Morris tribune., 1885-11-18
GRANT AND SUMNER.
The Origin of the Trouble Between Them.

Gen. Grants difficulty with Mr.. Sum-
ner began when the president did not
consult the senator about the formation
of his cabinet The breach was grad
ually widened, and in time the senator
became completely cstrauged from his
old friend and associate III the senate,
Secretary Fish. When Mr. Motley
was removed from the English mission
he insisted upon regarding it as per-
sonal insult, which he sought to repay
by opposition to the acquisition OF San
domingo. Gen. Grant endeavored to
appcase the offended senator, and on
the evening of the day on which the
San Domingo treaty was sent to the
senate he called at Mr.. Summers house.
Gen. Grant found the senator at his
dinner-table with Col. Forney and the
writer, and was invited to take u seat
with them. After some preliminary
conversation Gen. Grant began to talk
about San Domingo. but he did not
have the treaty or any memorandum OF
it with him. He dwelt especially upon
the expenditures of Gen. Babcock at
San Domingo of Il large sum taken
from q secret service fund for promot-
ing intercourse with the West India is
lands, which Mr.. Seward, when secre-
tary of state, had prevailed on Repre-
sentative Thad Stevens to have inserted
in an appropriation bill during the war,
and the president impressed Mr.. Sum-
ner with the idea that he feared an at
tack in congress on the way much OF
that money had been spent. Mr.. Sum-
ner unqueStionsbly thought that Gen.
Grant had come to enlist his services
in defending an expenditure OF Gen.
Babcock of 100000 in cash and $780,
900 in light battery purchased at
New York. The president meant, as
Col. Forney and the writer thought,
the treaty for the acquisition of the
Dominican republic. The president
and the senator misunderstood each
other. After while Gen. Grant prom
ised to send Gen. BabcocN 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 a republican administration, and
that he should sustain the adminiStra-
ton in its course il he possibly could
after he had examined the papers. He
meant the expenditure OF Gen. Bah
cock, but the president meant the
treaty.
The next morning Gen. Babcock
called on Senator Sumner with copy
of the treaty, which he began to read,
but he had not gotten beyond the pre-
amble, in which Babcock was styled
"aide-de-camp of His Excellency Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant" before Mr.. Sumner
showed signs of disapprobation. When
Gen. Babcock proceeded and read the
stipulation that "His Excellency Gen.
Grant, President of the United States,
promises perfectly to use all his intlu-
ence in order that the idea of annexing
the Dominican republic to the United
States may acquire such degree of
popularity among the members of con-
gress as will be necessary for its accom-
plishment," Senator Sumner became
the enemy of the whole scheme. He
did not believe that the president of
the United States should be made a
lobbyist to bring about annexation by
congress. Some of Mr.. Summers
friends used to tell him that he should
have gone at once to Gen. Grant and
have told him that he should oppose
the treaty, and that he had declared his
hostility to it to Gen. Babcock in IN
mistaken terms.
This was the time when well-mean-
inc friends of both of these great men
might have secured satisfactory mutual
explanation, although no living power
could have made Senator Sumner
supporter of the acquisition OF the port
of SANTANA in San Domingo. In the
senate sycophants who carried water
on both shoulders,' and men who al
ways delight in fomcnting quarrels,
embittered Mr.. Sumner against the
president. One had served his country
we'll in the camp, while the other had
performed equally Invaluable services
in the senate; one was statesman,
the other was Il soldier. What did not
appear to be wrong to the general, the
senator regarded as criminal. Con-
scious of the value of his services IN
saving the union, Gen. Grant accepted
with gratitude the voluntary offerings of
grateful citizens; but Senator Sumner,
who had seen too much of political life
and of politicians, knew too well that
those who make gifts to public men ex-
pect favors in return, and that every
public man should be infleXibiy opposed
to the reception of presents. Remarks
by him about the president, and re-
marks by the president about. him,
were carried to and fro by mischief
makers like the shuttle of loom, and
he found himself placed at the head of
a clique of disappointed republicans,
who were determined to prevent, if pos
sible, the reelection of Gen. Grant to
the presidency.
Henry Wilson, then vice-president of
the United States, endeavored to re-
store harmony, and said in letter to
| Gen. Grant: Your administration is
menaced by great opposition, and it
needs possess unity among the people
and in congress. The head of great
party, the president of the United
States has much to forget and to for
give, but he can afford 10 be magnani-
nous and forgiving. want to see the
president and congress in harmony and
the republican party united and vic
torious. TO accomplish this we must
all be just, charitable, and forgiving."
Ben: Perley Poore, IN Boston Budget.