Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-10
GRANTS MaGNANIMITY.
His Part in Restoring Georgia to the
Union.

From the Near YORK IiRes.
Mrs. Carleton Belt, who resides at No.
43 East Twentieth street, contributes TO
the history Of Gen. Grants Administration
as President a chapter which has not
heretofore been printed, and which shows
alike the clear and practical judgment Of
the General and his magnanimous feeling
toward the Southern people after the
close of the war Mrs. Belt is thorough
SOutherner, coming from one Of the Oldest
OF the Georgia families. Her husband
was Capt Carleton Belt Of Bullock
county, who raised the first troops 10 de-
tend the position taken by his state at
the breaking out Of the civil war. she
is the great granddaughter Of John Tai
bot, who was one OF the signers OF the
first Declaration Of Independence, IN
WILLIAMSBURG, Va, in 1874, two years be-
fore the declaration signed ut Philadel-
phia; the granddaughter OF Capt. Thomas
Talbot, and the daughter Of col. William
Jones, who commanded the Eighth United
states Infantry In the war of 1872. Mrs.
Belt tells a graphic story Of the events
upon which the tide OF Georgia's fortune
turned. in which Gen. Grant is the lead
ing character.
ain 1859" Mrs. Bell said to a Times re-
porter yesterday. "a very bitter feeling
pecialy in Georgia. II was the reign Of
the carpetbagger, and the people Of my
native State were discouraged and even
despairing The reports which had been
circulated OF Kuklux and other alleged
horrors had embittered the North
ern radicals, and our Senators
and Representatives. had been expelled
from Congress. Instead of remaining in
WASHINGTON 10 do what they could for
Al. 81 ~. 4 ID
nah, leaving no advocate Of Georgia to
plead her cause before the Senate com
mittee on reconstruction, which was to
decide her fate. In the midst of these
exciting and discOuraging events
Gov. Bullock left Georgia and came to
Washin gton, stating that he feared for his
lite, armed with report from Gen. Terry,
the commander Of the department, on the
strength of which he asked the com
mittee on Reconstruction to establish
military government OF which be was to
be the head. | was living in Washing
ton at that time, having lost my husband,
friends. and fortune in Georgia during
the war. On Dec. g, 1869. when the fate
of the State seemed sealed and the tri-
umpb of Bullock secure, | received let
ter from Col. Sneed, Of savannah, in
which he wrote. Is there not voice in
Washington to speak for Georgian be-
came aroused, aud on the impulse OF the
moment seated myself and wrote "A
Woman's Appeal for the state of Georgia
Ii was a simpe statement Of Gov. Bull
ocRs mismanaQemen and of the dis
satisfaction OF the people. | wrote it in
the form OF letter, addressed TO John A.
Bingham, the Chairman Of the Senate
committee, now our Minister to Japan.
Both he ami Vice President Wilson were
living in the same house with me,
and / showed my letter to them that night.
Mr. Wilson said to me: j believe what
you say, Mrs. Belt, but the popular feel
ing is against the re-admissiOn Of GeOr-
Qia.' Mr. Bingham said that as the feel
ing was then he dared not present my
appeal to his committee. | gave up all
hope then and went to my bed almost
despairlng of accomplishing anything for
Georgia.
"But help came to me the next day."
continued Mrs. Belt, "and 1t came to me
through President Grant, man whom |
bad never seen up to that day, and whom
l had only looked upon as the cOnquerer
of the liberties of my beloved State. had
occasion to 20 to the White House In the
morning upon entirely different business,
and there met Gen. Dent, the brother of
Mrs. Grant. He noticed that | was not
looking we'll, and, indeed, had passed
an almost sleepless night. why, what is
the matter with you, Mrs. BeltY
he asked l drew the appeal from
my pocket and, handing it to
him, answered: Read that and you
will know what is the matter. GeOrgia's
fate is to be decided at o'clock To-day,
and il we are given over to Bullock what
is to become OF usY Gen. Dent read the
paper, and saying, Il will show this to the
| President lett me. Five minutes after
| he returned and said: The President is
! greatly interested in your appeal, and be
! has ordered that it shall 20 to the Senate
committee side ~ side with Gen. Terry's
report AS his own information In regard
to the condition Of affairs in Georgia,
4 Gen. Porter is now engaged In copying
the appeal. He has addressed 1t to the
President instead of to the chairman oil
the committee, as you wrote it,
"The appeal in this form, with Gen
Terry's report, both printed together, went
before the committee, and the result was
an excited debate. 1t was the FIRST spill
that had occurred In the committee, and
| it resulted in q vote admitting Georges
back again to the Union.
THAT Is what Gen. Grant did for my
state" said Mrs. Belt, sand II showed
that ne was a iar-seeing man, who rec0g
nized that the time for peace had CONF
and that it WAS unmanly 81 crush a taller
foe. 1t is for such acts as these that tn,
Southern people revere his memory to
day."
Nearly two years after the Occurrences
related above the Hon. John A. Bingham
addressed letter to Mrs. Belt giving he
warm praise for her successful efforts IN
behalf OF her native State.
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