New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-13
A REPLY TO THE PRESIDENT.
ADRIAN 5. HEWITT GIVES HIS VERSION OF II

ABRAM 5. HEWITT GIVES HIS VERSION THE
INTERVIEW WITH GEN. GRANT.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I2.-Abram S. Hewitt has fur
nshed 10 the Agent of the Associated Press the fol-
lowing statement in regard to his interview with
the President:
In yesterdays dispatches frd a dispatch from you
recitng conversation with President Grant in refer
ence to the unfortunate of affairs in South Carolina
and my interviews with him in reference thereto So far
as South Carolina concerned the President enjoned
no confidence, but expressly stated that was at liberty
TO communicate his views to the public. He did
enjOin confidence in regard to what he said OF Louis
lana affairs and that confidence l have respected,
although as have already stated TO him, believe the
publication Of his statement would do much 10 tranquil
lie the public mind. In regard 10 South Carciiua, the
President stated that IN his Judgment rot less than 90
members having certificates from the Secretary OF State
were eligible TO organize the House and transact bust
ness. As this view accorded with NY OWL and as no
confidence was eDjoned telegraphcd II in the follow
ing anguage
A, G. HASKELL. Chairman Charleston, s. e.:
able to say that neither H9Gse VIII G Ge 5GSSsa5e
by the PIcslueht uht II gets 90 lheIoeIS hoi"s is
N'i WI '-''''''o 1,BrAM s. HEWITT.
My object IN sending this dispatch was that thought
il would tend to allay the excitement In South Carolina
and prevent a collision between the people and the
troops, Of which we were very apprehensiyc. On the
9th of December received reply which induced me to
send the following kilograms to the President;
To the President: have received reliable telegram
ing certificate from the Secretary of state has been
sworn into the House presided over by Speaker wallace
which is thereby Organized In Win INC ~
To ne President: have Just received later dispatch,
saving that the Supreme Court OF South Carolina has
pronounced ITS Judgment and declared inc House pre-
sided over by W. H. Wallace to be the Legally
House Of Representatives aad that hacKey pr'ste
person. not Speaker or Ill any respect an Ocer Oh inc
legislative body.
On the evening Of the same day Senator Randolph
hou1d call un0 lie
and ask him whether under the circumstances, he could
not see his way clear 90 order the withdrawal OF the
limited States troops from Columbia and recognize the
House OF Representatives so constituted win
60 members. The President granted us an
interview which began by my saying that had sent
him two kilograms from the House in reference % South
Carolina affairs The President at once replied tha ne
had received Them and that very late on te preceding
s Ss, saying N mao That &C., Ssis.
he Iega House that body which should have sxyree
memberS with certificates from the Secretary OF state
Te President replied that he had not made any such
,ofenent: that he did not believe had said he had
done so and that, at any rate, II was not ue' Iepo3
that had not sent any telegram TO that effect but had
sent QUE as nearly as could recOlec follows: am
able ~ say that the President VIII not recoghLe my
House that does not contain sxty-three meInbGIs WIN
original certificates from the Returning Board Inc
President repied That is correct dld say so Inhi
was my private opinion Dnt ulu hot say lnat 80
recognize House that had sixty-three uGih1eIs.,
Ireped, THAT is true, out tni1h The Prsi6et Te
piled that rs present advised he nst dtche 10 scos
iIze the House containing 63 members sal nc uld no.
Enow that he would recognize the other House, tnat
Chamberlain Governor until some was regularly IN
snGrafed in his place. and that he should sustain MN
The President did not say that had violated ne G Sayc
deuce in any particular but ne said II NOulu nav
bcen a violation of his confidence II ! Lad sem
fhe telegram reported to him nom COIunDla the senq
ing Of which again denied then TeminaeG tae 81 ISt
don't that he had OF testing the accuracy OF ny
Tceollections OF his statements, because nhealteiy
after tbe interview Sunday had dictated the SUD
stance of the conversation aud furnished MN MlIh
copy which requested him 10 return 10 me =, "i any
cofctions he might choose 10 make either 10 DC pup
Nshed II he would consent, or 10 be retained iOr ms
tuture Justification case after the Atm OF Mafeh next
80 sbOud be called in question. he has not
Ipfnrned no me the copy furnished nor made any cor
reetiOns therein 10 my knowledge. -, .. ms, Main,
any OF his statements for the purpose OF defeating tne
patty which he, the President, represented nave
never regarded the President OF the United states as
representing any parry and shall regret 70 sec Io
Ored head OF the people Of these United states Mou
/ regard TO party. ADRIAN o. hE"hA'