The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-01-18
,.
WHAT PRESIDENT GRANT SAYS.
He Desires Fair GoHBg aud VIII hec@@hisr
whoever ta Declared Elected.

President Grant, ia a conversation
with a representative of the New York
Associated Press, said that be had no
knowledge Of q Democratic armed con
spirney South or West, as had been re.
ported. He had information merely Of
organized rife companies outside of the
State militia, but he Vaa not apprehen'
siye Of armed collisions in eo9lnecilon
with the Presidency, no matter what
might be the fears of Others. II seeined
" him that the people desired only a fair
count of the electoral vote in the contest
ed Southern States ia order % he salts
fed 81 the result The reports Of the
several committees now there would ahed
light on the true condition 0l Affairs,
and have a tendency to solve existing
difficulties. Ii WmS certainly desirable b.
establish the actual fact of the election Of
either Hayes or Tilden, he said for
neither could feel satisfied II any doubt
remained Of bis election, because N such
case his position ms President would not
command the requisite general support
The President said that no one could
suppose that he had any connection with
or relation b the declaration II who Was
elected That was not a matter for him
10 determine. He was now anxious, be
said, for the coming Of the fourth Of
March, when he would gladly give way
TO his successor; aud, freed from Official
cares, before re-establihhing himself IN
his home az GAlena, Ill, where he owns
a house, he proposed making q trlp 70
the West Indies, visiting Havana and
other points u interest He has de-
ierred his voyage 10 Europe until june,
for the reason that his youngest son,
Jesse. whom he wishes TO accompany
him, will not graduate before that time.
The President said that during hrs two
terms Of Office lis health had been very
good, aud II was now excellent
Recurring % the recent election, he
said that lac should promptly recognize
whoever should be declared his Eucces-
sor. With tins his political feelings
would have nothing 10 DO. II would be
rec0llecied thai, several years ago, dur
ing the gubernatorial contest IN the State
Of Arkansas, and with both parties rep
resenting their respective cases 81 Wash
ington. he recognized the Democrat IN
preference 30 the Republican. because,
by legal representation, the former was
entitled 90 the position. While IL was
true that the Presidential term begun on
the fourth Of March. il did not neees-
sarily follow that the President elect
should defer taking the oath of Office
until that time He might take IL imme-
diately after the declaration Of his cleo
tion: but, Of course, could not enter on
the performance Of his duties as Presi-
dent until the fourth Of March, the day
of retirement of his predecessor.
The President intends replying 10 the
House resolution calling for iniforTna-
ton ragirding the sending Of troops %
the South, aud the authority under
which he acted IN 80 doing In al such
proceedings he said he endeavored b
keep within the limits oi the law. having
alnuys previous 10 acting consulted the
attorney general. his legal adviser; and,
besides the Democratic House of Repre-
sentatives, during n former session oi
Congress. e1nphatically declared that al
citizens of the United Stutes should he
equally protected. lie added. in regard
10 the complaints concerning the sending
nf troops 20 the South for the above
mentioned purpose, that IL would be rec
Objected that Gen. Frank Blair wanted
troops sent thither for different object.
saving in his letter 30 Col Brodhead, in
Juns of 1855. that there Ngs but one way
% restore the government and Constitu-
ton, and that was for the President elect
10 declare the Reconstruction act mil
and void. and compel the army 20 undo
the alleged usurpations ct the South,
and to leave the white people TO reoI-
ganiEe their oEn governments. Surely,
said the President, If the army, accord
ing Ia Gen. BLAIR, could be used % wipe
out the governments. il could, III my
opinion, be employed 20 support them.
The Democratic national convention.
after this letter was written. nominated
Gen. Blair for Vice President on the
ticket with Gov Seymour