The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-13
HEWITT'S INTERVIEW.
MIR. HeWitt's Version OF 1t.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 12-HoD. Abraham S.
Hewitt furnishes the press statement relative
to his interview with the President He says
so far as South Carolina was concerned the
President eDjoined no confidence, but express
y stated that was at liberty to communicate
his views to the tpublic. He did enjon
confidence in regard to what he said of Louis
lana affairs, and that confidence L have re-
spected, although, as | have already stated to
him, believed the publication of his statement
would do much to tranquilize the public mind.
In regard TO South Carolina the President
stated that in his Judgment not less than 63
members having certificates from the Secre-
tary of State were eligible to organize a
House and transact business. AS this view
accorded with my own, and as no confidence
was enjoined, telegraphed it 10 the following
language:
A. G. Haskell, chairman, Charleston, S. c.
l am able to say that neither House will be
recognized by the President uutil it gets 60
members holding original certificates from
the returning board.
ADRIAN S. HEWITT
Ny object in sending this despatch was that
| thought 1t would tend to allay the excitement
in South Carolina and prevent collision be-
tween the people and the troops, of which we
were very apprehensive. On the 9Th received
a reply which induced me to send two tele-
grams to the President; the first announcing
that the Wallace Legislature had sworn in the
sixty-third mem Der; the second that the Su-
preme Court had decided the Wallace Legisla-
ture the legal constituted one.
On the evening of the same day Senator Ran
dolph suggested that he and should call upon
circumstances, he would not see his way clear
to order the withdrawal of the United States
troops from Columbia and recognize the House
of Representatives SO constituted with 60 men,
bers. The President said he had received amy
kilograms, and that very late on the preceding
evening he had received telegram from Co
lumbia saying that l had informed parties there
that the Presi lent would recognize as the legal
house that body which should have 63 members
with certificates from the Secretary of State.
The President said that he had replied that he
had not made any such statement, that he did
not believe I had said he had done so, and that
at any rate it was not true. l replied had not
sent any telegram to that effect, but had sent
one as nearly as could recollect, as follows:
81 am able to say that tina 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; l
did say so, that was my private opinion, but
did not say that would recognize house that
had 63 members"
replied that is true, but think 1t is implied.
and we have come to ask you to do so. The
President replied, that as at present advised he
must decline to recognize the house containing
63 members, and he did not know that he would
iCSuSuiLO tu0 OtuCI uOuSo, ludt OudluU6Ilalu
was Governor till some one was regularly in
augurated in his place, and that he should sus-
tain him. The President did not say that !
had violated his confidence in any particular.
then reminded the President that he bad
the means of testing the accuracy of my recol'
lectons Of his statements because Immediately
after the interview on Sunday 1 had declared
the substance of the conversation and furnish.
ed him with a copy, and requested him to re-
turn it to me with any corrections he chose to.
make, either to be published if he would con-
sent, or to be retained for his future justifca-
ticn IN case that after the 18th of March mex!
his intentions should be called in question. He
has not returned me the copy SO furnished MOI
made any corrections therein to my knowledge.
The President said nothing to me in regard to
my using any of his statements for the pur-
pose of defeating the party which he (the Pres
idenD represented. 1 have never regarded the
President of the United States as representing
any party, and should regret to see the the
President take any other position than that Of
the honored head of the people of the United
States, without regard to party.
(Signed,) ADRIAN S. HawTT.
Washington, D. c., Dec. II, 1876.