formidable for him to control, and had it not
been for these troops Gov. Chamberlain would
be refugee to-day, as Gov. Ames now is
from Mississippi.
Nothing further was said by Grant, bearing
directly upon affairs in South Carolina. In
discussing the merits of the Presidential elec-
ton, be was very severe upon the Democrats,
and as to the placing Of troops in Washing
ton, he said there were some eight hundred in
the city, and if there should be necessity
for more be would order them hither. He
said we should have peace if we had to fight
for it.