New-York tribune., 1878-02-18
Mr.. HEwITTs CHAPTER OF HISTORY.

French statue of Liberty.
MR.. HEwITTs CHAPTER OF HISTORY.
A SENSATIONAL STORY AS TO WHAT Mr.. HEWITT
MEANT TO TELL ON WEDNESDAY, BUT DID NOT
-DENIALs.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE latest sensational
story in connection with the electoral count IL 10
the effect that Mr. Abram S. Hewitt In an inter-
view which he had with General Grant, on the 50
of December, 1876, learned that the latter would
ace TO il that whoever might be declared by the
President of the Senate to have been elected PTesi
dent of the United States would be inaugurated,
even if it was necessary TO resort to force that
after this had been communicated to Messrs.
Randall L. Gibson, Randolph Tucker, L. Q.
&. Lamar and other Southern Representatives,
the gentlemen named held conference and
subsequently informed Mr.. Hewitt that they would
be compelled to sustain that construction OF the
Constitution which invested the President OF the
Senate with the power to count the electoral
votes and declare the result Ii is also inSlnuated
that when Mr. Hewitt offered on Wednesday last 10
give chapter of unwritten history, he was about to
tell of his interview with President Grant, and the
subsequent determination of the Southern men
named not to resist the Presidents Interpretation OF
the Constitution. Mr.. Hewitt is not in Washington
but he has telegraphed to a friend that he has de-
has furnished for publication
In addition TO this the reporters OF The Sunday
GGzctc have obtained the following written denIals
from the Southern Representatives ramed: Mr..
Tucker saws: =" 1t is true that was at Mr.. HewtVs
house. with many members of Congress. before the
meeting OF Congress in December, 1876. What twas
then and there disclosed by Mr. Hewitt or said by
any other person than myself DO not feel at liberty
TO state. Whether separate consultation between
General Gibson Mr.. Lamar and myself occurred, l
do not recall; do l know what General Gibson
said 10 Nh. Hewitt. Whatever he said he believed
to be true His honor and truth need ndOrse-
ment from me. But that | ever said j
would be compelled to sustain the power of the
President OF the Senate TO count the votes and
declare the result is utterly without any foundation
So far from that, had examined the whole Ques-
ton before coming to Washington at that session,
and came to the conclusions which, without materi
al notification sustained in speech January 23
1877, and especially on the point Of the absolute
want Of all power in the President of the Senate to
count the votes or declare the result. Inevcr held,
but always repudated, that idea, as without
any constitutional warrant whatever, and as
wholly unteDable in reason, or supported
bv the history of the Constitution. Mr..
Hewitt came TO my seat and asked the
name of a witness who had testified before the COM
mittee on the electoral question. He said he meant
the witness who had disposed of Confederate ar
chiyes to the Government. told him it was Pick
EFT. That was all. ! gave him no counsel unless
perhaps, as often 10 to others under like circun-
stances to keep cool" General Gibson and l. with
Others were not IN any conference about the matlef
with Mr. Hewitt. / certainly did not advise him to
withhold anything from his statement, nor dld
know what he was going 70 say"
Mr. Gibson said OF the reports There IS not a
word of truth in them. Mr. Hewitt did not inform
me- as | recollect that President Grant held the
opinion that the presiding officer OF the Senate lad
the constitutional right TO count and declare the
votes of the Electors for President and that he had
resolved to enforce by arms or IN any manner this
determination Of the disputed election. My Whole
course, from beginning to end, was controlled by
the conviction that the presiding Olhcer OF the
Senate had only ministerial duties to perform
under the Constitution, and could only count
the votes when their validity was passed upon by
the Congress. IL any man i'll Washington, or else
where. was more anxious 10 see Samuel j. Inden IN
stalled President than was, 0Id not near OF
him. So much for that. was engaged IN the ways
and Means Committee Room during the discussion
ON Wednesday. and did not come into the House nn-
ii, towards the close of it nor did know that Mr..
Hewitt had spoken until aliusion was made to his
remarks by subsequent speakers. lie dld not on
that occasion, has he since consulted with me III
company with MIR. Tucker or separately, IN relation
Senator Lamar said: "The statement is without
any foundation IN fact. No sucb statement of Cen
eral Grants purpose was made by Mr. Hewitt in my
presence No such separate consultation, that can
recall. ever took place between Messrs Gibson,
Tucker and myself and no such purpose on our part
was expressed"
There is probably no unwritten history of events
connected with the last Presidential campaign worth
telling unless it be perhaps in regard to the efforts
Of agents. or pretended agents. of Governor TildeD
10 purchase from the Louisiana Returning Board a
report favorable to the Democrats. This lead, if in
dnstriously worked may result in disclosures. No
other is likely to- 1t should be said that none OF the
stories that have been aloat just beneath the sur
face of political gossip for the last year, connect
hlr. Hcwitt's name with any negotiation of this
kind.
A FRIEND OF THE POLICY no LONGER.
EUGENE HALE INTENDING TO CRITICIsE 1T SEVERE
LY IN A SPEECH NOW PREPARING.
lpY IFLRGRAPH THE TRIBuNKI