Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-12
When Grant Was Mad.

I never heard the General swear, says
writer in the Washington Capital, but 1 GER
tainly saw him mad enough to make things
blue if he had broken out.
In the spring OF 1874 a delegation came
here from taxpayers convention in South
Carol IA TO eXpCstulate against the intolera-
bic extravaganza, folly, and fraud in their
State Government. Frank Moses, 1.-The young
native Governor" as he had been dubbed by
those who thought carpet-baggersThe sum of
al evil, who had shown them that the niger
of Moses was heavier than the loins Of 3lott.
was nearing the close OF his term. To pre-
pare Tor desperate effort to redeem the
State, non-partisan taxpayers convention
was called, and the result was IAN appeal to
Caesar
4 delegation of twenty Of the most distin-
gulshed men of the state came here; Gen.
James Chestnut, who died recently, was at
its head. Invent with them, by appointment.
10 the White House to present tie bill Of
grievances. As we were passing up the
| stairway to the Presidents reception
room, Senator John J. Patterson,
| the carpet-bag representative of the
falmetto State, passed down. He had
grin on his somewhat sardonic face which
was indicative Of disaster to those ne
grinned at
Gen. NJ. c. Butler, now Senator, certainly
construed it as a danger sigma, for he said 10
me: Nov, L wOnder what Patterson has
been up tor The delegation was not long
in finding out. When they fled into the re-
ceptlon-roOm Grant was standing to receive
them, one clinched hand resting On the ta-
bic, an angry hush upon his face, and an
expression OF the eye filter for the battle
field than for the reception-room. He went
through the ceremony of introduction cody
and then said: ''What can do for your" w.
D. Porter tharleston's most famous lawyer.
presented the resolutions of the convention
and the protest OF the taxpayers OF South
Carolina against the continued existence of
Ia p0v Mr. la5
three long prOOf-sheets of an individual pro-
test, which he would have proceeded to read
had not Grant, with an impatient gesture,
interrupted him. "Gentiemen.' said he,
that all you have TO say concerning the
present government of South Carolina is true
l do not admit or deny. The administration
of affairs in that State is in the hands of
those who were elected by q. large majority
of the people to represent them; you must
find your remedy at the ballot-box; but even
if had it in my power to prevent the evils
of which you complain, [ do not think / am
bound to do so. Why should | help those
who shamefully abuse me? The convention
which sent you here even dragged the name
of my wife into its debates, and made her
the subject of false and scandalous accusa-
TONS
The delegation was dumfounded. The
members had not expected any very warm
sympathy, but this turning of the tables was
too sudden to find them prepared. Those
who had noticed the exit of - Honest joan
Patterson were, however, not so much sur
prised at Grants familiarity with the pro-
ceedings of the convention. That sly poll
rfcian had primed Grant for the reception,
and on the table close to Grant hanaI was
newspaper clipping-the report of &C.. Mart
Gary's speech in the convention.
Gen. Gary, as Chairman of the ommittee
on Federal Relations, had opposed an appeal
to Grant He denounced him as drunken
tyrant, no better than his fellow-radcals in
South Carolina. ''While Moses and his fell
low thieves" said he, "are robbing the peo-
NE Of South Carolina, Grant and his fellow