National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-23
A CORRECTION
The Evening STAR in ErrOr-Grant's
Appointment of Simmons.

To the Editor OF THE REPUBLICAN:
l observed in the Star of Saturday even
ing the Dist instant, singularly erroneous state
ment which indicates that it is not exactly, the
Sur asserts, ." the memory of General Grant" but
the memory of the editor of the Star that is short"
That paper states that both the Massachusetts Sem
ators " earnestly protested against" the appoint
ment Of William A. Simmons as collector of the
DOR of Boston, and insisted upon its withdrawal"
Now l affirm that this is totally untrue, and 1
know whereof speak. The truth of the whole
matter is just this:
First-Senator Boutwell,, in the executive session
at which Simmons was confirmed, did not express
any hostility 10 him whatever, but simply re-
marked, in speaking of the delegations that came
on from Boston for and against the appointment
that he thought the pTeponderance III numbers
rather against 1t; but still he ana not urge his
rejection, having himself nothing against him,
and would therefore merely submit the matter to
The Judgment of The Senators.
SecOnd-SenatOr Sumner, if he voted in the
negative, ceFtaluly never asked Grant to withdraw
the nomination, for the very good reason that his
attitude toward the President had for some time
been such that he would not have consulted or ad-
dressed him on any subject, and So of course
would not have requested him to withdraw any
nomination. even il he had been ever SO much OPP
posed TO ii. The Star should refresh its memory
of the relations of Sumner toward Grant about
those days.
Third-Simmons' appointment was earnestly
recommended, not only by General Butler, but also
by the late Hon. Samuel Hooper himself, Boston
whose district the custom house was located, and
of whom Mr.. Simmons was Il constituent
FOuTth-SimmOnS had served in the war. and it
was partly in consideration of his soldier record
that the appointment was made, Congress having
passed joint resolution (now incorporated in the
United states Revised Statutes) to the effect that
III appointments to the civil service, other things
being equal, soldiers should have the preference
over civilians. Simmons was a member OF the
BTomfeld Street Church, in Boston, and Superin-
tendent OF its Sunday school, and was styled the
% Young Christian Soldier"
Fitth-Simmons was not personally hostile to
either Of the Senators Or TO any member OF Con-
gress; had never attempted 10 thwart any of them,
and never came into collision with or incurred the
ill-wili OF any member of the Republican party,
either in the State or the nation but personally had
the good will and good wishes of all The prin-
cipal objections made to him were that he was a
much younger man than had usually been selected
for that post; that he comparatively obscure
and unknown SAY like Grant himself before the
war;; that he had not been extensively cOnVerSant
with the details of commercial affairs Though per-
hapS ne knew as much about them as Robertson
does. and that he had not the weight" and "em-
inent gravity" supposed to be necessary for col
ector Of the port Of Boston, sir In less than three
months after his appointment, however, all these
objections had vanished, and he discharged the
duties of the Office to the universal acceptance of
the solid men OF the Hub and of all who had bust
ness relations with the CUSTOM house. l respect
fully submit 20 the SIGr that the appointment of
Robertson by Garfield and that that of Simmons by
Grant are not exactly by parallel.
SiXth-Mr- Dawes, the present Senator from
Massachusetts, then member of the House, and
the most influential, leader, of any of the dele
CATION from that State, agreed not TO oppose Sim
MONS and was at his home in Pttsfield at the
thOTity Of Mr.. Simmons himself
A MASSACHUSETTS MAN.