Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-22
The Grant-Sumner Squabble.

The Grant-Sumner Sqnabbie'
NEW York, Feb % The controversy r.
garding Senator Sumter ani Minister M'tfy
is revived by the publicat i"u OF another '"ter'
view with General Grrut. at Cairo" Esyp', IL
is 10 answer to the ar:i.la by Geors" W. Curtis
published 10 Harpcr's, December s. 1871, anu
which tho General claims does him al ~ lal'ce'
He saws II did not accuse Mr. Sumner I'll
knowingly and Intentionally fslsilying the facs.
That is too grave an imputatlon ~ be aane
against any man unless upon lndubitah'n o'l,
deucs of 40 intent to deceive. But what saId
then and what say now n that MIR. SUM
per's temper and nature were such That no nn-
lieved his own illusions without regard 10 inc
facts. 1t really almost amounted to mental &C.
fusion and 80 far as his feelings toward cover.
Dor Fish and myself were concerned. 1t IL most
charitable to feel that it was mental delualou.
Thus in the later years of bis life whenever my
name was mentioned 10 Mr.. Summers presence
he would lose all control Of himself and say
things about me of the scvcrest aud most out
rageous naturc-things of which he could net
by apy possibility have had knowledge even
if thew had been true. told MIR. Curtis OF
ono incident showing how Mr.. Summers tem'
ner and nature were affected. This is 40 IDOL.
dent which can also be verified. a House bill
had passcd Congress during reconstruction
times. This bill was popular with the adml'
rers of Mr.. Sumner ami it originated 10 tho COM
mittce of which MIR. Boutwell, vas chairman:
II happcncd that Mr.. Boutwell,. who you will
remember took leading part in the legislation
uDon reconstruction, was almost, II not alto.
gether the author OF this bill, and had written
i out without consulting any one, except per
hans another member OF the committee. Not
Withstapdipg this Mr.. Sumner told MIR. Bout.
we'll that he MR. Sumner) had prepared that
bill, every word and every line himself and had
passed it through Congress. Now this is not
the conduct of liar, but that of a man whose
mind by sorrow or suffering or some visitation
of Providence Lad become disempered, and
have always SO interpreted the conduct OF MIR.
Sumner toward me. | have 20 animosity to.
ward him or to his memory, but his admirers or
people who now pretend to be his admirers use
his name and memory to attack me. TIC says
that John Jay makes preteXt OF eul0glzlng
the dead to attack Gov. Fish. Ii any one hated
Mr.. Sumner it was Mr.Jay. At the time OF the
appointment of Mr.. Motley as Minister to Eog'
land, MIR. Jay wanted to 60 to England and was
sorely disappointed that change would not be
made 10 his favor even after MIR: Motley had
been fully assured Of his appointment, Mr.
Jay most probably forgave MIR. Sumner before
the Senator'S death, but be blamed him Tor his
failure to 90 to London. Speaking Of Mr.
Motley the General said that ne had the
kindest feelings toward him and if he
were called upon to speak of him he
would pay high tribute to his character and
qualifications. If respect is due to the dead,
truth and iustcs are duo to the living, and 1
onlv smoke 10 self defence, and after many
years of silent submission to assaults from Dir.
Sumner and bis friends, only 10 the interest OF
truth and Justice
1T is possible" said the General. that but
for MIR. Sumner opposition to the st. Domingo
treaty, he would never have reen removed
from tho Guardianship Of the Committee
on Foreign Relations But if that opposition
had anything to do with the enlargement of
Mr.. Sumner and myself the fault was his and
not minc My relations with Mr.. Edmunds
and his colleague, with Mr.. Wilson and numer-
Gus other Senators who opposed the st. Domin-
20 treaty were never disturbed for moment.
1t is said that made my visit to Mr.. Sumner
about January /. 1870, to try and advise him
to support the st. Domingo treaty. never
thought Of such thing. | had DO idea that
the treaty would meet with opposition from
him or any ono else. [ called simply out Of re-
spect to the position Mr.. Sumner held as the
head of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and to explain Why the fact Of such treaty
being negotiated should have been kept from
the public and from Congress until that time,
aud to explain TO him also the reports brought
back by the agents Of the government who had
visited the island rs to the resources of st. Do.
mingo, its soil, the character of the people.
their wishes in regard to annexation and other
fInrn mi bot
would support tho treaty, was asked by Col.
Forney, who happened to DO present. | called
as Mr.. Sumner was finishing his dinner, and
CO.. Forncy was one Of The guests. lie rose
to leave when entered, but asked him to
remain. When | had flashed my statement
COL Forncy said of course Mr.. Sumner yon
will support this treaty ''or some such thing |
don remember the words. II had any doubt
az to the course of Mr.. Sumner 10 relation to
the treaty the answer would have been very
satisfactory. may az we'll say that during this
conversation, after had finished what | came
to say about St. Domingo, Mr.. Sumner opened
about his friend Ashley, as he called him, and
asked if could not do something for him. 1t
would be quite as proper for me to charge that
Mr.. Summers suhiequent opposition to tho
treaty was due to his disappointment 10 not
procuring good position for his friend as it is
for the admirers Of Mr. Sumner to make
charges against Governor Fish and myself of
improper motives IN our difference with the
Senator. The charge would be much more
susceptible of proof without charging facts to
accommodate argument. But do not charge
improper motives 10 the matter and sincerely
believe that | would do this memory of MIR.
Sumner great injustice if did"
Local BreVILles.
The trial of Major f. H. Curtis. alias Ed
ward Raw charged with outraeing Miss Tyd-