The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-11
THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING.
WHATHB mas TO SAY ABOUT TIE A.
y. HEWITT INTERYIEW.

Frauds in New York City In the Election.
wAsHINoroN Dec. lO.-President Grant,
In conversation with representative OF the As
ISOLATED Press to-day. said that he recently re-
ceived a despatch from Gov. Cham berlain in
forming him that 1t was currently reported In
Columbia that tho President had. In his inter-
view with Representative Hewitt Of New York
week ago. remarked that when sixty three
members OF the South Carolina House OF Repre-
sentatives holding certificates from the sccre-
tory Of State should convene he would
recognize them as the legal House. The
President, In reply to Gov Chamberlain
telegraphcd that " MIR. Hewitt had sent or
authorized the sending OF such despatch
Il was untrue that he had so expressed himself
The President says he had a free and agreeable
conversation with Mr.. Hewitt, in which he said
that In his judgment not less than sixty-threc
members were eligible to ORG nize tho House
and transact business. including the determina-
tion OF the qualification OF Its members. This
was the view he then held, but II was merely q
private opinion. and he might have been wrong.
The President on that occasion further ex-
pressed his views with regard to the grounds on
which each wing of the members OF the House
respectively claimed their seats, and In this
connection the President produced note
addressed to MIN by Nr Hewitt. az follows;
HOUSE, oY RKPBEsEsrArtvks Dec. g.
ihsvc received a reliable telegram from Columbis
from the Secretary nf state hae o,en sworn into
therefor ofgSni,d 10 accordance Win inc require
ments of law AZ stated by you.
On the same day Mr. Hewitt sent him another
note ~ follows:
have Just received later despatch saving that the
supreme Court Of south tsronns has pt9nouncsd lts
Il wa lace to pe ne ieg,lly ecnstiniea House Of Rep
speaker or In any respect All ocer OF toe legislative
boay.
The President said with reference to these
notes. that he did not think. after his free con
vers ton with MIR Hewitt, that the Litter would
make use OF what he said for the purpose OF de-
sented. wnen MIR. Hewitt and Senator Ran
dOlph called on MIN several days ago. he in-
formed MIR. Hewitt of the contents OF the des-
patch he had received from Gov. Chamberlain
and the reply he made to II. and intimHted To
MIR. Hewitt that he thought bis confidence had
Mr. Hewitt denied that he had sent to Colum-
bia such despatch as that mentioned.
The President then repeated TO Mr. Hewitt
the substance OF the despatch In reply to Coy.
Ch IN herian as to the report current in Column
b,a senator Randolph then produced a de-
spntch from Gen. II rmpton, IN whicn he said u
the President would recognize the wallace
House and Withdraw the troops. lie would do
everything possible to preserve the peace. lht
President remarked that he looked uron THIS as
piece u imrer inence on the part OF Gen.
Hamuton, In telling him what to do; that the
sending Of troops to South Carolina was In
obedience to the coll OF Gov. Chant oeflain, the
danger there being too formidable Tor the au-
tnOrites OF the state To control that orean-
izeI rife CLUBS, representing Gen. Hampton,
were In the city of columbia; and that II the
Federal troops should be wlthdruwn there
would be peace. but It would be the rest of
death. Senator Randolph then explained tnat
the President should not think that Gen. Hamp-
ton sought 70 ADVISE what to do. and that the
oespatch which was shown to the President was
n reply TO ono that Senator Randolph had sent
to Gen. HAMPTON.
In response to a question the President said
be had never instructed Gen Ruger 10 place
In fhA FafA hlIf hat aN
Gen Ruger Understood his orders. The troops
were in South Carolina, the President repeated.
In obedience to the call OF Gov Cham berlain to
suppress insurrection too formidable for MIN to
control ana had It not been for these troops
Gov. Chamberlain would be a refugee to-day, ~
Gov Ames now u from Mississippi.
The President sid that he looked on the stu
alton "a emo irassine. 70 say the least, eood
ocratic side, and many were acting unreas"na-
bly,. Iney seemed to fear that he Was doing
what was right, and were abusing everybody for
not Welding o their views. ihis struck MIN g
Ell anee, considering the scenes through which
we nave passed.
Gov. Hayes represented the partv. he said,
which Ia the late election carried all but four OF
the state which furnished the me ms for sup
pressing the rebellion and Gov. ltlden carried
all out three OF those which sought to destroy
the Union.
In speaking of frauds: he ssid the majority
than his total majority IN the entire stale. and
in which city much crime Ia perpetrated, aud
where there Is large number OF men who
have very little interest either In the
State or In the Republic. In the same
way frauds were committed in the States
of New jersey ana Connecticut. while II was
true tnat In those OF the southern states which
gave Gov. 1ilden majority, were.voters, many
claimed that nlden di1 not carry such States.
| he same party that perpetrated frauds IN some
| of the Southern States tor lilOen complained a
| OF frauds In Florida, Louisiana, ana south Caro-
| lima, but u there had been no frauds in Mis-
sissippi. North Clrolinn and Arkansas those
States would nave gone Tor Hayes
| The President justified the exclusion OF Lau-
rens and Eds fed counties from the South
| Carolina return on the grounds that GeorRians
| voted ip them frequently. and cast more votes
| than there were votes for the Democrats
Much tflk, he said, had been made about The
lives SACRIFICED and the many political murders
| IN the South, II was necessary to anord the re-
The President thought II was now quiet 10
the South, and said that, 80 far as he could, he
| that all past steps to this end had been duly
In reply TO a remark that It seemed as though
| the Democrats lad abandoned the idea OF i'm
peaching him. the President said he would ad.
| wise them not TO attempt 1t, for II night brne
| out evidence which they would not like TO see
spread on the record; that he would rather
trust rebels than their Northern alice, aud tired
| to say as much IN his annual message. He did
| not receive reports from all OF the departments
| In time, and therefore was Obliged to leave out
OF his Message many subjects TO which he would
nave otherwise alluded.
He said that he would answer the II ouse resolu.
ton aud Inform them why he sent troops to the
bOutn. lnere we q now oO or bOU trOOls Ut
Washington. II there should be any necessity
for more he would order them hither. We
should nave peace II we mad 10 nght for IT,
Some days he received i've or ak letters thr eat
ening assassination. but he paid no attention u
them. crazy man once followed him siI
months threai enng to take his life, and this
person was. he believed, placed IN the asylum
When he nrst came to the Executive Mansion he
found military guard there, but he imme-
diatelY caused II TO be withdrawn aud sent Into
barracks.
The President referring to the political com.
plicHtions said he had all abiding faith Ia the
people. As We have had one rebellion he did
not believe the people were anxious fol
way out VI our present difficulties.