The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-10-24
Ihs 8ulletin.
GRANT AND SUMNER.

Ex- Secretary Fish 20 the Defence or
| 0rant-Another Version Of she susu-
ner-Metisy.0rant Onaeers.
| Special to the New Yoir Herald.
10 view OF the recent severe structures by
Wendell Philips upon the statement OF Gen
eral Grant, when In Edilburgh, to H-,-
AID Correspondent, regarding the course OF
Senator Sumner on the 81. Domingo treaty
and Of the administration In the removal Of
Mr. Motley from the position OF minister to
the course Of st. James, your representa-
tive to-day waited upon MT. Fish, who 10
In attendance here upon the Episcopsl Con-
vention, 10 learn bis version OF the matt r..
When informed Of the tenor ct Mr.. Phil
lips re marks the distinguished sI.secreta-
ry Of the state said that with regsrd TO the
alleged negligence OF the late Dir. Sumner
while Chairman OF the foreign affairs
| committee, II was fact that drafts Of
treaties, from eight TO eleven In number,
remained in the hads Of the committee tor
several months; some Of them, AZ near as
MIR. Fish could remember, for more than
two yesr.. Mr.. Fish did not impute this
delay Of public business 70 negligence on
the part Of Mr.. Sumner. The fact, howev-
er, remained that business was delayed,
together with another fact, that after Mr..
Summers Ietiracy the entire batch Of
treaties were disposed OF 10 less Than four
months.
REMOVAL OF MR.. SUMNER.
The reasons for the removal OF NJ. Sam.
ner from the craftsmanship OF the foreign
affairs committee were then spoken Of
The statement that president Grant placed
the 81. Domingo treaty into Mr. Summers
hsnds, as related by Mr., Phillips, N. Fish
| characterized as ridiculously untrue. The
president never had the treaty papers in
his possession. They were In the hands Of
the secretary OF the state. The facts were
these - The resident In conversation with
MIR. Sumner laid before that gentleman the
features Of the treaty. This information
was impaired orally; 10 written or printed
document was read to the senator, Mr..
sumner made no opposition 10 any OF its
te atures. Indeed, so warmly did he eY.
press approval Of It that gentleman present
at the interview, who prior to that time
had placed himself In opp osition 10 the
measure. was made friendly to 1t solely by
the Arguments used by Mr.. Sumner. Mr..
T;.h IA ~ N
favor the treaty until the selection Of |
commissioner to st. D)mingo came up for |
settlement, and when be found J. II. Ash. |
ley, Of Ohio, was not TO be the nominee he |
then oil At dice lost interest In the treaty,
until finally he placed himself in direct op.
position TO ii.
coNvERsAnoS BETWEEN GRANT AND |
SUMNER.
The conversation between President |
Grant and Mr.. Sumner took place towar |
the last of December, 1869, or the first of |
January following, and in February, Mr..
Fish said, two senator's, Csrl Schurz and
Mr.. Stwsrt, Of Neysds, gentlemen OF op. |
pos re political views, canyassed the sen.
ate and found thesreaty could not pas
that body; that it was dead. Mr.. Sumner
was not removed from the foreign affairs
committee At the reassembling OF congress
In the fall, but upon the meeting Of the
new congress 10 1911 he vas not reappoint-
ed. His term had expired. he was not re-
moved. There were good reasons for his
hahn Loft of tho ocmmittoa at thia tima
Mr.. Fish thinks. He was not at that time
on speaking terms with either the presi-
dent or the secretary of the state, a most
unpleasant state Of things to exist between
the holder Of SO important position as he
filed and the first officers Of the admins.
tration.
Mr.. SUMNER AND THE ENGLISH MISSION.
Mr.. Fish, on being asked whether he had
ever urged the English mission upon Mr..
sumner, said there was long story con.
nected with that, when he proceeded to
tell ~ folowsHe called upon Mr. Sum.
nsr one day In the spring Of 1870 and ind
Ing that gentleman In seeming distress said
to him.
"Mr. Sumner, you are Wroning yourself
to let things trouble ysu as you do. Now
that the st. Domingo treaty Is desd-the
senate has been canvasss by men ofbe.h
sides, and it can't 90 through-why don't |
you report it and have done with iu'
Mr.. sumner replied, with much emotion,
"Mr. Fish, you can't understand my silua-
ton. Your family relations are all pleas |
ant. Why, many and many night go |
to bed and almost wish that may never |
wake"
MIR. Fish advised him to seek new
scenes, told HIM he was getting morbid |
oyer his troubles and spoke OF visit to
Europe a. temporary relief. Mr.. Sum-
ner said he could not 20, as he had his
book to finish. Mr.. Fish said that need
not interfere. The Duke Of Argyll and
others In England would be glad to re-
ceive him Into their houses, where he |
would have abundant opportunity for
study and writing. MIR. Sumner then ad-
vanced the objection that he could not !
well afford the expense. Upon this Mr..
Fish says lie incautiously remarked; |
"Why not 60 as Mlnisteis"
This was said on the moment, without |
previous thought, and was the result of
Mr., Fish's warm friendship for and per.
sonal interest in Mr.. Sumner. The sec.
rotary for the instant forgot In his per-
sonal sympathy that lie was a govern,
ment officer. Mr.. Sumner, he said,
frightened up at once when this sugges. !
ton was dropped, and his eagerntss
somewhat alarmed Mr.. Fish, who then
saw that he had said too much. Mr.. |,
Sumner said he did not like to interfere
with hie friend Motley, upon which Mr..
Fish, seeing an opportunity to retrace his
steps told him he might 20 In his private
| capacity; that there would be long re-
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