The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-23
GRANT AND SUMNER.
How the Ill Feeling Originating in Misun-
Outstanding Was Intensified.
Boston Gazette.


How the I'LL Feeling Originating in Misun-
derstanding Was Intensified.
Ben: Perley Poore, in Boston Budget.
General Grants difficulty with Mr.. Sumner
began when the President did not consult the
Senator about the formation of his Cabinet
The breach was gradually widened, and in time
the Senator became completely estranged from
his old friend and associate in the Senate,
Secretary Fish. When Mr. Motley was removed
from the English mission he insisted upon
regarding it as personal insult. which he sought
to repay by his opposition to the acquisition of
San Domingo. General Grant endeavored to
appease the offended Senator and on the evening
of the day on which the San Domingo treaty
sent to the Senate he called at Mr.. Summers
house.
ner table, with Colonel Forney and the writer,
and was invited to take seat with them. After
some preliminary conversation General Grant
began to talk about San Domingo, but he did not
have the treaty or any memorandum Of it with
MIN. He dwelt especially upon the expenditures
of General Babcock.at San Domingo of large
sum taken from secret service fund for pro-
noting intercourse with the West India islands,
which Mr.. Seward when Secretary of State, had
prevailed on Representative Thad Stevens to
have inserted IN an appropriation bill during the
war, and the President impressed Mr.. Sumner
with the idea that he feared an attack in Con-
gress on the way much OF that money had been
spent
Mr.. Sumner unquestionaby thought that
General Grant had come to enlist his services in
defending the expenditure of General Babcock
Of 800 600 in cash and $50 900 in light battery
purchased at New York The President meant,
as Colonel Forney and the writer thought tha
treaty for the acquisition Of the Dominican Re-
public. The President and the Senator misunder-
stood each other. After awhile General Grant
promised 10 send General Babcock to call on the
Senator the next day with copies of the papers
and left AS Mr. Sumner escorted him to the
door he told him that he was Republican, and
supported by Republican administration, and
that he should sustain the administration in It's
course if he possibly could after he had exam
ined the papers. He meant the expenditure of
General Babcock, but the President meant the
treaty.
The next morning General Babcock called on
Senator Sumner with a copy of the treaty, which
he began to read, but he had not got beyond
the preamble in which Bsbcock was styled
''aide dc camp of his Excellency, General Ulys-
ses S. Grant," before Mr. Sumner showed signs
of disapprobation When General Babcock pro-
ceeded, and read the stipulation that his Ex-
cellency, General Grant President of the United
States, promises perfectly to use all his influence
in order that the idea of annexing the Domin-
lean Republic to the United States may acquire
such degree of popularity among the members
of Congress as will be necessary for its accom-
pshment," Senator Sumner became the enemy
of the whole scheme. He did not believe that
the President of the United States should be
made lobbyist to bring about annexation by
Congress Some of Mr.. Summers friends used to
tell him that he should have gone at once to
General Grant, and have told him that he should
oppose the treaty, and that he had declared his
hostility to it to General Babcock in unmistaken
terms
That the time when we'll meaning friends
of both of these great men might have secured
satisfactory mutual explanation, although no
living power could have made Senator Sumner
a supporter of the acquisition of the port of
SANTANA, in San Domingo. In the Senate syco-
plants who carried water on both shoulders
and men who always delight in fomenting quar-
rels embittered Mr. Sumner against the Presi-
dent. One had served his country we'll in the
camp, while the other had performed equally in
valuable services in the Senate one was states
man. the other was soldier What did not ap-
pear to be wrong to the General the Senator
regarded as criminal. Conscious of the value Of
his services in saving the Union General Grant
accepted with gratitude the voluntary offerings
Of grateful citizens; but Senator Sumner, who
had too much of political life and Of politi-
clans knew too we'll that those who make quits to
public men expect favor5 In return, ana that
every public man should be lnfiexibly opposed
to the reception of presents. Remarks by him
about the President, and remarks oy the fresi-
dent about him were carried TO ana FRO by mis-
chief makers like the shuttle of q loom. and he
found himself placed at the head OF Clique OF
disappointed Republicans, who were determined
to prevent if possible, the reelection or General
Grant to the Presidency.
Henry Wilson, then Vice president of the
United States, endeavored to restore harmony,
and said in letter to General Grant Your adj
mnistration is menaced by great opposition, and
it needs possess a unity among the people and in
Congress. The head of great party. the Presi
dent of the United States has much to forget
and to forgive, but he can afford to be maenani-
nous and forgiving l want to see the President
and Congress in harmony, and the Republican
party united and victorious; to accomplish this
we must all be just, charitable and forgiving"
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