The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-19
HEWITr's STORY.
That Unwritten History" Fl.
nally Brought Ont.


Special Telegram to the Commercial.
NEW YoRK, February 17.-Mr. A. 8.
Hewitt prints the following card:
To the Editor Of the Bun:
sIR-Iu view Of the gravity Of the
statement published in the Sun Of to-day,
declared to have been transmitted by
your Washington correspondent, whom /
take to be Mr.. Am. Gibson, l lose not a
moment in correcting the errors into
which he has fallen, and the more 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 nor message Of
any kind TO me, but, on the contrary, just
as was about to begin the statement
which l was unexpectedly called upon to
make to the House, l found that could
not remember the name Of Mr.. Pickett,
and seeing Mr.. Tucker In his seat l
walked over to II, and asked him TO give
the name, because he had been on the
committee before whom Pickett was a
witness. Curiously enough, he could
not recall the name, but Just then l re-
membered 1t myself, and [ returned at
once 10 my place on the floor. There was
no consultation with Mr.. Tucker nor Mr..
Randall Gibson on any subject whatever,
and il Mr.. Gibson was there / do not re-
member having seen hin.
Now as to the statement in regard to
what took place at my house on Sunday,
December 8, 1876. On that day had an
interview with President Grant, who,
among other things, declaSed his belief
in the right and duty Of the President Of
the Senate to count and declare the Elec-
toral votes. This statement l communi-
Gated on the same afternoon in confidence
10 several gentlemen with whom / felt 1t
10 be my duty to consult as to the policy
to be pursued by the Democratic mem.
bers ol Congress. Mr.. Tucker, Mr.. La
mar and Mr.. Randall Gibson were present
at that conference, but neither then, nor
at any later time, did either Of these gem
tIemen make to me any declaration Of
their views rs to the right Of the Presi-
dent Of the Senate TO count and declare
the Electoral votes. The subject was
talked over in q general way by those
present, but no one, "a far as ! remember,
announced any determination as to his
action.
Last summer, however, in Paris, in the
course OF a conversation with Mr.. Ran
dali Gibson, he told me that Mr.. Lamar
and Mr.. Tucker hsd expressed the opin-
ion 10 him at my house, that the Consii.
tuition was capable Of the construction
given by General Grant, and that they
rather inclined to the view that he was
right.
Mr.. Gibson stated that he never con.
CURED in this view, and only mentioned
it to me as curious evidence as 10 how
little that important question had been
studied even by able constitutional law
yers, He enjoined no confidence on me,
but 1 do not know that | should ever
have remembered aui repeated his re-
mark II it had not been recalled 10 me in
the course Of a conversation with your
Mr.. A, NJ. Gibson on the subject OF the
difficulties with which l had 10 contend,
and in which many other matters were
referred 10.
Ny relations with Mr.. A. NJ. Gibson
during the campaign had been very init.
mate, and / had repeatedly discussed
matters with him to which had no idea
public reference would be made. While
| am surprised that he has referred to
this matter, I do not remember that en-.
joined confidence, as, indeed, such an In
junction was not necessary, but he has
evidently confused the dates, and given q
construction 10 the conversation which |
did not intend, aud which does such great
Injustice 10 Messrs. Lamar, Tucker and
Gibson that | hasten 10 relieve them
from the conclusions which yOn have
reached in regard TO their action during
the Presidential count, which, 40 far as
my observation went, was eminently wise
and patriotic. Your obedienl servant,
ABRAM HLwlTT.
NeS York, February 10, 1873.