New-York tribune., 1877-01-01
AN HOUR WITH GEN. GRANT.
HK CONSIDERS HAYEs's ELECTION AssURED-No
NEED TO CALL THE NEXT HOUSE IOdETHER-
HIS VIEWS ON THE SITUATION.


NEED TO CALL THE MKT HOUSE IOdETiER-
HIS VIEWS ON THE SITUATION.
lBT TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l
WAsHINGTON, Dec. 31.-Tho President spent an
| hour this afternoon in conversation wItn news
paper correspondent the present aspects OF tho
political situation He said that lac had received no
letters kilograms from the three Southern states
In which contests have been going on for at least 10
days; this fact proved to him that most
| satisfactory condition Of affairs exists there
30 far as the results of the recent cleo
tions are concerned; Cows. Chambcr!in,
stearns aud Kellogg have made no request OF
him during that time for assistance in any shape
whatever aud this leads him to think that they
feel implicit confidence in their ultimate success
but while be has held correspondence
With the authorities Of these Southern States.
he says he has heard directly from them
throug, persons requested to 10 there and who
have jus. returned. He seemed pleased that
the success of the Republican electors in
South Carolina Is assured and all
mitted by the Democrats, and expressed
tho opinion that the ,-oof Of irregularities III
the election in Edgefeld County is sufficient
To vitiate il and 10 war. at the rejection
of it's returns. under the law OF the
State In this county, nc said, oIrial ."Dorts show
that armed bands of nOn-rrsldentI of ~, county
took possession Of tie polling places posted ,'ck-
cts to p,.ycnt Interference with their proce'dnL
and voted a. often a. they pleased, but al
lowed no else TO vote except ~ they
dictated in fact, he said, they seemed to
have had good time generally, aud that
when the returns from that county were made up
and sent TO Columbia 10 bc canyasscd by the state
Board they showed that about twice rs many votes
had been east aS there we're voters ~ the county.
The President said that the reports he ha- r""I'cd
from Florida show that the face of IN" rtnin' ~
originally made up the Hayes and Wheeler electors
had majority Of ~. 4 subsequent examination OF
them disclosed error in additions wh'h when
corrected gave Tdcn aud Icndrck, l:iS maIority;aS
theinyestigation proceeded Was further discovered
that in one of tlrc counties there had been regis
traton OF other requisite legal steps taken Ia hold
an elections this county gave TIden more than 2iO
majority. but was thrown ont in strict compliance
with the provisions of the election law of tha; state
thus giving TO Hayes and Wheeler majority Of
more than 100.
OF Louisiana. Gen. Grant said it the
oupion OF every ono who had Dech
there and with whom he had subsequently
convcrsGl on the subject that the action OF the Re
turning Board under the law IS hnal and that no
appeal from itS decision can be taken II" remarked
that there always has been tioubln in Louisiana,
and that on account of the frauds committed al
elections in that state its electoral vote has not
1850. President Grant Becms TO have no ap-
prehcnsion of any trouble on the meet
ing of the Louisiana Legislature and
the Inauguration Of Packard tomorrow. in this
connection it may BE- said that 1t has been ascer-
tanned that the Orders issued to the military COM
mandant at New-Orlcans in 1872 have not since
been modified in any particular In case OF disturb
ancc the military authorities will certainly iuter-
ferc for the protection of life and property and the
preservation Of the peace.
In speaking of the late election in the Su'h gem
orally, the President repeated What he has said be-
fore on one OCCASION namely that he does not think
a fair election, wherl the people came To the polls
and voted as they pleased, as they would DO in New
England has taken place in any of the Southern
States except perhaps in Delaware. He thinks that
il free election could have been held in Marylandat ~
least three Republican Representatives could have
been elected to Congress from that state. In Mis-
sissIpp he believes the Republican majority to bc
nj least 35 600 whereas thc Democratic minority
returned for the recent election was 0S,OOo.
In Alabama aud Arkansas he has no DOUBT
that there is also legitimate Republ,.n
majority. Commenting on the intensity OF
political feeling in large portion Of the South, he
EXPRESSED IN belief that if by any means the ma
tiona contest shall finally be settled in favor Of Gov
Tilden no Republican State C1vrrnment in the
South would be able to stand for ~ hours. The
Uemocratic contestants in South Carolina and
Louisiana will no doubt. he sad, hold
on until the Presidential contest is finally
disposed of; if it becomes apparent that
Gov HAYES will be the next President, the
Democrats will submit and cease their active oppo-
siton to the Republican state Governments: II, on
the other hand, Gov. 1idrn is declared to be the
President they will at proceed 10 assert them
selves and the Republican ic.aS will be fortunate
if they are allowed 10 leave the State ut all.
The President spok, of liampton's letter to Gov
HAYES which be had read IN the wspapers ycstrr
day He was evidently not fayurably Impressed by
it, and remarked that it IN strict Keeping with
the other acts of Hampton. He docs not think.
however, that any legal authority for re-
versal of the decision Of the South Carolina
election can be found. The canvass by the Log
islaturr, which was authorized 10y law to declare
the result of the vote for Governor and other state
officials could be set aside, ard It seemed to him
chat in spite of anything the Democrats may do the
success Of Chamberlain has been definitely settled
The President had something TO say in regard to
the counting Of the electoral vote and the differ
enccs Of opinion now existing between the two
houses Of Congress rs to the mode in which thlS
shall be done He said that while he has no dspo-
stion ~ pass Judgment the merits Of this contro-
versy il seems to HIM rs # the dccs OF H. and the
consequent announcement of the the election
will not take place before on the 4th OF March,
1877 at winch time his term of Office Will expire.
He believes that the Constitution and the la" give