The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-28
CENERAL GRANT EXPLAINS.

GENERAL GRANT EXPLAINS.
The Ieacrs which Passed Between Hin
and Mr.. Fish.
a New York telegram Of Monday says
A rpnorter called to-day on the counsel Of
General Grant to learn il they knew what
Tefyers James ID. Fish referred to in hi.
uxbljshed statement when he said he had
txo yctters from the General referring Ia
Government contracts and the profit:
therein. He went first TO Mr.. Conkling,
and. at his suggestion, 10 Mr.. Seward,
Mr.. Seward had heard that limitations bad
bceu given OF such letters, and had taken
steps 80 rim them down and get copies.
IL was learned that prior 60. July l, 1882,
Mr.. Fish had sent paper OF Grant Ward
10 the Lincoln Bank. with note asking
GLat the paper be discounted. Mr.. James,
being called on by Mr.. Seward, said that
ne answered the note OF Fish as follows
LINCOLN NATIONAL BANK,
New YORK, July 1, 1882.
Nv Dear Mr.. President,-l viii submit
vos,r favor 10 the Board Of Directors on
wednesday next. Will you kindly inform
me whether you are general partner in
she house OF Grant & Ward!
Very truly, L. l.. JAMES.
.SHacs d. Fish. Esq.
Mr.. James further said Mr.. Fish prompt
IN answered the above note, but that nc
WIS unable 10 find the answer. He, how
ever. stated that IL was substantially In
Ghese words:
"My Dear Sir,--In answer to your H.
auiry / have TO say that both General Grant
and rIyself are now general partners in the
S5rm Of Grant & Ward. We were orig
inaliy special partners, but by recent ar.
Engagement we have both become general
pay4ners. Yours truly,
"JAMEs ID. FISH,"
On the 9th OF July Mr. Fish wrote let
Ter To General Grant in these words:
fPriyate.1 July 5, 1882.
Ny Dear General,-You and | do moi
,fteao meet to talk over our business mat.
fers, or for any other purpose; but trust
Won are well aware the failure 10 do so !:
NOT for any want of respect, esteem, oil
friendship on my part. We are both pretty
well occupied, which explains it. | think
however, it would not be amlss for you and
Me TO counsel little occasionally in regard
to the business OF Grant & Ward, as our
conservative influence, il not beneficial,
mssrh younger than ourselves. | have
0ffsn been asked by friends and
businessmen whether you and
We were for time advertised as spe-
cal, bnt 4 think we are virtually and
actually general partners, and | think
eszlly we would find that 10 be our status.
The enclosed letter to me from President
I1nrts, of the Lincoln Bank ito whom i
nnt Grant & Ward note to he discOunted),
WAS received by me. and send you a copy
of my reply to his letter. You may be
aware that am on the notes OF Grant IL
Ward rs endorser, which l have discounted
myself, and have had to get negotiated to
the extent Of 100000 in aggregate, at the
sumo time and at once, which is not a
fxiffliBg amount for me. 1t is necessary
tbat the credit OF Grant Il Ward
should deservedly stand very high.
These notes. as | understand it, are
given for no other purpose than to
raise money for the payment Of grain,
efe., purchased TO fill the Government con-
tracts. Under the circumstances, my dear
General, you will see that il is OF most
vital importance TO me particularly that the
credit Of the firm shall be untarnisbed and
unimpaired. will be happy TO meet you
at almost any time you may name to talk
che matter over. Please return inc Mr..
President James's letter at your conve
nieuee, with any suggestions you NAV
have TO make. With respect and esteem l
am sincerely yours,
Isl yned] JAMES ID. FISH.
70 the above letter General Grant an
swered as follows
"NEw YORK CITY, July 6, 1882.
ally Dear Mr.. Fish,-On my arrival in
the city This A. Nj. find your letter of yes
terday, with letter from Thomas l..
James, president Of Lincoln National Bank,
and copy Of your reply to the latter.
Your understanding in regard TO our liza
ABILITIES in the firm OF Giant IL Ward is the
game as mine. II you desire it | am en-
tireiy willing that the advertisement of the
firm shall be so changed as TO express this.
MOI having been I'm the city for more than
a week have large accumulated mail to
look over and some business appointments
% meet, so that / may not be able to get
down TO see you to-day. But il can
will 90 before O'Clock.
every truly, yours.
~. S. GRANT"
This was the Generals sole response, and
was In his own handwriting throughout.
After the above letter OF Mr.. Fish, mark
slt " Private" had been answered and the
correspondence had been closed. Mr.. Ward
prepared draft OF letter and handed it
TO Nr. Spencer (who was in the employ of
the frln) 10 copy. Mr.. Spencer says he did
cppy il, and delivered the copy to Mr..
Ward. who went to General Grant and OBJ
mined his signature TO it.
This letter and the signature were
wholly disconnected with the preceding
correspondence so far as General Grant
kAew, and nothing was told him from
winch he could suspect that the two
things had any relation to each other; nor
did the general scrutinize the letter, but
signed II on the assurance that it was only
an ordinary letter in the course OF bust
ness The incident made no impression,
and the following copy Of the letter. now
obtained, is all the evidence Of its contents
he General has,
NEW YORK, July 6, 1882.
Nv Dear Mr.. Fish,--In relation to the
matter of discounts kindly made by you
for accounts OF Grant & Ward. / would
say that ! think the investments are safe,
and i am willing that Mr.. Ward should
derive what profit he can for the firm that
Che Use OF my name and influence may
hr,Dg. Yours, very truly,
u. s. GRANT.
The foregoing copy letter and the facts
mentioned comprise everything known to
General Grant or his counsel TO which the
statement OF Mr.. Fish can relate.
mn ~