The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-10-16
OH Balll|:letin,e., !.
CHARLES SUMNER.
John W. fOrney ADDS an ExpiRnR-
? lion 10 tne PERSONAL HistOry OF
Grants Administration. 'f''" "A


Philadelphia Press.
The ex-Prcsidont's charge that Mr. ,sum-
ner was untruthful, says the Boston.C Com
m0npealH, had Its rise in the matter OF tire
annexation Of 81. Domingo. The story OF
that misunderstanding is an interesting
| one Mr. Sumner was dining one Sunday
evening A. his own house, with John W.
Forney, and Ben Perley poore, who the
president was announced with his mes-
sage that he very much desired to confer
with the sen tor on an important matter.
The dinner being nearly concluded the
senator sent word he would see the presi-
dent at once. Upon this Mr. Poore rose
aud retired. Mr. Forney was leaving the
room n, the president was saishered 10.
|'Don't co." said the president. ~ should
ike to have you remain and here what
have to say" The Colonel accordingly re-
edseat himself: and the senator and himself
composed themseli TO hear the presidents
communication. General Grant then said
ne had been thinking E good deal about the
anne xalion Of 1t. Domingo to the United
State; the country had been offered to the
United States; /. was fruitful In many pro.
ducts that we needed, and, moreover, it
was eminently fitted for o naval and coal.
Ing station. II would prove an important
outpost In case Of war; and, in short, the
Advantages were all In favor, as he looked
Att, ofits acquisition. "NJw, am told"
continne the president, "that you are
chairman ofthe judiciary committee, be.
fore whom such matters come, and that II
you will aid it the thing can be accomplish.
cd" T1e senator Interrupted by saying be
was charm IN OF the Foreign Relations
Committee, Iot OF the judiciary, and that
that committee would have such a matter
In charge. The president accepted the
correction Though he subsequently several
times made the same mlstake), and contin.
ned the advocacy with much earnestness
finally appealing to the senator to person.
ally aid him. The senator answered these
strong entreat les with--"Well Mr., presi
dent, am Republ lean, and an admins
tration man, and will do all can proper.
iyto make your administration success.
will give the subject my best thought,
and will do all can rightly aud conds tent.
ly to aid YOU The interview soon after
ended, and the president withdrew.
tlTrue, all true, as far a. 1t goes; bu, the
omitted fact Is that both President Grant
aud myself believe that Mr.. Sumner in.
tended TO support the ST. Domingo schsm
after the conversation here referred to. |
wrote In that belietln my paper, theWash-
lagoon Daily Chronicle, on the Sunday night
Wien Loft nj. Summers mouse after this
interview, and continued to DO so in tina;
paper and the Prcss. The president called
on me, when Mr. Sumner subsequently at
lacked the St. Domingo project, for my
opinion OF his understanding with the SEN
ator, and sustained Gen. Grants view
over my own name. But this did not pro.
duee any difference in my relations with Mr.
Summer. lie simply explained that he had
been misunderstood by both OF US, and We
remained as iatimate as ever. That expla.
nation ought to have been sufficient for
Gen. Grant as more than once said 20 him.
There was. no bad faith about Summers
course. ! thought, with the president,
that he had agreed to support the St. Dom.
lingo acquisition, but Mr., Sumner TOOK the
ground that he had only consented to con.
side the subject, With little more medi-
tation on both sides the two men could
have been reconciled; but they were con.
trolled, especially Gen. Grant, by some
politicians, who wanted to produce rup-
ture between the prsldent and the senator.
| tried to compose the trouble, but failed
the quarrel had gone too far. 1t is not
pleasant to reopen these wounds, now that
the grave has closed over the illus,rious
senator; but / solemnly believe that there
never lived purer, better, or more truth.
iul man than Charles Sumner, He had hia
faults, but he never violated promise, de.
serted. a friend, or uttered falsehood.
j. W. F