The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03
STEWART AND GRANT.
"Reminiscences of n Former Secretary
of the Treasury.

"Reminiscences of n Former Secretary
of the Treasury.
OIon. George ;. Boutwell, in February McClures)
Alexander T. Stewart. of New York. was
nominated and confirmed as Secretary OF
the Treasury. II was soon discovered that
Mr. Stewart being an importer, was in
eligible to the Office Nj COnkling said
there were nine statutes in bis way A
more effectual bar was in the reason on
which the statutes rested namely that no
man should be put in a situation 70 be a
judge in his own case. The President
made a vain effort TO secure legislation
for the removal Of the bar. Next. Judge
Hilton then Mr.. Stewards attorney sub
mitted a deed Of trust by which Mr.. Stew
art relinquished his interest In the bust
ness during his term of office. The Presi-
/ dent submitted that paper to Chief Justice
! Cartier. OF the Supreme Court Of the Dis
/ trict Of Columbia. The chief justice gave a
I brief adverse oral opinion, and in Ian
/ guage not squotable upon printed page.
We have no means OF forming an opinion
/ Of Mr. Stewards capacity for administra-
/ tive work and / DO not indulge In any
/ Conjectures. His nomination was accepta-
l BILE to the leading business interests Of the
country and in the city Of New York it
was supported generally. He was sue
/ eessful man Of business and an accumula-
| tor of wealth and at that time General
E a
presence OF talents by which men acquire
wealth.
/ Following these events there were early
I indications that Mr. Stewards interest in
the President had been diminished. and
gradually he took on dislike to me- When
/ knew of his nomination, or when l knew
Z that it was to be made. l met him in
Washington and assured him of my disposi-
Z tiOn to give my support TO his administra-
/ ton. On two occasions when was in New
/ York made calls Of civility upon him, bun.
/ as he made no recognition In return. my
I efforts in that direction came to an end
At a dinner given by merchants and
/ bankers in the early part Of September,
/ 1859, at which l a guest. Mr.. Stewart
/ made a speech in which he criticised my
administration Of the Treasury. In the
[ canvass Of 1872 the Tumor went abroad that
Mr. Stewart had given SIS. 600 to the Gree
ley campaign fund. In the month Of OctO-
her Of that year the 2Sth day, perhaps, I
spoke al the Cooper Union. Upon my ar
rival in New York ] received a call from
/ friend who came with message from Mr..
Stewart Mr.. Stewart would not be at the
meeting although except for the false
/ rumor in regard to his subscription TO the
I Greeley fund he should have taken pleas
| ure in being present AS General Grant
I was TO be elected. his attendance at the
meeting might be treated by the public as
an attempt to curry favor with General
/ Grant and the incoming administration.
+ As was passing to the hall. paper was
I placed in nv hands by a person who gave
/ no other means Of recognizing his presence.
/ When l reached the hall and opened the
{ psper I found that 1t was a summons 20
I appear as defendant in an action brought
/ by a man named Calvin, who claimed dan-
/ ages in the sum OF $4,000 000 AT the close
I OF the meeting and when the fact became
| known. one gentleman said to me; Il do
| not see how you could have spoken after
I such a summons.
/ said 10 reply: If the suit had been
for SO eco only. 1t might have given me
| some uneasiness, as a recovery would
{ have involved payment judgment OF
50 600 600 implies impOssibility of pay
ment."
| 1 had no knowledge Of Calvin. but his
I letters Of advice were found on the files
of the Treasury. Even after the suit. ! did
| not examine them for the purpose Of form
/ ing an opinion Of their value want Of
value Calvin alleged in his declaration
/ that he had furnished the financial policy
| that / had adopted that it had benefited
/ the country to the amount Of $500 900. 900
/ and more and that a claim Of 100000
was a moderate claim. Under the statute,
/ the Department Of Justice assumed the de-
| fence The case fingered. Calvin died, and
| the case followed.
/ At the election Of 1872 / voted at Groton
| in the morning. and in the afternoon |
1 went to New York to find that General
/ Grant had been reelected by a sufficient
1 majority. On the morning Of the next day
/ | left the hotel with time for a call upon
/ General Dix, who had been elected Gov
ernor and for a call upon Thurlow Weed.
/ General Dix was not at home. NOtwith-
| standing the criticisms Of Thurlow Weed
/ as a manager Of political affairs in the
State of New York and in the country,
had reasons for regarding him with favor,
| although l had never favored the aspira-
| tions OF Mr. Seward his chief When L
was organizing the internal revenue office
in 1928 Mr.. Weed gave me information
I in regard 70 candidates for office in the
state OF New York including their rels-
I lions 10 the factions that eIisted-usually
| seward and anti -Seward-and with as
I much fairness as he could have commanded
II he had had no relation TO either faction.
As / had time remaining at the end Of
| nv call upon Mr. Weed. and as | had in
| mind Mr. Stew arts message at the Cooper
/ Union meeting. ! drove to his downtown
/ store. where | found him. He received me
/ with cordiality, but in respect to his
health he seemed to be already a doomed
/ man He was anxious chiefly 10 give me
| an opportunity TO comprehend the nature
| and magnitude of his business. As / vas
/ about to leave. he took hold Of my coat
/ button and said. When you see the Presi-
] dent you give my love to him and say
| to him that | am for him. and that 1
[ always have been for him" still holding
my be the button, he said. Who buys the
CARPETS for the Treasury
said Mr. Sayille is the chief clerk,
and he buys the carpets
| Mr.. Stewart said Tell him to come 70
I me- / will sell him carpets as cheap as
! anybody"
! When l repeated Mr.. Stewards message
/ TO the President be made no reply. and he
| gave no indication that he was bearing
/ what / was saying.