The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-17
THE SOUIHERNERs and THE Ell &c
TORIL COME
Letter from the Hon. Abram y. Hewitt-MTr.
Hnndin =. Gibson was not In Favor OF uie
Comm by the rresIdcni of the SennIe.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sr: In view
oftho gravity Of the statement published in THii
SrN OF to-day. declared to have been transmit
ted hy Your Washington correspondent. whom
take 10 be- Mr. \. VI. Gibson. | lose not II mo-
ment 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
las, Mr.. Tucker sent no page or message Of any
kind TO mo. but. on the contrary. Just a. was
about Ia begin the statement which was unex-
pe'tedly called upon 10 make TO the House.
found that could not remember the name Of
Mr. Pickett. ana seeing Mr.. Tucker in his seat.
| waisrd over 10 II. asked him TO give me- the
name. because he had been on the committee
be,or whom Pickett was witness. Curiously
enough he could not recall the name. but Just
then remembered myself and returned at
once to my place on the floor. There was no
consultation with Mr.. Tucker nor Mr. Randall
Gibson on any subject Whatever. and If Mr..
Gibson was there | do not remember having
seen him.
Now. a. 10 the statement in regard to what
took ulasc M my house ON sunday. Dec. g. 1876.
On that day had an interview with President
Grant. who. among other things. declared his
n-licf In the ri.,lt anl duty of the President Of
the seng,' To- count and declare the electoral
votes. This stat mcnt communicated on the
same AT moon, in cunhlrnre. to several gen
tem"n. with whom | felt II TO be myduty to con-
suit as To the policy ,o be- pursued by the Demo-
"lHtic members 81 Congress. Mr.. Tucker. Nj
Lamar. and Mr. Raninli Gibson were present
nt ,nut conference. but neither then. nor at any
inter tlme. did either of these gentlemen make
- mo amy Declaration OF their views ~ 10 the
viz h., al TIM MI.
tr''Nr. the electoral votes. The subject was
tuA"d over in u general way by those present.
lut no one. $50 larHs remember. announced
any determination as to his gctiou.
Last summer. however. in Paris. in the course
81 u conversation with Mr.. Randall Gibson. he
told me that Mr.. Lamar and Mr.. Tucker had
cNpr, e-rd the opinion to him at the meeting nj
my house that the Constitution was capable of
The constitution given hy Gen. Grant. aud that
they rather inclined 10 the view that he was
r-ht. MIR. Gibson stated that he never con-
CURED in this view and only mentioned it to me
a~ curious evidence as to how little that i'm
portant question had then been studied even by
able constitutional lawyers. He enjoined no
confidence on mo. but do not know that |
should ever have remembered and repeated his
| remark If it had not been recalled to me in tina
coursn Of Il conversation with your Mr.. A. VI.
]
with which | had had to contend. ana
! iu which many other matters were referred to-
! My relations with Mr.. \. VI. Gibson during the
| campaign had been very intimate. and | have
repeatedly discussed matters with him TO which
| had no idea public reference would be made
! While am surprised that he has referred t.
! this matter, do not remember that onjoncd
confidence. as, indeed. such m Injunction was
not necessary, but he has evidently confused
| the dates and given n construction to the con
versation which | did not intend and which
! does such great injustice 10 Messrs Lamar
Tucker. and Gibson. that hasten to relicv,
them from the conclusions which you have
reached in regard to their action during the
Presidential count. which, SO far ms my obserya
ton went was emnently wise and patriotic.
Your obedent servant. ABRAM s. HEWITT.
! NEW YORK. Feb. IL. 1873.