Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-02
GRANT AND SUMMER.

VUSVb NV OVWWSh. L
Mr.. Csrtis' Observation-Disclosures and
San Deoingo.-why Motley Was Re-.
nsved
The New York Herald's report of an In.
tetvlew with Gen. Grant in Egypt con-
tains some statements Of interest not given
In the extract sent BY telegraph. Gen.
Grant says that there were errors of omis.
sion and commission in the Herald letter
sent from Scotland last autumn, %purportinR
10 give an account OF a conversation With
him. He continues:
Il never said that Mr.. Sumner, in stating
that when he was removed from the chair.
mansbip Of the senate committee on foreign
relations he left a clean docket, asserted
what he knew to be a %falsehood.' The
fact is, clean docket Is . term that has
been introduced by Mr.. Summers over.
Jealous admirers to give this uncalled.fo
controversy Z turn that would enable them
to contradict my statement successfully.
What l said was entirely in relation to
what had passed between Mr.. Cults and
myself In q conversation at Long Branch.
when he asked me 10 use my influence to
have Mr.. Sumner restored TO his former DO
sition on the foreign relation committee.
MIR. Curtis should rcmeniHr that l told
him that had nCtaing to do with the for.
nation OF the senate committee, and that il
| had | would not regard Mr. Sumner as a
proper man for that committee under the
administration, because he had put him.
self out Of relation between the secretary of
state and myself, without any reason, so
as either Mr.. Fish or myself were concern.
ed. I told Mr.. Curtis that the chairman of
that committee above all others should be
on good terms at least with the secretary Of
state"
~ said also to Mr.. Curtis that Sumner
had a most unfortunate temper for any bust
ness transactions. He was dogmatic, opin.
donated, infallible in his own estimation
the be all and do all in any matter in which
he took part; Of a temper that made bust
ness with him almost impossible. In proc
Of this ! stated that when Mr.. Sumner wa
relieved from the Craftsmanship of his com
mittee there were several treaties befor,
him-seven, nine, eleven-not acted upon
| told Mr.. Curtis that some Of these treatie
had been before the committee for abou
sixteen months, and that although l did no
know the facts, l would venture the asser
ton that the other members of the commit
tee did not even know uf their existence
Mr.. Curtis replied that this could no, b.
true, az Mr.. Sumner told me that, when h
was displaced, the work before his commit
tee was finished, and there was nothing fo
his successor to do. l told Mr.. Curtis tbs
was very glad that in any question Of v.
, racity between Mr.. Sumner and myself
2 should be upon a point SO easily determined
and that he should be convinced l wa
right"
II at once wrote to the state departmer
. for . list of the treaties and conventions b
- foro tko ~, ~ :tx,o IN So.a;U, ,nlo,;oo - ~
. time of Mr.. Summers removal, their natur
ton by the committee and their fnal dep
sition. The reply from the state depar
ment showed that there were, az far as l ca
l tons, and that of these twelve two had bee
before the committee for about six,ee
months. 1 see that Gov. Fish says the
were nine; but my recollection is that Il
number was twelve. l sent the list III
came from the state department to Mr.. Gu
tbs. He can answer whether l was right
not, and if he cannot then the Hon. j.
Bancroft Davis can. Mr.. Davis was actil
secretary Of state at the time, and answer,
my letter."
"The p~retext," said the general. that
dislike Mr.. Motley is a prete1t invented
people some of whom, like Mr.. Jay, hat
him when living, and now only use biz
when dead, to wound Gov. Fish and myse
Other friends Of Mr.. Sumner seem to rega
him a. made of different material fre
y other men. 1t is proper enough for n
Sumner, when living, and his admire
when dead, to attack Gov. Fish and mys
TO fill the air with maledictions and e,
crations, but when one word of defense
made against abuse it is not to be tole
toJ