Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-19
GRANTS ATTITUDE IN 1875.
Further Evidence that He Believed Til
don was Elected.
Prom ne Neto YORK Sun

]
! WASHINGTON, Sept. l6 - When Mr..
George W. Childs mentioned, in casual
way, the other day, that Gen. Grant told
him be thought Tilden had been elected,
the country was startled. The historical
accuracy Of the statement was doubted,
and the busy interviewer began to ask
questions OF Mrs. Grant, Fred Grant,
ex-senator Cha1ee, and others. 10
lind il Mr.. Childs declaration was
true. These persons and others did
not remember hearing Grant say so, and
doubtless the interViewers might fnd
several millions Of people VINO never heard
Grant Say anything Of the kind; but tho
important fact, nevertheless, remains that
he did make tho statement, not only TO
Mr.. Childs, Dut 10 others. A gentleman,
who was an official at the White House
under Grant, says that Grant said 20 him
more than once that he thought Tilden
was elected. This gentleman says:
81 cannot recOllect the precise language
at this lapse Of time, but ii was to the ef-
feet that TiIden, he judged, was legally
elected aud ought 70 be Inaugurated."
But thr important thing is not 50 much
what Grant said rs what he d1d; and here
again 1t will be found, contrary to the
generally received opinion, that Grant,
throughout the troublous winter OF 1867
proceeded ON the theory Of the probable
election OF Tilden ami against the OrthO-
dOx Republican theory that Hayes had
lSj electoral votes and was elected. The
key to the whole position, as everyone re-
members, was Louisiana. Promptly after
the alleged election OF Hayes, Packard,
who had received 800 more votes
for Governor than Hayes had for
President In that State, set uD
= nnN mt a ND N lxQd he
Of the Federal power. Had Grant com
Piled there would have been no electoral
commission, and no open contest at
Washington over the presidential success
sion. But Grant refused to sustain Pack.
ard, to the amaZement even of the Demo-
Gratis. 1t was some weeks before even the
defeatedNichOls'fOllo appreciated the
situation, but finally they pucked up
spirit, seized the arms Of the State, and
set up a rival government Even then
Grant would not heed the frantic calls of
Packard. All he said WAS that the Mich
OILS faction must keep the peace, and as
they had force on their side they were
willing to obey.
just here comes In a very curious
feature OF the winters intrigues. The
Republican leaders, of course. were up
holding Packard, and prOclaiming that in
the end his government would be recOg-
time to have gone back on Packard, as
that would have made him ugly, and
might have put Hayes claims in
jeopardy, and yet, secretly, not only
were several prominent Republicans
like Conkling disposed to support
Tilden's claims, but the Democrats had
two efficient allies near the throne In the
persons of Senator West and brother-in-
law Casey. These gentlemen hated Pack
ard because he was blocking their way to
the Senate, and were constantly at the
White House urging Grant not to recog-
niZe the Packard government. Had Pack
ard not been afflicted with what is known
as the "big head" he would have taken
pains to cOnciliGte his foes, but, laying
back cOmplacently on his 500 votes ahead
Of Hayes, he defed their Vaccinations.
Grant showed that he thought Tilden's
election was at least an open question by
two very important acts-he refused to
recognize Packard, for by doing 80 he
would have estopped controversy, and he
favored the electoral commission, which
at the start was supposed to be in the in
terest Of the Democrats The orthodox
Republicans disapproved Of it. 81 see
no lions in the way" exclaimed tn e stall
wart Ingalls,, but COnkling did. He
told William Orion on a Senate sofa
that he did not think the Vice
President had the right to count the
vote. And Grant saw Lyons, too. He
saw that rilden WAS legally elected, and
ne was willing to have the latter's claims
adjudcated by a just tribunal. How that
tribunal subsequently acted, aud how
Congress was led TO ratify its decisions
would open another chapter OF one Of the
most important episodes Of our history.
Suffice it TO say that Packard found. to
his dismay, ere long that two tribunals
could differ very materially on the same
evidence, but his mouth was stopped by
one OF the richest gifts in the public SER
viea the IiVarDoOI cOneulata