Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-27
GRANT AND SUMNER.

Mr.. Curtis Observation-Disclosures and
San Domingo Why Motley Was Re
mOued.
The New York Heralds report of an in
terview with Gen. Grant in Egypt contains
some statements of interest not given in the
extract sent by telegraph. Gen. Grant says
that there were errors of omission and COM
mission in the Herald letter sent from Scot
land last autumn, purporting to give an ac-
count of q conversation with him. He con-
tinues:
~ never said that Mr.. Sumner, in stating
that when he was removed from the chair
manship of the Senate committee on foreign
relations he left clean docket, asserted what
he knew to be falsehood.' The fact is,
clean docket is term that has been intro
duced by Mr.. Summers over-zealous admi-
rers to give this uncalled-for controversy
turn that would enable them to contradict
my statement successfully. What said was
entirely in relation to what had passed be-
tween Mr.. Curtis and myself in
conversation at Long Branch, when
he asked me to use my influence to have
Mr.. Sumner restored to his former position on
the foreign relations committee, Mr.. Curtis
should remember that told him that had
nothing to do with the formation of the
senate committees, and that if had would
not regard Mr.. Sumner as proper man for
that committee under the administration,
because he had put himself out of relations
between the secretary of state and myself,
and without any reason, so far as either Mr..
Fish and myself were concerned. 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.
81 said also to Mr.. Curtis that Sumner had
a most unfortunat temper for any business
transactions. He was dogmatic, opinion
ated, infallible in his own estimation-the
be all and do all in any matter in which he
took part; of temper that made business
with him almost impossible. In proof of
this stated that when Mr.. Sumner was re-
LEVIED from the craftsmanship of his com
mittee there were several treaties before
him-seven, nine, or eleven-not acted
upon. told Mr.. Curtis that some of these
! treaties had been before the committee fol
about sixteen months, and that although ]
did not know the facts, would venture the
assertion that the other members of the com,
mittee did not even know of their existence
MIR. Curtis replied that this could not be
true, as Mr.. Sumner had told him that, whe1
he was displaced, the work before his com
mittee was finished, and there was nothing
for his successor to do. I told Mr.. Curtis
that was very glad that in any question Of
| veracity between MIR. Sumner and myself il
should be upon point SO easily determined
and that he should be convinced was right
81 at once wrote to the State department
for list of the treaties and conventions be.
: fore the committee on foreign relations al
Z the time of Mr.. Summers removal, their ma
ture, tn time they had been under consid-
Grafton by the committee, and their fna
disposition. The reply from the state de-
partment showed that there were as far as
can recollect now, twelve treaties anc
, conventions, and that of these twelve two
had been before the committee for about six
teen months. see that Gov. Fish says
there we're nine; bu! my recollection is tha
the number was twelve. sent the list tina
came from the State department. to Mr.. Cur
It's. He can answer whether was right o.
not, and if he cannot, then the Hon. j. C
Bancroft Davis can. Mr.. Davis was acting
secretary of state at the time, and answered
my letter"
"The pretext,' said the general, .'that
dislike Mr.. Motley is pretext invented By
! people some of whom, like Mr.. Jay, hatee
him when living, and now only use him
: when dead, to wound Gov. Fish and myself
Other friends of Sumner seem to regard hin
as made of different material from othe
men, 1t is proper enough for Mr.. Sumner
when living, and his admirers, when dead, t,
> attack Gov. Fish and myself-to fill the al
] with maledictions and excavations. Blu
? when one word of defense is made agains
? abuse it ia not to be tolerated.