Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-22
HEWITT's STORY.

That "Un,rrittcn Story Finally brought
out.
New York, Feb. 16, 187S.-10 the Edttor
of the .Sun-S1R: In view of the gravity of
the statement published in the Sun of to-day,
declared to have been transmitted by your
Washington correspondent whom l take to
be Mr.. A. NJ Gibson, lose not moment in
correcting the errors into which he has fall
len and the most serious deductions of the
editorial article which comments upon this
statement In the course of the debate on
Wednesday last Mr.. Tucker sent no page or
message of any kind to me- but on the con-
trary, Just as 1 was about to begin the state
| ment which / was unexpectedly called upon
! to make to the House. found that / could
not remember the name of Mr.. Pickett, and,
seeing Mr.. Tucker in his seat l walked over
| to it and asked him to give the name. be-
| cause he had been on the committee before
whom Pickett was a witness. Curiously
enough, he could not recall the name, but
| lust then rendered it myself, and l re-
turned at once to my place on the floor.
| There was no consultation with Mr.. Tucker,
nor Mr.. Randall Gibson, on any subject
whatever, and if Mr., Gibson was there. | do
not remember having seen him.
Now as to the statement in regard to what
took place at my house on Sunday, Dec. 3.
1876. On that day l had an interview with
President Grant, who, among other things,
declared his belief in the right and duty OF
! the President of the Senate to count and de-
! clare the electoral votes. This statement l
communicated on the same afternoon In con-
fidence to several gentlemen with whom l
felt it to be my duty to consult as to the
| policy to be pursued by the Democratic
members of Congress. Mr.. Tucker. Mr..
Lamar and Mr.. Randall Gibson were pres
ent at that conference, but neither then nor
at any later time, did either of these gentle
men make to me any declaration of their
views as to the right of the President of the
Senate to count and dec are the electoral
votes. The subject was talked over IN gen
erel way by those present, but no one. as lar
as can remember, announced any deter
mination as to his action.
Last summer. however, in Paris, IN the
course of a conversation with MI. handaL
Gibson. he told me that Mr.. Lamar and MI.
Thicker had expressed the opinion to him at
the meeting at my house that the constltu-
ton was capable of the construction given By
Gen. Grant, and that they rather inclined to
view that he was right.
Mr.. Gibson stated that he never concurreo
in this view, and only mentioned it to me as
: curious evidence as 10 10" llttie tiIa' III
portant question had then been studied ever
by able constitutional lawyers. He enjoinet
no confidence on me, but do not know tina
; should ever have remembered and repeated
/, his remark IL it had not been recalled to NJ
. in the course of conversation with Jon
!, correspondent, Mr.. A. NJ. Gilbert on the sub
!. iect of the difficulties with which ! had t
! contend and in which many other matter
were referred to.
e NY relations with Mr. A. NJ. Gibson dun
j, ing the campaign had been very intimate
: and l had repeatedly discussed matters wit
% him to which I had no idea public referene
), would be made. While am surprised tia
= he has referred to this matter, do not r.
- member that enjoined confidence, as. II
4 deed, such an injunction was not necessar
but he has evidently confused the dates, an
given construction to the conversation
o. did not intend, and which does such gre
= injustice to Messrs. Lamar, Tucker and I'll
tb son, that hasten to relieve them from Il
conclusions which you have reached in I