The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-06
INTERESTING HISTORY.
Hamilton Ffsh's RecOliectf0ns Of
Grants Veto OF the Imitation Bill.

Philadelphia correspondent OF the New
York Evening Post sends for publication TO
that journal an interesting letter from the
late Hamilton Fish. President Grants Sec.
rotary of State. to the late George w.
Childs, dated Dec. s. 1889. Mr. Fish wrote
in this letter his recollections of Grants
famous veto OF the imitation bill, as follows:
My Dear Mr.. Childs-I must crave your
indulgence for the delay in acknowledging
copy o. rend g
Grant. l have been confined TO the house.
and much of the time to my bed. for nearly
right hand is very weak and painful. so that
writing is labor. have read your Rec
objections" with much interest. They set
forth your close intimacy with the General.
and many incidents OF interest. In very
attractive manner. With many OF those
incidents was familiar, and even parti-
There are things connected with the fa-
nous veto" of April. 1874. which have not
situations with his Cabinet. and with menu
bers OF his Cabinet separately, with SEN
ators and members Of Congress-not all or
tinct recollection, confirmed by entries ian a
journal which / then kept. OF many such
SOUGHT to induce him TO sign the bin. of my
own frequent conversations with him. OF his
frequent sending for me TO talk on the sub
confidence. of his decision 10 return the
bill without his approval, and his saying
that he supposed that all of his Cabinet
except Mr.. cresswell and me, would object
to his action. He was right!
The question which was agitated in Sep
w ym0 Vetoed II involved the general oues-
ton OF imitation The Congress which
passed the vetoed bill was not organized
turn to Washington in September. 1s7S. dis
turbed about imitation. hesitating as 10 his
own course. While the bill was pending
the Friday before the veto april I'D COM
mttees from Boston and New York visit
ed the President urging a veto OF the pill ii;
was discussed. both in favor and In oppo-
sition. On Saturday evening, at the Presi-
dents request, l passed some hours Win mn
force of the objections which endeayored
% present, but he dwelt upon the infuen-
tial friends who urged its approval. and at
the BILL but to state his objections TO some
of its features. On Monday evening re-
upon him. He then told me that he had
spent the most of the day Sunday writ
ing message, giving the best reasons That
the bill, but that the more he wrote and
the more he thought, he was the more con-
WINGED that the bill should not become q
law, and that he was then writing another
message refusing his assent 10 the bill He
showed me pile of manuscript which he
had Written to ssnd with haa h ,sd ssae He
sage vetoing the bill. He desired me 70
say nothing Of his intention to withhold
On Tuesday. April q. in Cabinet meeting,
he stated the conclusion which ne had
reached A majority Of the Cabinet was de-
cidedly in opposition One was hesitating.
Mr.. Cresswen and warmly approved.
Cresswell was so surprised and delighted
that he applauded and exclaimed: You are
right" Thus says my journal, In which
are further notes OF the discussion, and or
remarks by various members. Among them
was cunning suggestion by one member
that II was wise TO lay a paper aside
the thing was then settled. The hour was
late, and the President. with that humor
which he so often displayed. said: Yes.
will think it over and have 1t copied He
for the next day, Wednesday when he
read over his revised draft. Some slight
alterations were made II was prepared for
signature and was signed. laus dec. None
OF this has ever been given by me TO the
public The most OF IL Is taken from my
journal, made at the time, and i request
that you hold 1t. at least as 10 Its details.
as confidential during my lifetime.
/ was an earnest, indefatigible. unswerv-
ing supporter and advocate or veto, from
the first TO the last and, l think. not
wholly Ineffective agent In overcoming the
specious political and interested arguments
OF the other side. Ny position enabled me
to see and to know who were at work. The
Generals confidence enabled me TO know
from GAY TO day what they were saying
and doing. What 1 recorded at the time was
recorded as accurately as ] was capable OF
doing. Many OF those in opposition were
among my best ana warmest friends; l wsS
responsible for most unpopular act OF the
administration Fifteen years have passed.
/ have no reason TO regret my course, nor
have l. or the veto. been visited with much
self. Very sincerely and truly yours,
HAMILTON. FISH.