Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-13
Senator Randolph and Presiden
Grant.

Inc w asnlngton correspondent OF the New
York Herald of yesterday says:
Senator Randolph, of New Jersey, 10 answer
to some questions about his interview with the
President several days ago, gives the following
particulars. 1t will be seen that the President
in his account OF this interview in to days pa
pers, omitted some details of his own conversa.
too, which Mr.. Randolph now supplies. He
said:
had said to Gen. Hampton duriog my visit
to Columbia that if could be of any service 10
bringing about an understanding between the
federal authorities at Washington and the con.
servative brauch OF the Legislature that |
would be glad to 90 so. | saw from time to
were progressing at Columbia, and on We'd
nesday last [ understood from Mr.. Hewitt that
q majority OF the constitutional Dumber OF the
South Carolina Legislature had given their ad-
herence to the conservative body. l telegraphed
Gen. Hampton during Wednesday as to the
political situation. His reply came to me about
six o'oinck D. m. and was IN these words:
Hon. T. F. Randolph. Washington D. g.:
Everything is gong we'll We ask that the
troops be removed and the decision of the Su-
preme Court be respected. This will bring
peace and harmony. If our House Is recognized
all trouble will be over.
WADE HAMPTON.
Earlier in the day had received dispatch
from Gen. Hampton acknowledging the re-
6eipt of letter written to him on Monday,
wherein had stated that Mr.. Hewitt's under
standing With the President was that no House
would be recognized until slxty-tbree members
boldiog certificates of the Board Of Cauvassers
had gathered 10 one body. Gen. Hampton
closed this dispatch in these words:
Try to get recognition from authorities. All
going we'll.
With these two dispatches in my hand, and
with my understanding OF the Presidents In
terview With Mr. Hewitt 90 Sunday, deemed
it my duty to call upon he President and make
kuowp Gen. Hanpton's request 10 behalf OF
the conservative Legislature. AS Mr. Hewitt
had given me the origiual Information as to the
Presidents interview. requested him to 30
With me, which he did. Senator Conkling hap
pened to be in the dining room OF the hotel at
the time OF my receiving the dispatch quoted
fully before. submitted it to him, aud asked
his opinion as to submitting 1t to the President.
He quite agreed with me that It was desirable
so to do, and suggested that take with me
the dispatch received earlier 10 the day, stating
that majority of the constitutional members
had been convened in one House. 1t is due to
Mr.. Conkting to say that the whole oonVersa-
ton with him occupied but minute or two.
Mr.. Hewitt aud | reached the White House
between seven and eight o'clock and we're
shown into the Presidents private parlor,
where the President and bis family and the
Secretary of War we're assembled. l stated to
the President tha. We called to give him some
information which bad received from South
Carolina and 10 show him dispatch had re.
ceived from General Hampton. Before l had
read any portion Of the dispatches he turned
to Mr.. Hewitt and complained pretty warmly
OF the misinterpretatoD OF his, the President 8,
expression as given on Sunday. Ihis CON
versation lasted some minutes, a0d Wnen
I supposed the President and Mr.. HeW.
lit bad come to an understanding as 10
what each had said, renewed the con-
yerssliou as to General Hampton's dispatch.
AS soon as | had read it to the President, ne
said with much feeling g:-"Governor Kan
dolph, if were to characterize that dispatch
at all should say that it was lnpertlnence
To which replied ~ do not see, Mr.. Pres,
ident how you could imagine man OF General
Hampton's character seeking such methods OF
offending you. His whole course for months
past has been one of prudence, temperance and
patience and it is hardly TO be conceived that,
at this iuncture of affairs, he would seek to OF
fend the Chief Magistrate" l also assured
the President that | was perfectly convinced
that General Hampton purpose was to convey
to me as clearly as possible within the brlef lin
its of a teegraphic dispatch just what the STU
alton was and how the public welfare might oe
promoted; that be probably lad DO idea
would hand the dispatch over, and tnat Ger,
ssinly had no idea, as no one else had VINO nau
seen the dispatch, that it Intended TO convey
any covert meaning or anything more tnao Tue
solicitous expressions OF an aDxlous man sinoefe1
kho |
also said to the President that If he would bear
10 mind that the dispatch was not to him, but
was one from one friend to another, ne would
probably see that his Interpretation OF Its spirit
WIS not a fair one. He replied that 10 this
view of the matter perhaps | was right. ihe
conversation turned upon what constituted
constitutional quorum of the Legislature. Mr.
Hewitt and myself coDtending that the Mackey
House could not possibly be recognized. mas
much as it did not have majority OF members
holding certificates either from the State board
or the Supreme Court.
The Secretary of War expressed the opinion
that number less than one haif of leglsla'
tive body might, under given circumstances
constitute legal quorum. | made reference
to the fact in talking to the President tnat the
conservative House in South Carolina not only
had majority OF all the members holdlog the
certificates of the State Board OF CanVassers'
the same Board that gave the Hayes electors
their certificates, but that, in addition to this,
@ seven or eight members held credentials under
order Of the Supreme Court OF South Carolina;
To this remark the President promptly replied
that he did not think the Supreme Court OF
South Caroliua bad anything to do With the
matter; that they bad overstepped their funo'
,ons, and that he did not propose to recognise
their authority in the matter. expressed
some surprise, and said to him that II the decl.
sious of the highest court OF State were not
to be accepted 10 matters pertaining alone 70
State, could not understand where our ani
oho,aee would be, and therefore begged OF
him to reconsider this opinion as to the au-
thority of the Supreme Court.
The remaider of the conversation was as to
the general election. the loyalty OF the Hayes