Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-15
GRANT
Submits to an Interview for the
First Time.
Aud Explains the designations Of
BristOw and Wilson.

New York, August 15.-The
Herald publishes an interview be-
tween President Grant and its
Washington correspondent. Ac-
cording to the report of the inter
view the President stated,that there
were many Misrepresentation made
in connection with official commu-
nications between himself and ex-
Secretary Bristow and ex-Solicitor
Wilson. AS an illustration OF this,
he never asked for the resignation
offere d, but several times when he
voluntarily proposed to resign, and
was urgently anxious to do SO, he
president Grant, prevailed upon
i'm to stay in Office. Once Bris-
tow insisted upon the acceptance Of
his resignation, because, he said, he
could not undergo the ordeal of
superin tending another discharge
or cutting down of Treasury en-
ployes; and again, and for a third
time, Bristow rendered it, and fixed
the date OF its occurrence, as he
would like it to be upon June I'd,
because, he said, that was his forty
fourth birthday, and he would be
glad to close his official life upon
that day. On the second occasion
the President prevailed upon Bris-
tow to remain, because a new order
of things in the Treasury Depart
m,ent was about to take place, with
a substitution of silver for frac-
ito ual currency, and he thought 1t
would need the supervision Of Bris-
tow, So far as anything had been
elici ted in the Congressional exam
mat ion bearing upon himself or the
alta ches heretofore of the White
Hou Sc, the President was willing tC
leave the whole matter 1.-THE judg.
ment of the country from the test.
mony given BY ex-Solicitor Wilson
before the Congressional Investi
eating Committee, In relation t.
that part of Blufor,1 Wilson's testi
mony which charged Generals Bah
cock and Porter with being con
cerned in the black Friday specula
tons, the President said he one
put a lot of papers, rolled up for
moment, in a private drawer OF hi
desk, and subsequently, took then
out, handing them to his son
who was acting as his private sec
rotary, for examination. The pa
pers he found, when reported upoi
by U. S. Grant, jr., did not shoy
any connection whatever of Genera
Babcock with the Black Friday al
fair at the time stated, becaus
they could not, as he was then i
San Domingo, and before Genera
Porter's connection with the Blac.
Friday scandal he could not fin
that he had ever bought a dollar
worth of gold in his life, but he ha'
purchased one or two small piece
Of property on Washin gton Hight
and New York city through, or i
connection with, Gene raj Butter
field, which, from all he coul
learn, was a perfectly honorable an
straightforward transaction. Whe
these many and frequent report
were made about those bearing lei
and intimate relation to him,
was but ma ;ural he should accel
them with great caution and susp
cion, but he always signifed, j
la most distinct and emlphat
manner, as he did in a letter
Enforcement, "Let no guilty ms
escape" which BJuford Wilson W
endegoring to abstract, togeth.
with other papers, from the Tres
ury Department; that he did II
desiLe that any persons, no matt
how high officials they might be-
even if they we're his own in.
J mates--should enjoy immuni
= from responsibility or escape pu
n ishment for v1rong-doing if PROV
If upon them. AT first, when t
e hints were made to him, he was
x to believe that they mel
~ Casey and others. lie was told
IT those attacking Generals Babcc
IN and Porter that the facts would
le given by Gen. Geo. H. SharI
Surveyor OF the port Of New 70
and tb ose papers examined by you
Mr.. Grant we're left by him ;
- l;d tho prosidnnt eta