National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-23

for the reputation Of the dead Senator, II
the General thought proper to confute their
assertions, then he Is charged with SANDER
ing the dead. He justly says: "If respect
Is due to the dead, truth and justice are due
to the living
Regarding the st. Domingo treaty the
General said:
II is possible that but for Mr.. SUMMERS
opposition Ito the st. Domingo treaty he
would never have been removed from
the chairmanship of the Committee on
Foreign Relations. But il that opposi-
ton had anything to do with the estrange-
ment Of Mr.. SUMNER aud myself, the fault was
his and not mine. made no question: with
Senators who opposed st. Domingo. i recog-
nizcd on that question, as l did always, that
Senator had his independent duty and respon-
sibility, the same as an Executive.
He then alluded to the violent and per-
sistent opposition of Senator EDMUNDs to
the treaty, and the long-continued friend
ship and esteem that still exists between
that Senator AMI himself
The same could be said of Mr.. WILSON
and Others. In reply to the suggestion that
Mr.. SUMNER had given anIimplied promise
to support the treaty, General GRANT said,
with some earnestness:
There Is another misapprehcnsion. 1t is said
| that made my visit to Mr.. SUMNER about
January |, 1870, to try and induce him to sup.
port tho 81. Domingo treaty. ! never thought
of such u thing. | had no idea that the treaty
would meet with opposition from him or any
one else. called simply out Of respect to the
position Mr.. SUMNER held rs the head Of the
Committee on Foreign Relations, and TO
! Ill. Al. - = -
| ing negotiated should have been kept from
the public and from Congress until that time,
and to explain to him also the reports brought
back by the agents of che Government who
had visited the island as to the resources OF
st. Domingo its soil, the character Of the pco.
pie, their wishes in regard to annexation, and
other points. The question Us to whether OF
not he would support the treaty was asked by
Colonel FoRNEY, who happened to be present
You see called as Mr. SUMNER was finishing
his dinner, and Colonel FoRSEy was one Of
the guests. He rose to leave when ] entered
but | asked him to remain. When | had
finished my statement Colonel FoRSEY said
"Of course, Mr.. SUMNER, you will supper,
this treaty" or some such thing don't re
member the words. If had any doubts as t.
the course of Mr.. SUMNER in relation to the
treaty the answer would have been very salts
factory. ] may MS we'll say that during thi,
conversation, after had finished what cam,
to say about ST. Domingo, Mr.. SUMNER opened
about his friend ASHLEY rs he callet
him, and asked me If could not do some
thing for him. II would be quite as prOpc
for me TO charge that Mr.. SUMSER's subsequent
opposition to the treaty WAS due to his disap
pointmcnt in not procuring good position TO
his friend rs it is for the admirers of Mr.. Sum
SER 10 make charges against Governor FIST
and myself of improper motives in our differ
cucc with the Senator. The charge would b.
much more susceptible Of proof without chang
Ing facts To accommodate argument. But d,
not charge improper motives in this matter
and sincerely believe that | would do tn,
memory of Mr. SUMNER great injustice If
did.
We have given considerable space to thi
NATTER because il was right here in thi
city that all the scenes here described &C
Cured, and we are quite willing to lcav,
the matter to the cool Judgment of tn
friends of all parties whether the who'll
bearing and frank explanations of this mat
ter by General GRANT have not been Ell
tircly to his credit. He has always BEEF
tender of the feelings and the reputation
of Others, whether living or dead, regardless
of consequences to himself And for thi
his friends admire and honor him.